[Jan-Werner Mueller] Christian democracy or illiberal democracy?

For years, a conflict has been brewing between Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and the European People’s Party, the supranational organization of Christian Democratic and center-right parties in European Union member states. After much hesitation, the EPP suspended Orban’s party, Fidesz, last March, and is now deciding whether to expel it. It has plenty of good reasons for doing so. Fidesz has not only dismantled democracy and the rule of law in Hungary, but also demonized the

ViewpointsFeb. 2, 2020

[Joseph E. Stiglitz] Has Davos man changed?

This year marked the 50th anniversary of the World Economic Forum’s flagship meeting of the world’s business and political elites in Davos, Switzerland. Much has changed since my first Davos in 1995. Back then, there was euphoria over globalization, hope for ex-communist countries’ transition to the market, and confidence that new technologies would open up new vistas from which all would benefit. Businesses, working with government, would lead the way. Today, with the world f

ViewpointsFeb. 2, 2020

Hollywood film by Korean-American director wins top prizes at Sundance

A Hollywood drama by a Korean-American director starring South Korean actresses has received top prizes at the Sundance Film Festival.   Sundance said "Minari," directed by Lee Isaac Chung and featuring, among others, Youn Yuh-jung and Han Ye-ri, won the US Grand Jury Prize and the Audience Award in the Dramatic category at its annual ceremony in Park City, Utah, on Saturday (local time).   The film follows a seven-year-old Korean-American boy named David, whose

FilmFeb. 2, 2020

Anti-piracy unit salvages drifting Iranian boat

The Ministry of National Defense said Sunday that its anti-piracy Cheonghae Unit salvaged an Iranian boat drifting near Oman’s Muscat Port on Saturday. The 50-ton small oil vessel named Alsohail departed from Iran two weeks ago on Jan. 18. It was low on fuel and had been drifting, when the Cheonghae Unit spotted six crew members signaling for rescue on the deck. The unit, which has recently seen its operational range extended to cover the Strait of Hormuz near Iran, provided the Iranian

DefenseFeb. 2, 2020

[News Focus] Korea’s payouts for jobless people soar 103% in 5 years

SEJONG -- In the early and mid-2010s, the government’s yearly payouts for jobless people ranged between 3.3 trillion won ($2.7 billion) and 4.5 trillion won. Amid moderate growth in the volume of unemployment benefits, the figure recorded 4.67 trillion won in 2016 during the previous administration, according to the Korea Employment Information Service. But the situation began to change in 2017 in the aftermath of en masse business closures by self-employed people, who account

EconomyFeb. 2, 2020

'Parasite' receives top screenplay prize from Writers Guild of America

The Oscar-nominated South Korean film "Parasite" has picked up yet another trophy in the buildup to the Academy Awards. Director Bong Joon-ho and co-writer Han Jin-won received the Writers Guild of America (WGA) award for best original screenplay in dual ceremonies in New York and Los Angeles on Saturday (local time). The cutting satire has earned six nominations for the Oscars, including best picture, best director and best original screenplay. At the WGA awards, "Parasite&qu

FilmFeb. 2, 2020

A peek into life at quarantine centers

Over 700 South Korean nationals evacuated from the Chinese city of Wuhan, the epicenter of a coronavirus outbreak, are staying in solitary units, with medics checking on them twice a day for any sign of infection. According to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and related ministries, the evacuees, divided into two groups, spent their first weekend at quarantine centers in Asan, South Chungcheong Province, and Jincheon, North Chungcheong Province, about 80 kilometers south of

Social AffairsFeb. 2, 2020

Korea to ban entry from China's Hubei province

South Korea will bar entry to all foreign nationals who have been in China’s Hubei province in the past two weeks, following a wave of countries imposing drastic travel bans as fears of the new coronavirus mount. 　 The restrictions, announced by Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun on Sunday after the country reported a 15th case, will go into effect Tuesday. 　 All foreigners who have visited the Chinese province, the epicenter of the deadly virus, from Jan. 21 will be subject to the entry ban,

Foreign AffairsFeb. 2, 2020

Korea’s virus fight at critical juncture: official

South Korea saw the number of cases of the Wuhan coronavirus climb rapidly over the weekend, stoking fears of possible community transmission in the country. Health Minister Park Neung-hoo said Sunday afternoon that containment efforts are “at a critical juncture,” pointing out instances of transmission in the absence of symptoms. “The government places utmost importance on the safety of the people and will take protective steps so exhaustive that they might be deemed excess

Social AffairsFeb. 2, 2020

S. Korea not considering pulling out diplomats from Wuhan

Seoul's foreign ministry said Sunday it is not considering evacuating its diplomats from the coronavirus-hit Chinese city of Wuhan as more than 100 South Koreans are still residing in the affected area. "There are still South Korean residents in Wuhan, who have been staying in the city on a long-term basis," an official from South Korea's foreign ministry said. "Those people are calling for further support." A total of 701 South Koreans were evacuated from the Chinese city

