[Editorial] Growth and jobs

Official figures paint a picture of the Korean job market that is far from bleak. On the contrary, Korea appears to be near “full employment,” given the 3.5 percent April jobless rate ― somewhere near an acceptable level of unemployment.But President Lee Myung-bak’s administration is desperate to create jobs by boosting growth. That points to a problem that cannot be described by the official jobless figures alone. Lying at the core of the problem is hidden unemployment. In other words, so many

May 29, 2012

[Editorial] Court ruling on KCC

One of the serious mistakes made by President Lee Myung-bak’s administration was to issue licenses to four new “general programming” cable television channels and one news-only channel last year. This is shown by their abysmal ratings, which reveal an average viewer share of less than 1 percent.One of the questions raised is why four general programming channels were allowed to operate when it was widely believed that, given the market size, two would be more than enough. Moreover, the advertisi

May 29, 2012

[Editorial] DUP leadership race

Moon Jae-in, a lawmaker-elect for the main opposition Democratic United Party, recently wrote a tweet suggesting how burdened and frustrated he felt about obstacles to his presidential challenge.The feeling was apparently exacerbated by the backlash against his alliance with two senior DUP members, which he had probably hoped would help lay the groundwork for his presidential bid.In return for their support, Moon appeared to have promised to throw his weight behind Rep. Park Jie-won and former P

May 28, 2012

[Editorial] Helping irregular workers

The ruling Saenuri Party is planning to submit a dozen bills related to people’s livelihoods as soon as the new National Assembly begins its four-year term Wednesday.At the top of the list, which is scheduled to be finalized at a meeting of party policymakers Tuesday, will likely be a set of measures aimed at banning discrimination against irregular workers.Under the measures, which the ruling party wants to enact into law along with other priority bills within the first 100 days of the new parl

May 28, 2012

[Editoral] Landmark verdict

The Supreme Court has rendered a landmark verdict for Koreans who have been seeking compensation from Japanese companies for their forced labor during the colonial period (1910-45). In two suits filed by 11 Koreans against Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. and Nippon Steel Corp., the highest court ruled that the two Japanese enterprises should pay their former Korean employees unpaid wages and compensation for their suffering. The verdict carries deep legal, historical and political implications,

May 27, 2012

[Editoral] Repatriated remains

Kim Yong-soo was drafted into the army right after the Korean War broke out in June 1950. At the time, he was 18. The student soldier died during the Battle of Chosin Reservoir, a fierce 17-day engagement fought in the winter of 1950 between 12,000 U.S. troops and a 120,000-strong Chinese force at a reservoir in northeastern North Korea.Kim participated in the battle as a member of KATUSA or Korean Augmentation Troops to the United States Army. He was assigned to the U.S. 7th Infantry Division,

May 27, 2012

[Editorial] Tougher handling

A Justice Ministry committee this week ordered a man repeatedly convicted of sexually assaulting children to undergo chemical castration in the country’s first use of the punishment.The law authorizing forced medication of sex offenders aged 19 or above who victimized minors under 16 took effect last July.Though Korea became the first Asian country to legalize chemical castration of pedophiles, its judicial authorities still remain far detached from the public sense of due justice for sex offend

May 25, 2012

[Editorial] Who’s telling the truth?

Two heavyweight politicians are engaged in a high-stakes legal battle, the result of which could inflict fatal damage on the political future of either one and might set the tone for this year’s presidential campaign.Rep. Park Geun-hye, the leading presidential hopeful of the ruling Saenuri Party, sued Rep. Park Jie-won, the floor leader of the main opposition Democratic United Party, for libel on Monday over his allegations of her involvement in a bribery scandal surrounding a suspended savings

May 25, 2012

[Editorial] Removing privileges

The National Assembly has opened a new office building for its members. The plush building, which cost 220 billion won to build, is a reminder that lawmakers have learned nothing at all from the provincial governments that are mired in debt due to construction of luxurious office buildings. Of course, the new building won’t push the National Assembly into a debt crisis. It can finance it with taxpayers’ money. Yet if legislators use their budget authority to increase their own benefits and conve

May 24, 2012

[Editorial] Overtures again?

