The Korea Herald

Anti-graft law ushers in ‘Dutch pay’ culture

The following is the first in a series of articles featuring the impact of the landmark anti-corruption law that took effect Wednesday. -- EdAs a watershed anti-graft act came into force Wednesday, Korea’s public officials, businesspeople and teachers alike were seen cautiously picking their lunch place. The Improper Solicitation and Graft Act bans members of civil agencies, private educational institutions and media from giving and receiving free meals, presents or monetary gifts respectively w

Social AffairsSept. 28, 2016

Anti-graft law ushers in ‘Dutch pay’ culture

[DECODED] SK pushes for new growth in chips, biopharmaceuticals, ICT, LNG

Faced with rising global competition and stagnant growth, SK Group, the country’s third-largest conglomerate has been searching for new, promising businesses to propel its continued growth in the long run.In gaining a sense of where the energy-to-telecom giant is headed for in the future, industry watchers typically turn to SK Holdings — the group’s parent company that steers the direction of SK’s 88 affiliates and subsidiaries.For now, SK Holdings’ vision for the group is five-pronged -- raisin

IndustrySept. 28, 2016

[DECODED] SK pushes for new growth in chips, biopharmaceuticals, ICT, LNG

[Editorial] Transportation setback

The joint strike by railroad and subway workers across the nation is raising concerns about disruptions to logistics and transport. In protest against the government-led performance-based pay system, unionized workers of the railway and subway sectors launched a simultaneous walkout earlier this week. It marked the first time in more than 20 years that the two sectors’ employees had gone on a joint strike.A union leader from the railway industry claimed that the state-controlled railroad operato

EditorialSept. 28, 2016

[Ramesh Ponnuru] Trump‘s strengths didn’t help him this time

Donald Trump had plenty of moments Monday night that would have disqualified any other candidate in a presidential debate: bragging about getting through a discrimination investigation “with no admission of guilt”; saying he had not “given lots of thought” to NATO; noting that he often took advantage of laws; taking pride in having paid no taxes some years; and referring to the man in the White House as “your president.”　But you could have compiled a similar list in nearly any fortnight of the T

ViewpointsSept. 28, 2016

[Elizabeth Drew] Why is US presidential election nip and tuck?

Many people around the world are probably wondering why Hillary Clinton -- who is obviously more prepared and better suited for the American presidency than her opponent, Donald Trump -- isn’t waltzing to victory. Many Americans share the world’s bewilderment.National opinion polls may well continue to fluctuate until the election on Nov. 8. But Trump has been closing in on Clinton in recent weeks, even threatening to catch up with her in the Electoral College vote, where the Democrats’ control

ViewpointsSept. 28, 2016

Missing 11-year-old found dead

The body of an 11-year-old boy, who had been missing since Sept. 15 in a suspected case of murder or fillicide-suicide, was found drowned along the riverside of Nakdong River in Daegu on Wednesday. The discovery came 13 days after the boy, named Ryu Jeong-min, was last seen leaving his house with his mother, 52, in Beommul-dong, Suseong-gu, Daegu.Ryu Jeong-min's body was found on Wednesday (Yonhap)Police launched the search for the boy following the back-to-back discoveries of his mother and sis

Social AffairsSept. 28, 2016

[Kim Myong-sik] Internal enemies threaten Korea’s future

Kim Ji-ha is known more for his satirical poems “Five Bandits” and “Rumors” from the 1970s than for the works he produced after he changed his course to something beyond resistance against oppression. 　He surprised readers and critics by showing a shift of social views with a 1992 commentary on the death of a student protester. It was published by conservative daily Chosun Ilbo under the title, “Now quit the rituals of death!” Kim then engaged in advocating respect for life in humanity and natur

ViewpointsSept. 28, 2016

[Kim Myong-sik] Internal enemies threaten Korea’s future

[Lee Joo-hee] Do women make better leaders?

Last month, the election of Rep. Choo Mi-ae to steer the main opposition party on Aug. 27 brought on a handful of news articles that highlighted on her gender. Some even anticipated what her “chemistry” would be like with the nation’s female president.Staging the climax to such gender-oriented commentaries was the ruling Saenuri Party, whose spokeswoman Rep. Kim Hyun-ah said, “It is hoped that (Choo) will take on a delicate attitude like that of a mother to prioritize everyday economy over polit

ViewpointsSept. 28, 2016

[Lee Joo-hee] Do women make better leaders?

EU’s free-trade advocates need to speak up

It’s entirely unsurprising -- expected, really -- for the anti-global European left to oppose a trade deal with America. But with Canada?The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, painstakingly negotiated over seven years, would cut trade barriers between Europe and the world’s 10th-largest economy. Unlike the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership between the European Union and the US (which is all but dead), CETA has been signed and ready to go for some time. Thankfully, Europe’s

ViewpointsSept. 28, 2016

[Jonathan Bernstein] Trump takes bait, hooks self on TV

The entire 90-minute debate Monday night was a demonstration that Donald Trump doesn‘t have the temperament to be president. Hillary Clinton was prepared -- she always is -- and she baited Trump early and often. And Trump got caught each time. He also hooked himself, including in at least two exchanges with moderator Lester Holt (who did an excellent job, allowing both candidates to talk). Here are some examples.In Clinton’s very first response to Trump, about trade, she managed to work in that

ViewpointsSept. 28, 2016