[Editorial] Risky medical practices

A clinic in Seoul has been identified as the source of a massive hepatitis C outbreak, raising serious concerns about the safety of procedures performed at medical facilities.　Health authorities said the clinic reused disposable syringes, which led to the spread of the hepatitis C virus among its outpatients. Authorities have begun testing 2,268 people who have been treated at the clinic since May 2008 and, of the 779 people tested through Saturday, 76 people have tested positive for the hepatit

Dec. 1, 2015

[Editorial] Internet-only banks

Kakao Corp. and KT Corp. have emerged as winners of the heated race to launch Korea’s first Internet-only banks. Consortiums led by the two information technology service companies obtained preliminary licenses to operate online-only banks from the Financial Services Commission on Sunday. They beat out another participant in the bidding, a consortium led by Interpark.　Kakao Corp., the operator of Korea’s largest mobile messaging app, has teamed up with 10 other companies, including Korea Investm

Nov. 30, 2015

[Editorial] Another rally

The possibility of another clash between the police and activist groups is looming large as the organizers of the violent Nov. 14 antigovernment demonstration have vowed to hold a second rally despite a police ban.　On Saturday, police banned the Korean Peasants League — one of the activist groups that participated in the demonstration at Gwanghwamun Plaza last month — from holding a rally in the same place on Dec. 5.　The decision was based on the Assembly and Demonstration Act, which allows poli

Nov. 30, 2015

[Editorial] Spoiling kids, society

One knows that lawmakers are notorious for peddling influence. Taking advantage of their privileges like legislative power and right to audit government offices and public enterprises, they often seek favors -- for them, their constituents, supporters and financial sponsors -- from government officials, businesses and others. 　Nowadays there is a growingly trend in the lawmakers’ influence-peddling: They don’t have qualms about exerting influence regarding education and jobs for their children.

Nov. 29, 2015

[Editorial] Due steps

The Environment Ministry’s conclusion that some Volkswagen cars sold in Korea were involved in the same emissions cheating scheme as those sold in the U.S. leaves many things to do for the Korean government, the local car industry and, of course, the German automaker.      　First, the Environment Ministry should examine a broader number of samples of all vehicles sold by Volkswagen and its high-end brand Audi in the country. The seven cars in six diesel-engine types that were tested by the minis

Nov. 29, 2015

[Editorial] Anti-mask bill

Some 30 Saenuri Party lawmakers, led by National Assembly Vice Speaker Jeong Kab-yoon, have proposed a bill to ban individuals from wearing masks or other face coverings during violent demonstrations. 　The legislative move was prompted by the violent protests in Gwanghwamun Plaza last weekend. A huge crowd of demonstrators from an array of civic groups and labor organizations gathered in the center of Seoul to protest the government’s push for state-authored history textbooks and labor market re

Nov. 27, 2015

[Editorial] Worker motivation

At first glance, the World Talent Report 2015 released by the Institute for Management Development is encouraging, as it shows that Korea’s overall ability to develop, attract and retain talent has improved. Korea placed 31st among the 61 countries surveyed this year, up nine notches from 2014.　Yet the elevation in the overall ranking offers little comfort, as the report sheds light on some of the serious problems Korea faces. One such problem is the worsening brain drain, which hurts Korea’s gl

Nov. 27, 2015

[Editorial] Preventing crisis

The alarmingly fast pace of the growth of household debt should alert government policymakers as it is emerging as a major macroeconomic risk factor in the Korean economy.  　Central bank figures show that household credit surged to a record-high 1,166.4 trillion won ($1.01 trillion) in the third quarter. This represents a growth of 3 percent -- also record pace -- or 34.5 trillion won from the previous quarter and an expansion of 10.4 percent or 109.6 trillion won from a year before. 　Economists

Nov. 26, 2015

[Editorial] All too vulnerable

Two more former senior military generals have been implicated in corruption involving arms procurement projects. 　Given the rampant corruption in defense acquisition, this is hardly big news, but the two cases – involving a former Navy admiral and a retired Army general -- point to a growing trend: Dirty deals involving family members of military officers. 　The first case involves Retired Adm. Choi Yoon-hee, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who was questioned by investigators over a

Nov. 26, 2015

[Editorial] Anonymous writers

As expected, the preparation of state-authored history textbooks for middle schools and high schools got off to a bumpy start, with all of the authors, except for Shin Hyong-sik, professor emeritus at Ewha Womans University whose name was announced earlier, remaining nameless.　The National Institute of Korean History, the government organization charged with preparing the state-authored history textbooks that will replace the current state-reviewed history books at the start of the 2017 academic

