[Editorial] Foreign workers’ safety

The deadly sinking of the Sewol, which has put all Koreans in anguish for the past month, is having the effect of raising awareness about the nation’s poor industrial safety. Large manufacturing companies are scrambling to strengthen measures to prevent workplace accidents, allotting more staff and budget to this end.Such renewed endeavors should have come earlier, as Korea has in recent years recorded the highest number of fatal industrial accidents, except for Turkey, in the 34-member Organiza

May 22, 2014

[Editorial] A better alternative

President Park Geun-hye’s decision to disband the organization of maritime police revealed the depth of her wrath at its poor initial response to the ferry disaster last month. Most Koreans agree that many of the 302 lives lost in the tragic accident could have been saved if it had carried out rescue work in a swift and proper manner.In the face of growing public anger with their incapacity and neglect of duty, maritime police officers had seemed resigned to harsh measures to be taken against th

May 22, 2014

Still bated breath for weary Bangkok

The Thai army’s unilateral declaration of countrywide martial law has made little difference to residents of Bangkok, who have grown resigned to the now seven-month political drama.With the end game still not clear, it remains a waiting game ― but meanwhile it’s business as usual although many residents, especially those in the tourism sector, are beginning to feel the pinch of a slowing economy.There were traffic jams on Tuesday morning as some army positions were set up at strategic intersecti

May 22, 2014

[Editorial] Tasks for lawmakers

The National Assembly has opened an extraordinary session to tackle a wide array of problems posed by the Sewol ferry fiasco. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have begun to slam the government officials responsible for turning the ferry’s sinking into a manmade tragedy by bungling the rescue operation. The officials deserve to be excoriated for their ineffectual rescue efforts and their failure to fulfill their duties. But lawmakers are not in a position to throw stones, as they live in glas

May 21, 2014

[Editorial] Back-scratching ties

In her Monday statement, President Park Geun-hye reaffirmed her resolve to break the chain of corrupt ties between bureaucrats and businesses, as it is regarded as one of the main causes of the tragic Sewol ferry disaster. Park noted that the ferry fiasco illustrated how a big manmade catastrophe could be brought about by “the abnormal practice of collusion between bureaucrats and industry people” and “the cliquish culture that permeates the civil service.” She pointed out that the Ministry of O

May 21, 2014

[Editorial] Ex-cons in elections

Political parties and candidates are shifting into high gear for the June 4 local elections, for which official campaigning will start Thursday. A total of 8,994 candidates have registered to run for 3,962 posts, including governors and mayors of the 17 provinces and metropolitan cities, chief administrators of 226 smaller local governments, nearly 3,700 local council members and 17 education superintendents. Like in elections elsewhere, we cannot expect only candidates who are capable and have

May 20, 2014

[Editorial] Cabinet reshuffle

President Park Geun-hye’s national address on the Sewol ferry disaster included drastic measures and firm promises to make the nation a safer place to live. There may be pros and cons, but what’s important now is to turn them into action and choose the right people for the job. Park’s address was highlighted by her apologies for the government’s failure to prevent the disaster and properly respond to it, and a set of planned measures to upgrade the nation’s safety system. The measures were focus

May 20, 2014

[Editorial] Building a safer society

In her nationally televised address Monday, President Park Geun-hye expressed her firm resolve to turn the sorrow from last month’s ferry disaster into a decisive force to build a safer nation with more capable and responsive public services.She also offered yet another apology and held herself “ultimately responsible” for the maritime tragedy, in which more than 300 passengers, most of them teenagers, lost their lives. While Park delivered her speech 33 days after the Sewol sank off the southwe

May 19, 2014

[Editorial] Disgraceful label

Korea has long been bothered by illegal fishing by Chinese vessels in its seas. The increase in the number of Chinese boats illicitly entering the country’s exclusive economic zone amid the loosening surveillance following the April 16 ferry disaster has further exacerbated public sentiment here.But Koreans have been largely unaware that their nation is also facing mounting international criticism for its involvement in illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. The European Commission, the ex

May 19, 2014

[Editorial] KBS in turmoil

A former newsroom chief of the Korean Broadcasting System has thrown the public broadcaster into turmoil by exposing the presidential office’s meddling in its news programming. Kim Si-gon, who resigned as director of the network’s news bureau on May 9 over a controversial comment on the victims of the Sewol ferry disaster, dropped a bombshell revelation at a general meeting of KBS reporters on May 16. Kim, who had led the newsroom for more than a year, cited a recent example of Cheong Wa Dae’s i

