Where is the father?
Until hundreds of years ago, the father was symbolic of power, authority and prop of a society as well as of a family. He was responsible for all the details of managing a state and running a family. He was the head of state and of family, consequently the final decision-maker. He was the object […]
Korea 2nd on global cartel fines
Korean firms have been slapped with a total fine of 2.4 trillion won ($2.1 billion) by overseas anti-trust regulators since 2000 for price-fixing, the Fair Trade Commission said Tuesday. They had to pay nearly $1.27 billion in fines in the United States, and four out of 10 non-American businesses that had to pay high fines […]
Animal abusers spark uproar
Does an animal have rights or does it belong to an owner like property? Korea takes the latter position and acquitted a dog owner of animal abuse despite the abuse involving dragging the dog on the road behind his car. The incident, which Internet users call “Devil Equus,” took place on April 21 and […]
Korea, Sri Lanka agree to deepen economic cooperation
Korean President Lee Myung-bak and Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa agreed Tuesday to strengthen economic and trade relations between the two countries, the presidential office said. On the sidelines of the summit, the two sides also signed three memoranda of understanding that call for bolstering cooperation in electricity and energy, development, and Sri Lanka’s project […]
Academy promises new ‘traditional’ hallyu
As a historian by profession, a key policy goal for Culture Minister Choe Kwang-shik has been to promote Korea’s traditional arts and alter the perception that “hallyu,” or the Korean wave, is limited to K-pop and TV dramas. Since the beginning of the year, the ministry has implemented new measures to add more depth to […]
President’s mentor Choi embroiled in bribery scandal
Former Korea Communications Commission (KCC) Chairman Choi See-joong is facing being summoned for allegedly taking billions of won in bribes from a businessman. Another key presidential aide Park Young-joon, a former vice minister of knowledge economy, is also suspected of having taken money from the same businessman, the prosecution said Monday. The fresh graft scandal […]
North Korea threatens ‘special action’ against S. Korea
North Korea’s military announced Monday it would soon take “special actions” targeting the conservative administration of President Lee Myung-bak and some media outlets. In a statement carried by the official Korean Central News Agency, the military said the actions would last for 3 to 4 minutes and consist of “unique methods of our own style,” […]
Speak out, Lady!
Gaga concert restricted by age, only in Korea That parental discretion is necessary for children’s choice of entertainment is accepted worldwide, with differences in the level of enforcement. On the Korean government’s controversial restriction of Lady Gaga’s upcoming Friday concert, however, entertainment industry insiders complain that non-local acts suffer from systematic discrimination under an outdated […]
Realistic multiculturalism
The recent National Assembly election produced an unexpected result: a national discussion on multiculturalism. Jasmine Lee, a Filipina immigrant, became the first foreign born Korean to join the National Assembly. Her election through proportional representation drew a number of anti-immigrant comments and criticism of the ruling Saenuri Party on the Internet. Surprised by the negative […]
Colors of political parties
When the Saenuri Party selected red for the party’s color code I thought Park Geun-hye’s team was very smart, though I wasn’t impressed by its logo that looks like a giant tooth. The Democratic United Party (DUP), formerly led by Han Myeong-sook, had no choice but to dye their jackets pure yellow for the party’s […]
Media in Tie-up with The AsiaN 
Trump, Kim, and the Three P’s of Summit Diplomacy: 
