Bulgaria marks National Day

The Bulgarian Embassy celebrated its National Day on March 3, marking the nation's liberation from the Ottoman Dominion. Bulgarian Embassy commemorated Bulgarian volunteers who fought and liberated Bulgaria during the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878, leading to the re-establishment of Bulgarian statehood. Delivering welcome remarks at the ceremony, Bulgarian Ambassador Petko Draganov recalled his country’s diplomatic relationship with Korea forged 33 years ago in acknowledgment o

March 3, 2023

[James A. Goldston] Ukraine and the rebirth of human rights

As democracy has receded in many parts of the world, “human rights” -- and the language, institutions, and framework of laws to which the concept has given rise over the past 75 years -- have increasingly attracted criticism. Of course, realities on the ground have always fallen short of the lofty aspirations enshrined in our patchwork global human-rights system, from the first initiatives under the League of Nations to the 1945 United Nations Charter and the treaties subsequently

March 3, 2023

[Jean Pisani-Ferry] Reinventing the European Union

Tectonic changes in the global system are forcing all countries to redefine their strategic outlooks and growth models. But while changes are affecting every country, the European Union faces a far more serious challenge that could put its very existence at risk. This is not the first time that the EU has found itself at a crossroads. Global crises tend to throw the bloc into an existential spiral that calls into question its priorities, structure and purpose. Whether Europe remains a major glo

March 2, 2023

[Lee Kyong-hee] Princesses of North Korea’s Kim dynasty

The massive military parade in Pyongyang on Feb. 8 lived up to North Korea’s reputation as a “theater state.” Monster missiles rolled through the brightly illuminated Kim Il Sung Square; impeccable columns of marching soldiers shouted loyalty to their Supreme Leader and his sacred bloodline; and a sea of spectators cheered and wept with joy. But the most memorable image was a child, Kim Ju-ae, standing at center stage alongside her father, Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un. The specta

March 2, 2023

[David C. Logan] Why Putin suspended START

On Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Moscow would suspend implementation of New START, the last remaining treaty between Russia and the United States limiting deployed nuclear weapons. New START limits the number of “strategic” nuclear warheads that Russia and the United States can deploy to 1,550 and the number of deployed strategic nuclear-capable missiles and bombers to 700. The agreement, like its predecessors, was important in limiting arms race pressu

March 1, 2023

[Kim Seong-kon] Living dangerously in this apocalyptic moment

Recently, one of my American friends sent me an insightful article by John Semley, “We’re All Living under Gravity’s Rainbow.” Semley writes engagingly about our current historical moment in light of Thomas Pynchon’s groundbreaking novel, "Gravity’s Rainbow": “Looming apocalypse, paranoid conspiracies, rocket-obsessed oligarchs. As Thomas Pynchon’s novel turns 50, it’s world feels unnervingly present.” Indeed, though publish

March 1, 2023

Slovakia eyes more battery, EV cooperation with Korea

Celebrating 30 years of diplomatic ties between South Korea and Slovakia, the European country's top envoy in Seoul said the country expects more cooperation in the field of battery and electric vehicle production in the near future. Noting the rapidly developing automotive industry in the country, Slovakia's Ambassador to Korea Jan Kuderjavy said Korean companies could take advantage of a regional financial incentive scheme and a preferential tax regime for research and development. &

Feb. 28, 2023

Kuwait recalls Korea’s support during Gulf War on 62nd National Day

Kuwait’s top envoy to Seoul recalled the firm stance of Korea to support Kuwait during the 1990-1991 Gulf War while celebrating his country’s 62nd National Day in Seoul last week. Korea supported Kuwait's rights during the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990 by sending troops to Kuwait to help liberate the Gulf state. Kuwait’s national day, which falls on Feb. 25, marks the commemoration of the day Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salim Al-Sabah became the ruler of Kuwait in 1950. Al-Sabah

Feb. 28, 2023

[Joseph E. Stiglitz] Who stands for freedom in US party politics?