May 18, 2014

[Editorial] Hollow pledges

With candidate registrations for the June 4 elections completed Friday, the ruling Saenuri Party and the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy are shifting into campaign mode. The 13-day official campaign period starts May 22, but candidates are stumping around their districts, putting forward sugar-coated election pledges to woo voters.The common theme in their promises is safety. Given the trauma of the Sewol ferry disaster, it is only natural for candidates to make safety a top

May 18, 2014

[Editorial] Reinterpreting constitution

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe made it public Thursday that Tokyo would seek to exercise the right of collective self-defense, which would allow his country to fight alongside its allies beyond its borders.The right has been considered beyond what is permitted under Japan’s pacifist constitution. Article 9 of the constitution, which has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize this year, stipulates the Japanese people “forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation.” Circumventing t

May 16, 2014

[Editorial] ‘A sea of friendship’

South Korea lodged a complaint with China earlier this month against an increase in illegal fishing by Chinese vessels in its waters following the April 16 sinking of the ferry Sewol, which claimed more than 300 lives. The tragic accident has led South Korean maritime police to reduce surveillance on illicit operations by Chinese fishermen in the country’s exclusive economic zone.South Korea has long been troubled by illegal fishing by Chinese boats. But it is particularly deplorable to attempt

May 16, 2014

[Editorial] Workplace safety

Following the Sewol ferry tragedy, workplace safety has become a buzzword among Korean CEOs. Top officials of major corporations are visiting accident-prone workplaces to check safety systems and urge employees to put safety first.For instance, Chung Mong-Koo, chairman of Hyundai Motor Group, recently visited Hyundai Steel’s plant in Dangjin, South Chungcheong Province, a workplace that has been plagued by accidents.In May last year, five workers died while working on a furnace at the steel plan

May 15, 2014

[Editorial] Careless remark

North Korea continued Thursday its verbal assault on the South’s Defense Ministry spokesman for his scathing criticism of its regime earlier this week.The spokesman said during a news briefing Monday that “the North should vanish as soon as possible because it can no longer be seen as a normal state.” He made the controversial remark after denouncing the North for denying having sent drones into the South.Last week, the Defense Ministry concluded that the three drones discovered near the inter-K

May 15, 2014

[Editorial] Brazen defiance

The prosecution has been spearheading the probe into the sinking of the ferry Sewol. It has indicted all 15 surviving crew members of the ship, including its captain, and is expanding its inquiry into related government offices, civilian maritime agencies and the operator of the ferry and its affiliates. Frustratingly, the probe into the operator, Chonghaejin Marine Co., and its affiliates is making little progress. And it is infuriating that the investigation is not making headway mainly becaus

May 14, 2014

[Editorial] Smooth transition

It is likely that Samsung Electronics chairman Lee Kun-hee will be hospitalized for an extended period of time. It is reassuring, however, that Samsung Group is not showing any sign of crisis and maintaining “business as usual.” Lee’s physicians at Samsung Medical Center were quoted as saying that the 73-year-old chairman, who is under sedation, is in stable condition, with his heart functioning well and brain activity stable. Lee was admitted to the hospital early Sunday morning after suffering

May 14, 2014

[Editorial] Beyond bureaucracy

President Park Geun-hye revealed her sense of urgency over the deteriorating public sentiment by discussing a range of measures regarding the April 16 ferry tragedy with her senior secretaries and Cabinet members on Sunday and Tuesday, respectively. The meeting with the whole senior presidential staff was the first she had convened on a weekend since she took office in February last year.Park is said to be planning an address to the nation as early as this week to apologize for the poor handling

May 13, 2014

[Editorial] Competitiveness of cities

Since being reintroduced in 1995 after more than three decades of hiatus, local elections have drawn lukewarm attention from voters. Voter turnout has usually hovered around 50 percent.Just three weeks from now, the June 4 municipal polls seem almost consigned to oblivion in the sorrowful mood following last month’s ferry disaster that claimed more than 300 lives. People show little interest in who is running for mayor or councilor in their municipalities.Main political parties raced to complete

May 13, 2014

[Editorial] Bipartisan cooperation

The National Assembly is to open an extraordinary session soon as the ruling and opposition parties have agreed to immediately start parliamentary discussion of the problems related to the deadly sinking of the Sewol ferry.The two parties’ new floor leaders, Rep. Lee Wan-koo of the ruling Saenuri Party and Park Young-sun of the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy, announced Sunday that they had also agreed to make bipartisan efforts to get to the bottom of the tragedy, punish tho

May 12, 2014