[Editorial] Rain, rain, rain

Koreans will remember the summer of 2011 as having the heaviest rains in their life. The Korea Meteorological Administration’s observatories have recorded new records of precipitation per hour, the number of consecutive rainy days and other statistics. People lost their lives in mudslides, in sudden

Aug. 15, 2011

[Editorial] Korea Herald birthday

Today, The Korea Herald entered its 59th year as Korea’s window to the world and bridge to the global community, a job performed with a strong sense of dedication to public service. Born only a few weeks after the cease-fire of the Korean War, the English-language newspaper has been published withou

Aug. 14, 2011

[Editorial] Double anniversary

After six decades, “8.15” ― the double anniversary of the 1945 liberation from Japanese colonial rule at the end of World War II and the 1948 inauguration of the Republic of Korea’s first government ― is fading as a national day celebrating Korea’s independence. Busy Koreans need to do some soul-sea

Aug. 14, 2011

[Editorial] R&D in services

The government has announced a set of measures to stimulate R&D investment in services as part of its continuing drive to advance the underdeveloped service sector. The package proposed, among other things, to provide tax credits to service companies for their spending on R&D and draw up a mid- to l

Aug. 12, 2011

[Editorial] Uphill battle for BOK

Despite mounting concerns about rising inflation, the Bank of Korea has frozen its policy rate for August. The bank’s decision was expected, given the rapid deterioration in the global economic outlook due to rekindled worries about the U.S. economy and a deepening debt crisis in the eurozone.But th

Aug. 12, 2011

[Editorial] Hanjin crisis on mend?

Cho Nam-ho, chairman of Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction, vows to settle his company’s labor dispute at an early date ― one of the worst the nation has witnessed in recent years. He should, if he wishes to restore his reputation as a businessman, which has been seriously damaged by his evasi

Aug. 11, 2011

[Editorial] Guard against N. Korea

The South Korean government is providing protection for Minister of National Defense Kim Kwan-jin on intelligence that North Korean agents are on a mission to assassinate him. When he is on the move, he is escorted by a military police detail dressed in civilian clothes.The assassination plan, if tr

Aug. 11, 2011

[Editorial] East Sea campaign

Korea has lodged a formal protest with the U.S. government for ignoring its request that it use both “East Sea” and “Sea of Japan” in calling the body of water between Korea and Japan. The East Sea is Korea’s preferred name for the maritime area.According to reports, the U.S. government has confirme

Aug. 10, 2011

[Editorial] Irrational politicians

To leaders of the ruling Grand National Party and the main opposition Democratic Party, the twin sovereign debt crisis in Europe and the United States is a fire on the other side of the river. They are watching the flames without bothering to find out what caused it or learn its lessons.The main cau

Aug. 10, 2011

[Editorial] Tolerance and leniency

The Republic of Korea proves to have one of the loosest systems regarding military secrets among nations with strong armed forces. Its court also deserves note for its leniency on cases involving leak of military secrets, quite discomforting fact in a country that faces constant threats from a most

Aug. 9, 2011

[Editorial] Free lunch referendum

Two weeks are left until the referendum on free school lunch in Seoul. The capital city will now be engulfed in raging campaigns that will force every resident to define their ideological orientation in the heated contest between the left and right.The referendum is a costly affair; citizens feel so

Aug. 9, 2011

[Editorial] Ahn Chul-soo syndrome

Ahn Chul-soo, 49, a medical doctor-turned-software businessman, is the Korean version of Bill Gates plus Michael Sandel. Currently the dean of the Graduate School of Convergence Science and Technology, Seoul National University, he runs the Ahn Chul-soo Research Institute, the largest software enter

Aug. 8, 2011

[Editorial] North in transition?

Amid the general bleakness in inter-Korean relations, there are reports of some signs of change in the North. For one, Pyongyang has refrained from verbally attacking President Lee Myung-bak from the beginning of this month. Since the summer of 2008, North Korea’s official mouthpieces had called Pre

Aug. 8, 2011

[Editorial] U.S. rating downgrade

In a surprise move, Standard & Poor’s has lowered the credit rating of the United States by one notch from the highest “AAA” level to “AA+.” The unprecedented rating downgrade is expected to have far-reaching effects on Korea and the global economy as it could hinder the U.S. economic recovery and a

Aug. 7, 2011

[Editorial] Auditing universities

The Board of Audit and Inspection starts a three-week audit of 31 private junior colleges and universities throughout the nation next week. All private higher education institutions will be called on to use the outcome of the audit as a reference when they are setting tuition fees. It should also se

Aug. 5, 2011

[Editorial] Tolerance wearing out

A labor dispute that must be settled by Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction has now evolved into a major political conflict. It has become a rallying point for scattered opposition parties as well as dissident groups, imposing a heavy burden on the ruling party and its pro-business lawmakers in

Aug. 5, 2011

[Editorial] Wrong traditions

Even before the National Assembly’s confirmation hearing started for the appointment of the new prosecutor-general, some top-ranked prosecutors retired ― just to follow the tradition that has persisted not only in the prosecution but in most other organizations with hierarchical structures in Korea.

Aug. 4, 2011

[Editorial] Illegal immigrants

Korea is heading to a multicultural society. The nation needs the influx of foreigners to maintain industries and homes. Migrant workers are active in growing areas of manufacturing and service businesses, including high-tech ones. One out of every 10 marriages has a foreign-born bride. However, acc

Aug. 4, 2011

[Editorial] Privatizing airport

Management, be it of an airport or a utility, is generally more efficient in the hands of private enterprises aiming at minimizing waste and maximizing profits. In this regard, it is better to privatize Incheon International Airport, as the government plans to do in the near future, than to keep it

Aug. 3, 2011

[Editorial] Leave companies alone

Minister of Knowledge and Economy Choi Joong-kyung invited legitimate complaints from the business community again when he called on large corporations on Saturday to cut executive pay and use the savings to create jobs. His remarks were received as an unwarranted act of government intervention in t

Aug. 3, 2011