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Column
Blasphemy in Pakistan
It was a welcome change from the usual dreary story: a Christian or a Hindu Pakistani accused of blasphemy on flimsy grounds, tried, and sentenced to prison ― or found innocent, set free and then murdered by some Muslim fanatic. This time was different. The victim this time was a…
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Column
US on Korean unification
Despite its long, deep involvement in the issues of Korea, the United States has never pursued a consistent policy that would help bring about Korean unification. The United States has a multi-faceted image to the South Korean people: a liberator from Japanese colonial rule, a divider of the peninsula, a…
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No tolerance for corruption
Bill needed to tackle wrongs by powerful figures The ruling Saenuri Party has announced a plan to legislate a law aimed at rooting out corruption by the president’s relatives, aides and top government officials. The proposed bill is seen as an effort by Park Geun-hye, the governing party’s presidential nominee,…
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Column
Getting over that thing called death
I am not afraid of death. I got over that when I was about 10 years old. It is not that I want to die but I kind of figured out that it is not only inevitable but perhaps not such a terrible thing. It all happened when I was…
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Column
Perception gap between Korea and abroad
Koreans had long complained that foreigners underestimate them. Nowadays, however, Koreans are puzzled by how foreigners seem to overestimate them. Positive news stories regarding Korea’s achievements abound these days. For instance, in arts and entertainment, rebellious Korean director Kim Ki-duk’s film, “Pieta,” recently won the coveted Golden Lion for best…
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Column
Seoul’s strategic relationship with Beijing
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the normalization of South Korea-China diplomatic relations. Now, South Korea plays a global role, and China is the No. 2 economy in the world. Nonetheless, the quiet atmosphere of celebrating the 20th anniversary reflects that the strategic cooperation partnership between South Korea and…
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Column
US ‘pivot’ toward China
A new word has come into vogue over the past year as the United States draws down its forces in Afghanistan and gets out of Iraq. The word is “pivot.” We’re told the U.S. is “pivoting” toward Asia, focusing on this part of the world after having concentrated on the…
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Column
[Indonesia Report] British couple feared to be imprisoned 20-years in Indonesia
Julian Ponder and Rachel Dougall, both are British nationality, are facing a 20-year imprisonment. Indonesian police arrested Ponder and Dougall on May 19. They were arrested in their villa in Tabanan, Bali, after another British woman, Lindsay June Sandiford, who was arrested earlier told police that she had handed over the…
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Aborted flood aid
NK’s rejection darkens inter-Korean ties Hopes for improved inter-Korean relations are fading out as North Korea rejected the South’s flood aid Wednesday. In its cable earlier in the day, the North said the aid wasn’t needed to cope with suffering caused by recent torrential rains and typhoons. The rejection came…
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Column
Why America’s Christian right is wrong
It’s always been easy to use religion, in this case Christianity, as a means to enshrine bigotry, hatred, and stupidity. In the last 30 years or so, we’ve seen a strong and politically effective bond between Christian zealots and the American Republican Party. All social democracies have freedom of religion.…
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