Nov. 25, 2015

[Editorial] Put aside differences

The late President Kim Young-sam who passed away Sunday will be laid to rest at the National Cemetery in Seoul on Thursday.　An iconic figure of the country’s pro-democracy movement who served as president from 1993-1998, Kim’s life was remembered and celebrated throughout the five-day mourning period. His comrades, former foes and fellow politicians all kept vigil at his wake and tens of thousands of citizens paid their last respects to the man at altars set up throughout the country. 　A nine-te

Nov. 25, 2015

[Editorial] Tour bus traffic

Driving through areas in Seoul that are popular with tourists can test one’s patience. Tour buses take up entire lanes in some places -- in front of the east side of Gyeongbokgung Palace and on the Mount Namsan Ring Road, for example -- as they unload passengers and wait for their return. In fact, tour buses seem to have taken over virtually all available space in the streets of Seoul as parking spaces.　Further compounding the traffic congestion caused by tour buses is the opening of new duty-fr

Nov. 24, 2015

[Editorial] President’s whereabouts

The special committee charged with investigating the Sewol ferry disaster that claimed more than 300 lives continues to be fraught with political wrangling among its members, raising doubts over whether the committee will be able to complete its task in due time.　On Monday, the committee passed a resolution to investigate the Blue House’s response to the Sewol ferry disaster after four members walked out, threatening to resign. The four, recommended to the committee by the ruling Saenuri Party,

Nov. 24, 2015

[Editorial] Whither opposition?

The internal feud at the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy will mark an important turning point this week as Ahn Cheol-soo will soon clarify his position on party leader Moon Jae-in’s proposal to form a temporary triumvirate leadership along with Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon.　Moon, who has been under persistent pressure to step down over the party’s successive election defeats and continued factional feuding, made the proposal last week. Park accepted the proposal, but Ahn said he

Nov. 23, 2015

[Editorial] Legacy of Kim YS

Kim Young-sam was no doubt a towering figure in Korean politics. Most of all, the man, along with Kim Dae-jung, was a crusader for the nation’s pro-democracy movement.　Like any other leader, Kim Young-sam, who passed away at the age of 87 Sunday, did both good things and bad things, but what he did for democracy alone more than makes up for any shortcomings he had.　Kim risked his life by holding a hunger strike for 23 days in protest against the Chun Doo-hwan regime, underwent house arrests and

Nov. 23, 2015

[Editorial] Labor reform bills

The National Assembly’s Environment and Labor Committee has started deliberations on the five labor reform bills. For the deliberations to be productive, lawmakers on the committee are strongly advised to respect the landmark Sept. 15 agreement among labor, management and the government.　　This advice applies especially to the ruling Saenuri Party members of the parliamentary committee as they are determined to push the five government-proposed bills en bloc through the Assembly during the ongoin

Nov. 22, 2015

[Editorial] Inter-Korean talks

South and North Korea will hold a working-level meeting on Nov. 26 to prepare for high-level government talks. The two sides need to sit at the negotiating table with common sense and an open mind to arrange the proposed government-level talks at an early date.　　The Thursday talks are a follow-up to the landmark Aug. 25 inter-Korean deal, which was concluded to end a military standoff over the North’s land mine attack in early August. Two South Korean soldiers were maimed by the incident that to

Nov. 22, 2015

[Editorial] Healthy online media

The government has taken a small, but meaningful step to rein in substandard Internet media, which have been blamed for turning Korean cyberspace into a hotbed for sensationalism, defamation and rumors in the name of journalism. Under the revision of the enforcement ordinance of the Newspaper Act, online news outlets seeking government registration must employ at least five editorial staff, compared with three previously. 　The new rules, which took effect Thursday, also oblige online outlets to

Nov. 20, 2015

[Editorial] Korea-China FTA

It is not unusual for the National Assembly to drag its feet on key bills. Lawmakers do not even have qualms about breaching the legal deadline for approving the state budget, which puts the financial operations of the government in trouble. Most recently, it failed to redraw the parliamentary constituencies by the deadline, which was Nov. 13. 　Given this practice, few had expected the National Assembly would act in due time when the government submitted the bill to ratify the Korea-China free t

Nov. 20, 2015

[Editorial] Dealing with depression

By all indicators, Korea is not a happy society. Korea had the highest suicide rate among member nations of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development last year. At 29.1 persons per 100,000, Korea’s suicide rate was more than twice the OECD average of 11.9 persons per 100,000. 　A local survey of 1,000 Koreans aged 20-59 showed 36 percent of the respondents saying they were unhappy. A third of the respondents reported experiencing emotional stress and 56 percent said they suspected

Nov. 19, 2015