[Editorial] Workplace safety matters

Concerns are mounting as the two-year grace period for small firms on a workplace safety law is set to expire this week, after major parties failed to agree on granting an additional grace period. The Yoon Suk Yeol administration and the ruling People Power Party sought an additional two-year grace period for the enforcement of the Serious Disasters Punishment Act for firms with fewer than 50 employees. The ruling party held a series of negotiations with the main opposition Democratic Party of K

Jan. 24, 2024

[Editorial] K-drama in reality

President Yoon Suk Yeol threads through the packed indoor venue for a ceremony, shaking hands and greeting participants. One of them, a lawmaker, holds the president’s hand for a few seconds like many Koreans do when greeting each other, and tells him that he must change the way he runs state affairs. The president moves on to others, but Rep. Kang Sung-hee of the minor opposition progressive Jinbo Party keeps repeating something at him, video footage from Thursday shows. Members of the Pr

Jan. 23, 2024

[Editorial] More signs of risks

Last week, South Korea’s policymakers noted their alarm at the risks of military clashes in the Middle East that spin out of control, dragging more nations in the region into complex conflicts and hurting weakened supply chains further. On Tuesday night, Iran carried out a missile and drone attack on what it called “terrorist” targets in Pakistan. In response, Pakistan struck militant targets inside Iran on Thursday. The tit-for-tat attacks, the biggest cross-border intrusions

Jan. 22, 2024

[Editorial] Upgrade intelligence capabilities

South Korea, the US and Japan staged their largest-ever joint naval exercise in international waters south of Jeju Island for three days through Wednesday, following North Korea’s launch of a hypersonic missile. Nine warships including the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson with F-35C stealth fighters and F-18 Super Hornets on board, South Korean Aegis combat system-equipped destroyers and Japanese Kongo-class destroyers took part in the drill. The maritime exercise began a d

Jan. 19, 2024

[Editorial] Chip cluster plan

President Yoon Suk Yeol on Monday announced a plan to form a massive semiconductor chip cluster in southern Gyeonggi Province, which is projected to draw combined investments of 622 trillion won ($471.4 billion) for facilities and provide 3 million jobs over the next 20 years. The plan, unveiled at Yoon’s public debate event, aims to double the number of chip-producing plants in the region to 37, consolidating them into a vast chip cluster covering cities like Hwaseong, Giheung, Pyeongtaek

Jan. 18, 2024

[Editorial] Prosecutors' election rush

The Supreme Prosecutors’ Office requested the Justice Ministry last week to penalize two incumbent prosecutors over their inappropriate behavior related to the April 10 general election. Under the Public Official Election Act, state public officials who wish to stand for election are required to resign 90 days before the vote. A prosecutors’ code of ethics stipulates that a prosecutor shall not be involved in political campaigns, and remain politically neutral in performing his or he

Jan. 17, 2024

[Editorial] Taiwan’s election result

Lai Ching-te of Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party won Saturday's presidential election, defying continued warnings from China regarding the self-ruled democracy’s sovereignty. Lai, the current vice president, won with 40.1 percent of the vote, outpacing Hou Yu-ih from the conservative Kuomintang, who garnered 33.5 percent, and former Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je from the Taiwan People’s Party, who secured 26.5 percent. The high-profile election result is expected to ha

Jan. 16, 2024

[Editorial] Another national disgrace

Police are investigating 12 board members and four executives of Posco Holdings on charges of occupational breach of trust over allegations that they had subsidiaries partially pay for a lavish five-night-seven-day trip to Canada in August last year. Some of them, including outside directors who are professors, are also suspected of violating the law on improper solicitation and graft. Citing a complaint filed with the prosecution last month by a Pohang-based civic group, the Chosun Ilbo newsp

Jan. 15, 2024

[Editorial] Help drive up tourism

South Korea chalked up a current account surplus for the seventh straight month in November. But there is a troubling detail that keeps policymakers concerned: the biggest deficit of the country’s travel account in five years. South Korea’s travel account deficit doubled to $1.28 billion in November 2023 compared to the previous month, the Bank of Korea’s preliminary data showed Tuesday. The latest figure marks the biggest deficit since November 2018, when the travel account de

Jan. 12, 2024

[Editorial] Gap in college education

Education in South Korea has been a contentious area that has only gotten worse over the past few decades. Children in Seoul’s Gangnam go to cram schools, even on Christmas. In the controversial capital of hagwon, the smartest fourth graders are cracking high school math, and others are expected to have learned at least two years ahead of their grade in order to pass “level tests” for admission to a hagwon. Parents agree it’s insane, that it’s as if their kids are l