Foreign AffairsFeb. 2, 2020

Woori Financial faces tough choices over chairman

South Korea’s Woori Financial Group is likely to have a tough week ahead, as the financial watchdog’s recent decision to impose sanctions on its chairman threatens its governance. Woori Financial’s regular board meeting is scheduled Friday, and an intense round of discussions is expected to take place over the fate of Woori Financial Group Chairman and Woori Bank CEO Sohn Tae-seung. The Financial Supervisory Service on Thursday slapped Sohn and Hana Financial Vice Chairman

MarketFeb. 2, 2020

[Monitor] Korea’s exports show signs of improvement, but will new coronavirus hamper upturn?

While South Korea’s exports failed to rebound from a minus figure in January, the daily average exports showed an upturn for the first time in 14 months, raising hopes for an overall recovery. The government has forecast the exports to rebound to a plus from this month, although such a projection remains questionable with the impact of the new coronavirus outbreak that is seen to affect sales and production both domestically and globally. According to data from the Ministry of Trade, exp

IndustryFeb. 2, 2020

Outbreak of coronavirus changes consumption patterns

Park Seon-hee, a resident of western Seoul, stayed home over the weekend, canceling her plans to meet friends, as more cases of coronavirus infections were reported. She and her husband chose to order in food, though she is now considering purchasing premade food products online or cooking from scratch. South Korean consumers are increasingly turning to online shopping as the prolonged outbreak of a new coronavirus continues to fuel concerns about going to crowded areas, potentially pulling

IndustryFeb. 2, 2020

NK ups anti-virus campaign; leader Kim sends letter to Xi

North Korea appears to be making an all-out effort to prevent an influx of the new coronavirus from China and has expressed its condolences to the country, which is the isolated North’s No. 1 ally, trade partner and immediate neighbor. Multiple Chinese newspapers reported Sunday that President Xi Jinping received a letter of condolence from North Korean leader Kim Jong-un about the outbreak of the deadly coronavirus that has killed over 300 people in China. On Saturday, the North&rsqu

North KoreaFeb. 2, 2020

Seoul stocks plummet nearly 6% amid spread of new coronavirus

South Korean stocks have fluctuated between losses and gains amid growing fears about the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak around the world. Since health authorities confirmed the first coronavirus case here, Seoul’s benchmark Kospi has dipped nearly 6 percent, according to the nation’s sole stock market operator on Sunday. As of Friday, the Kospi index shed 5.85 percent from Jan. 17, the last trading session before the first case of the virus was confirmed here, the Korea Exchange sai

MarketFeb. 2, 2020

Philippines reports first virus death outside China

BEIJING (AFP) -- The Philippines reported the first death on Sunday outside of China from a new coronavirus, deepening global fears about an epidemic that has claimed more than 300 lives. The first foreign fatality came as an increasing number of governments around the world closed their borders to people from China in a bid to stop it spreading. Since emerging from the central Chinese city of Wuhan late last year, the coronavirus has infected 14,000 people across China and spread to 24 count

World NewsFeb. 2, 2020

Coronavirus vaccine long way off

Any vaccine for the fast-spreading 2019 novel coronavirus is unlikely to take shape in the near future, experts said Sunday, citing the rapid mutational characteristic of the ribonucleic acid virus as what makes speedy pharmaceutical countermeasures impossible. “It would take more than a year even if the government allows all fast-track clearance for drug development,” a vaccine company employee told The Korea Herald. No vaccine has been developed for Middle East respiratory syndro

IndustryFeb. 2, 2020

Healthy Ryu Hyun-jin heads to 1st spring training with Blue Jays

INCHEON -- Toronto Blue Jays' South Korean pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin left the country Sunday for his first spring training with his new club in a new state, confident in his ability to deliver the goods with a clean bill of health. After spending seven years with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Ryu signed a four-year, $80 million free agent deal with the Blue Jays in December. In 2019, Ryu, who led all of baseball with a 2.32 ERA, finished runner-up in the National League (NL) Cy Young Award voting. As a

BaseballFeb. 2, 2020

Ex-presidential candidate Ahn says his new, moderate party will be 'different' than others

Former presidential candidate Ahn Cheol-soo laid out visions for his new political party Sunday, claiming it will be different than existing parties plagued by irresponsibility.   "The new party I am about to create won't be like any other party that's out there," said Ahn, who recently defected from a minor opposition party he co-founded, at a press conference.  "With the new party, I'll try to overcome differences in ideologies and blocs, and shatter the old fr

PoliticsFeb. 2, 2020