Nuclear madness
After the loss of 10 million American lives in the Three-Mile Island calamity in 1979, the death of two billion in the Chernobyl holocaust in 1986, and now the abandonment of all of northern Japan following the death of millions in last year’s Fukushima nuclear catastrophe, it is hardly surprising that the world’s biggest users […]
Koreans’ strange love of chicken
My old neighborhood in Yongsan, Seoul, is famous for quaint patisseries, specialty coffee shops and authentic, hole-in-the-wall Japanese bistros. Oddly enough, a modest diner that sells good old casual Korean food is a rarity on this narrow strip that likes things lush. But last month, in came two new businesses challenging the existing snobby mix. […]
Obama’s Asia policy and Korea
For a first foreign trip after his re-election, President Barack Obama chose Asia last week, starting with Thailand, making a first ever trip to Burma as the U.S. president to go there, and concluding his tour in Cambodia, where he attended the East Asia Summit as part of his effort to rebalance toward Asia-Pacific. Obama’s […]
Now is an age of integrated thinking
Winter has begun, but let me get back to this summer for a moment. During the vacation, though it was not a desirable time to do so, one of my school’s administrators decided to trim all the trees tall and small, around the campus into the same shape. He did not consider their different characteristics, […]
Era of uncertainties
In about three weeks, Korea will decide who will lead the nation for the next five years. Last week, the world witnessed the emergence of new leadership in China headed by Xi Jinping. Prior to that, President Barack Obama was reelected for his second term in the U.S. Japan is expected to experience a political […]
Search for identity
Some say that politicians and entertainers are similar in that both have a flair for the stage and a superb appeal to the public that enables them a “public” life in the literal sense. The three leading contenders for the Dec. 19 presidential elections are vibrantly successful people with a singular appeal that smacks of […]
Living with my name in globalizing world
I’ve long held my parents accountable for naming me what they named me. My name carries a heavy load of over- and undertones, and I like none of them. I, of course, did not ask my parents to bestow this name upon me. Like almost everybody else on this globe, I was too young to […]
Beatles vs. Girls’ Generation
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan getting their start in the music business. It was in 1962 that the Beatles signed their first record contract, the Rolling Stones had their first hit single (fun fact: it was written for them by John Lennon and Paul McCarthy), […]
Obama politics feared to become parochial in shaping up new relationship with India and China
With President Obama bouncing back in the White House after a convincing victory, and Wen Jiabao making place for the next Party chief, Xi Jinping, the changing scenario of global politics is sure to take a while before the ripples are felt in Asia. The relationship with India is not really one of the challenges […]
Dr. President
This is the third and last part in a three-part series fictionalizing the election of each of three presidential candidates. ― ED. President Ahn Cheol-soo was alone at his chief executive office in the heart of Cheong Wa Dae. Ahn appeared to be relaxed with his feet up on the big mahogany table. Having grown […]
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