Positive developments in Asia
“The most economically vibrant region in the world,” is how China Premier Wen Jiabao immodestly but accurately described Northeast Asia at the recent Beijing summit. Financial fixation on Europe has led to shortchanging positive developments in Asia. Businesslike Beijing discussions last month are useful for enervated Europeans in need of inspiration as well as investment, […]
Korean lessons for eurozone
Looking at Europe’s stumbling efforts to deal with the eurozone’s sovereign debt crisis, I can’t help but make comparisons with how Korea dealt with its severe economic woes during the 1997 Asian financial crisis. And I think Korea’s response then offers important lessons now to Greece and Europe’s other debt-ridden countries. It is important though […]
Pentagon okays chopper reinforcements for Korea
The U.S. government has approved a plan to deploy an additional attack-reconnaissance helicopter squadron in South Korea in response to the growing security threats from North Korea, a spokeswoman for the United States Forces Korea (USFK) said Thursday. “The squadron is already authorized, just not on hand,” USFK spokeswoman Jennifer Buschick said. She noted that […]
Korean cosmetics popular at duty free
Amore Pacific and other cosmetics makers here have been enjoying booming business over the past few years in line with the soaring number of Chinese, Japanese and other foreign visitors. Many non-Korean travelers go on a buying spree for skincare, makeup and other beauty-related goods produced here, with Korean actors and actresses appearing in TV […]
Pyongyang jumps into the fray
Ideological quarrels approaching farce North Korea has joined in the ideological mudslinging among South Korean politicians, turning an already wasteful dogfight into a farce. “If we disclose what some conservative South Korean politicians said in North Korea, most South Koreans will fall down in a fit,” said the North’s Committee for the Peace Reunification of […]
Sim Sang-jung vs. Lim Su-kyung
The Cheongsong Shim (my surname) family association invited me Monday, in my title as political editor of The Korea Times, to a meeting to celebrate those from the clan elected as lawmakers through the April general elections. They came from three parties with a diverse ideological spectrum ― the conservative ruling Saenuri Party, liberal main […]
Discord on primary rules
Does Park have problems in communication? The ruling Saenuri Party is mired in acute intraparty discord over rules to select a candidate for the presidential election scheduled for Dec. 19. Those who support hopeful candidates other than Park Geun-hye staged protests outside the party headquarters Tuesday in protest against the launch of the 13-member primary […]
Ideological reflection in S. Korean society
Last week, a South Korean politician, Lim Soo-kyung, told Joseph Baek, a North Korean defector, who happened to be dining in the same restaurant as her that he was a “son of a bxxxx,’’ a “senseless North Korean defector’’ and a “bastard betrayer.’’ This aroused a heated discussion among South Korean netizens and a request […]
Reactor life extension
Nobody expected Fukushima ― until it happened A nonprofit U.N. agency’s virtual go-ahead to prolong the operation of the nation’s oldest nuclear reactors has fueled controversy surrounding them instead of cooling it down. As always, arguments, pro and con, are contrasting enough to throw any non-specialists into confusion. Environmental groups and residents around the Gori-1 […]
Philippine envoy celebrates multiculturalism in Korea
Filipinos celebrated multiculturalism and the success of migrant workers in Korea last Sunday, at an outdoor festival in Hangang Park, Yeouido, Seoul for their country’s independence day which is June 12. Ambassador to Korea Luis Cruz, welcomed the families and friends of Filipinos and the Philippines saying how proud he was of Filipinos contribution to […]
Media in Tie-up with The AsiaN 
Trump, Kim, and the Three P’s of Summit Diplomacy: 