The Republican Party has long wrapped itself in the American flag, claiming to be the defender of “freedom.” The party believes individuals should be free to carry firearms, spew hate speech, and eschew vaccines and face masks. The same goes for corporations: Even if their activities destroy the planet and permanently change the climate, the “free market” should be trusted to sort things out. Banks and other financial institutions should be “liberated” from re

Feb. 28, 2023

[Elizabeth Shackelford] Ukraine’s outsized reliance on US is a risk for the world

One year into Russia’s assault on Ukraine, a few things are clear. Ukraine remains highly motivated, punching well above its weight against a far bigger and more experienced foe. The Russian military, meanwhile, has underperformed to nearly the same degree, though it continues to muster bodies and ammunition to throw at the front. It is also clear that the US role has been essential in giving Ukraine a fighting chance. Thanks to a successful American campaign to become the indispensabl

Feb. 27, 2023

[Robert J. Fouser] Joe Biden visits Kyiv

Today marks one year since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022. US President Joe Biden marked the occasion by making a surprise visit to Kyiv to underscore the depth of the US commitment to Ukraine. The day after Biden’s visit, Russian President Vladimir Putin gave a speech saying that Russia will continue the war indefinitely. He also stated that Russia would suspend the New START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) with the US that caps its number of intercont

Feb. 24, 2023

[Wang Son-taek] Manage crisis and more to ease tension with NK

Military tensions on the Korean Peninsula have sharply risen to a dangerous level as North Korea launched the Hwasong-15 missile, one of the intercontinental ballistic missiles, on Feb. 18. North Korea's launch of long-range ballistic missiles was a severe provocation against international norms and order, as the UN Security Council’s resolutions on North Korea prohibit. Kim Yo-jong, the younger sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and deputy department director of the Workers�

Feb. 23, 2023

[Hal Brands] Ukraine’s future is not in NATO

During World War II, the Allies started planning for the postwar era before victory was anywhere in sight. One year into Ukraine’s struggle against Russia, it's time for Kyiv and the West to do likewise. Ukraine certainly hasn’t won the war, and in view of Russia’s unfolding offensive, a settlement may be months or even years away. But whenever peace breaks out, Ukraine will still have to ensure its security against a Russian regime that barely acknowledges its right to ex

Feb. 23, 2023

[Cho Sung-hun] Joint probe needed for the issue of Vietnam War's civilian victims

On Feb. 7, the Seoul Central District Court said, "In February 1968, in the village of Phong Nhi, Quang Nam province, Vietnam, she lost her family and was seriously injured in the civilian massacre by the Korean Army." It ruled that the Korean government is responsible for compensation for Nguyen Thi Thanh, a survivor of the killings. The ruling marks the first time that the South Korean judiciary has recognized government responsibility for such an atrocity, and is a new milestone tow

Feb. 22, 2023

[Kim Seong-kon] War with fascism, communism, populism

Recently, I came across an intriguing article by a professor of sociology at Yonsei University. In that persuasive essay, the writer claimed that humans fought and won the battle with fascism in the early 20th century and with communism in the late 20th century. According to him, the great war of humanity is now against populism in the 21st century. Indeed, populism is seriously undermining democracy and human civilization these days. The term “populism,” which originally developed i

Feb. 22, 2023

[Doyle McManus] Biden’s 2024 bid harks back to the past

When the 1996 presidential campaign approached, Bill Clinton faced an uphill struggle to win a second term. His biggest legislative proposal, a sweeping health care bill, had failed. His party had lost the House of Representatives to Republicans led by a fiery conservative, Newt Gingrich. Clinton's poll ratings were sagging. So he tacked toward the center. He battled Gingrich to a standstill over GOP plans to cut spending on Medicare. He championed modest but popular proposals such as the

Feb. 22, 2023

[Jane Hoffman] Time to pull in reins of Big Tech

Every day, the $6.7 trillion Big Tech industry affects our lives in ways that empower and harm. Despite recent hits in earnings, current layoffs and Google getting slapped with yet another lawsuit from the Justice Department, the tech giants are still all-powerful in our society, economy and daily lives. As long as the digital age keeps pulling more of our lives online, Big Tech companies will grow and dominate. The big five -- Google, Facebook, Amazon, Microsoft and Apple -- have become so lar

Feb. 21, 2023

[Ana Palacio] How West can woo Africa back from China, Russia

The United States is finally paying attention to Africa. But recent attempts at engagement -- the US-Africa Leaders Summit in December and US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen’s 10-day tour of the continent last month -- have offered no indication that the US has anything close to a meaningful strategy for engagement with the continent. And the European Union is no better. Renewed Western interest in Africa is long overdue. The continent plays an essential role in world affairs, not least be

Feb. 21, 2023

[Sławomir Sierakowski] The constitutional chaos in Poland

Next door to Ukraine, where people are being killed every day for wanting to join the European Union, Polish leaders are waging what they have called a war on two fronts -- against both Russia and the EU. As a result of this “war,” the country’s populist government, led by the right-wing Law and Justice (PiS) party, has failed to unlock the 160 billion euros ($170 billion) that was allocated to Poland under the EU’s pandemic recovery fund. While the government has negot

Feb. 20, 2023