North Korea has released an ambiguous statement, leaving many puzzling about its real intentions. The North’s Foreign Ministry on Tuesday suggested that there would be no immediate nuclear weapons test, dismissing speculation that the communist country would test an atomic bomb soon to compensate for its botched long-range rocket launch last month.The ministry’s spokesman asserted that the North did not have a plan for a nuclear test from the beginning as its aim was to launch a scientific and t

May 24, 2012

[Editorial] True progressivism

An investigation into an alleged electoral fraud involving the United Progressive Party will now undoubtedly gain momentum, as prosecutors have secured the server used for the party’s data processing. The main targets are those accused of rigging an online vote conducted among party members to select candidates for their proportional representation list in the general election.The party succeeded in winning 13 seats in the 300-member National Assembly in the April 11 elections ― seven in distric

May 23, 2012

[Editorial] Energy conservation

The government has already kicked off a campaign to lower room temperatures, even before summer has come. The nation has no option but to conserve energy if it is to avoid blackouts, given that demand for electricity, left unrestrained, is expected to exceed supply.But electricity is not the only form of energy that will be in short supply. A squeeze on oil supply is anticipated as Korea is under pressure from the United States and the European Union to suspend crude imports as early as this mon

May 23, 2012

[Editorial] Enhancing top courts

The inaugural congress of the Association of Asian Constitutional Courts and Equivalent Institutions is being held in Seoul for five days this week.Institutions exercising constitutional jurisdiction in 10 Asian nations including Korea comprise the regional forum intended to promote democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights by enhancing cooperation and friendship.Representatives from the member institutions are joined by observers and guests from 20 other countries at the congress held u

May 22, 2012

[Editorial] Open primary

Whether or not to introduce an open primary is becoming a key, and potentially divisive, issue in the ruling Saenuri Party’s race to nominate its candidate for the presidential election in December.The undisputed frontrunner, Rep. Park Geun-hye, has reacted negatively to mounting calls from her challengers to allow any registered voter to vote in its primary, regardless of party affiliation.Park’s competitors ― Gyeonggi Province Gov. Kim Moon-soo, former party leader Rep. Chung Mong-joon and sen

May 22, 2012

[Editorial] Insurance fraud

The insurance fraud in Changwon uncovered by the Financial Supervisory Service is both shocking and disturbing. It involved as many as 1,361 people, mostly residents of the South Gyeongsang Province city, who either posed as fake patients or exaggerated their illnesses. Collectively, they claimed 9.5 billion won from 33 insurance companies between 2007 and 2011.At the center of the scam ― the largest ever in terms of the number of people involved ― were three unconscionable hospitals in the city

May 21, 2012

[Editorial] Headed for train wreck

The left-wing United Progressive Party is headed toward a train wreck as the widely denounced former mainstream faction has launched its own emergency leadership, challenging the one set up with the blessing of the party’s central committee.The new interim leadership is headed by Oh Byung-yoon, one of the six lawmakers-elect of the National Liberation faction, which until recently ran the party. The move demonstrated the faction’s determination to defend its two proportional lawmakers-elect ― Le

May 21, 2012

[Editorial] Shielding from ‘Grexit’

Money is leaving Korea for a safer haven, pulling down stocks and weakening the Korean currency ― spurred by the eurozone’s increasing exposure to the risk of a Greek exit. Moreover, growth is slowing in China, the largest market for Korean exports. Few would say, however, that the flight of capital is at a dangerous level. Still, it is serious enough for the Korean government to dust off its past contingency plans for a fresh look and prepare itself to draw up a new one should Greece leave the

May 20, 2012

[Editorial] Regional free trade?

Korea, China and Japan believe free trade among themselves will help promote prosperity for each of them. As such, they agreed on May 12 to start negotiations on a trilateral free trade agreement this year. Should the proposed trilateral accord be successfully negotiated, no bilateral accord would be needed. But free trade among the Northeast Asian countries is easier said than done because they are at different stages of industrialization. No wonder each of them is in pursuit of bilateral trade

May 20, 2012

[Editorial] Pro-N.K. lawmakers

The controversy surrounding the lawmakers-elect of the Unified Progressive Party boils down to two questions. One is whether the party’s proportional lawmakers-elect who were selected through fraud-ridden primaries should resign or not, while the other is if it is acceptable for North Korea sympathizers to become lawmakers.The first question is not so difficult to answer. A majority of party members and ordinary citizens outside the left-wing minority party rightly think that they should step do

May 19, 2012

[Editorial] Lee’s visit to Myanmar

President Lee Myung-bak’s visit to Myanmar earlier this week was significant as it signaled Korea’s willingness to help the Southeast Asian nation transition to democracy and achieve economic development.The landmark visit ― the first by a South Korean president in 29 years ― was also intended to give a message to North Korean leaders. What Lee wanted to say can be summed up as: “Look at Myanmar. If you open up, plenty of support will come your way.” Lee’s decision to visit Myanmar must have bee

May 19, 2012