Jan. 11, 2024

[Editorial] Build up space projects

Korea took the first step to establish its own equivalent to the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration. A special bill to create the Korea Aerospace Administration passed in the parliamentary science and judiciary committees Monday and in the National Assembly plenary session Tuesday. The bill's approval came nine months after the government submitted it to the National Assembly in April last year. It is fortunate that it passed, albeit belatedly. The KASA will operate under the

Jan. 10, 2024

[Editorial] Wrangling over first lady

South Korea’s two main parties are expected to wrangle over two special investigation bills that were vetoed by President Yoon Suk Yeol on Friday. Unlike three previous vetoes exercised by the president, the latest set is likely to fuel political wrangling in a way that could impact the results of parliamentary elections in April. Under the Constitution, Yoon can exercise his veto rights within 15 days after the National Assembly sends a bill to the government. In the previous cases, he ha

Jan. 9, 2024

[Editorial] Pyongyang's intentions

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said North Korea fired some 200 artillery shells into waters near the western sea border on Friday morning, prompting the South to order civilians on the nearby islands of Yeonpyeongdo and Baengnyeongdo to take shelter. The North fired another 60 rounds Saturday afternoon, and over 90 rounds Sunday afternoon. As the shells fell into the maritime buffer zone north of the Northern Limit Line, no damage was done to South Korean civilians or military. On Frid

Jan. 8, 2024

[Editorial] Changing trade dynamics

Korea recorded a trade deficit with China last year for the first time since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1992. It continued to fall from a surplus of $55.6 billion in 2018 and dived into a deficit of $18 billion in 2023. It is also 1.8 times as much as Korea's overall trade deficit last year. China was the country with which Korea had its largest trade deficit, except for Saudi Arabia, from which Korea imports crude oil. Meanwhile, Korea had a trade surplus of $45.

Jan. 5, 2024

[Editorial] No tolerance for violence

South Korea’s political scene hit turbulence when Lee Jae-myung, leader of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, was stabbed in the neck during a visit to the southeastern port city of Busan on Tuesday, a shocking physical attack that sparked a chorus of condemnation from the public as well as political figures. The Democratic Party chair was stabbed on the left side of his neck by a man who disguised himself as an autograph-seeking supporter Tuesday morning. The suspect, who was

Jan. 4, 2024

[Editorial] The right not to know

The tragic death of actor Lee Sun-kyun last week has ignited criticism against the police for not complying with its own press guidelines, and the media for reckless coverage of private details that most people do not want to, or need to, know. Since October, Lee stood in front of hundreds of flashing cameras on three different occasions and apologized to the public for “causing concern” before he entered the police building for questioning on his alleged use of prohibited substances

Jan. 3, 2024

[Editorial] Security void

Starting this year, the National Intelligence Service has taken its hands off anticommunist investigations entirely, handing the job to the police, who have taken full charge. Anticommunist investigations target violations of the National Security Law, such as espionage and anti-government activities. It was one of the main duties of the intelligence agency. The police say they are well prepared to assume the role, but public concern is still great. The previous Moon Jae-in administration pushed

Jan. 2, 2024

[Editorial] Fix 52-hour workweek

The Supreme Court’s latest ruling on the 52-hour workweek system is expected to offer some relief to companies as well as workers in need of a more flexible allocation of work hours without violating related laws. But the dispute still lingers over possible side effects of the ruling, calling for remedy in labor policy. The top court on Monday overturned some part of the lower courts’ rulings that found an owner of a flight cabin cleaning company in violation of the Labor Standards A

Dec. 29, 2023

[Editorial] The first lady conundrum

The Democratic Party of Korea, which holds majority control of the National Assembly, is set to pass a bill Thursday to appoint a special counsel to investigate first lady Kim Keon Hee over her alleged involvement in stock price manipulation that took place between 2010 and 2012. Under the previous Moon Jae-in administration, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office investigated the allegations against Kim for a year and half, but failed to indict her. The court ruled on the Deutsch

Dec. 28, 2023

[Editorial] Supply chain risk

Conflict over supply chains is deepening between the US and China. China on Thursday banned the export of technology to extract and separate rare earths, materials used to manufacture a wide array of high-tech products. Beijing stresses protecting national security and public interest as the main reasons, but it seems to have made a countermove to a US move to expand restrictions on trade with China. Prior to the Chinese ban, the US said it will launch a survey to identify how US companies are s

Dec. 27, 2023