[Robert J. Fouser] The center will hold in Korea

As the demonstrations against President Park Geun-hye built up, foreigner observers were impressed by the level of civility in crowds so large. Violent incidents were rare, shops were not looted, and the trash was picked up. The crowds, numbering over 1 million at times in Gwanghwamun, sang and chanted peacefully. The crowds included families with children and high school students in uniform as well as the predictable activist groups.On Dec. 9, the National Assembly followed through on its threa

Dec. 20, 2016

[Wahnkil Chung] Hummingbird effect in health care industry

When explaining a small change leading to much bigger and often unanticipated changes, in addition to “butterfly effect” of chaos theory, the “hummingbird effect” is often used.An invention of mechanical printing by Gutenberg in 1440s enabled the mass production of Bibles, which contributed to the Christian reformation. It also allowed numerous people to include reading as a daily routine, which led to the discovery that many people are far sighted. Demand for reading glasses exploded which prom

Dec. 19, 2016

[Lee Chang-hoon] Hanjin Group’s Cho and Franco-Korean Relations

Since obtaining its independence, South Korea has maintained a close and friendly relationship with France, which was the second western European state after Britain to recognize the government of the Republic of Korea as the only legitimate government on the Korean peninsula. France has been Korea’s strong ally since the end of the Korean War.Numerous individuals and organizations alike have historically maintained friendly relations between the two countries, particularly religious and busines

Dec. 19, 2016

[Andres Oppenheimer] Trump’s cabinet looks like plutocracy

President-elect Donald Trump has picked a cabinet dominated by business tycoons with no government experience or patience for history lessons. In other words, he will be surrounded by people like himself.There is nothing wrong with appointing successful corporate barons, rather than government bureaucrats, to top cabinet posts: It’s an old American tradition.When President Dwight D. Eisenhower appointed GM’s chief executive officer Charles Wilson as secretary of defense in 1953, he famously said

Dec. 19, 2016

[Ram Garikipati] India’s demonetization and Korea’s currency reform

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi stunned the nation when he made a public announcement at 8 p.m. on Nov. 8 that 86 percent of the currency in circulation -- 500-rupee (US$7.40) and 1,000-rupee notes -- would no longer be legal tender at the stroke of midnight. The ostensible reason for this was to fight rampant corruption and the underground economy along with counterfeit notes printed by Pakistan to fuel terrorism in India.He asked the Indian citizens to bear the short-term inconvenience fo

Dec. 18, 2016

[Andres Oppenheimer] Human rights would likely take beating under Tillerson

President-elect Donald Trump’s decision to nominate Exxon Mobil’s CEO Rex Tillerson as secretary of state is sounding alarm bells among human rights groups. And there are good reasons for it.Tillerson, 64, who like Trump has no government experience, is best known for his close ties with Russia’s authoritarian President Vladimir Putin, who awarded him the Kremlin’s Order of Friendship prize in 2013.As a lifetime Exxon employee, Tillerson has befriended some of the world’s worst human rights offe

Dec. 18, 2016

[David Ignatius] US straddle in Syria was bound to fail

The fall of Aleppo is a human catastrophe. It’s also a demonstration of the perils of choosing the middle course in a military conflict. Sometimes it‘s possible to talk and fight at the same time. But in Syria, America’s decision to pursue a dual-track, halfway approach made the mayhem worse. 　A battered Secretary of State John Kerry made one more plea Thursday for a peaceful evacuation of what‘s left of Aleppo. At a State Department briefing, he used the strongest language to describe the situa

Dec. 16, 2016

[Bill Emmott] Japanese Foreign Policy in the Trump Era

December will be a month of reconciliation for Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, as he meets with leaders from two countries that fought Japan in World War II: the United States and Russia.It might seem promising that Abe is hosting Russian President Vladimir Putin and then being hosted by US President Barack Obama in such short order. But these events actually presage an uncomfortable, potentially destabilizing time for Japan – and all of East Asia.On Dec. 26, Abe will shake hands with Obama

Dec. 15, 2016

[Rachel Marsden] CIA‘s Russian hacking claims invalid without technical disclosures

Anonymous US government officials claim that the Central Intelligence Agency has a secret report concluding that Russia provided hacked emails to WikiLeaks with the specific objective of securing Donald Trump’s presidential victory. This was originally reported by the Washington Post late last week and is now being echoed by politicians who stand to benefit from the narrative -- namely, establishment Republicans who oppose Trump and Democrats whose shot at power was destroyed by him.So far, no o

Dec. 15, 2016

[Ned Forney] One man’s difference

Throughout Korea’s long and proud existence, its people have witnessed remarkable triumphs and tragedies. While some eras of Korean history are remembered more fondly or sadly than others, one period stands out as the most tumultuous and heroic. The 20th century. In a span of less than 100 years, from the early 1900’s to the late 1980’s, Korea moved from an agrarian, largely isolated kingdom to a modern and democratic nation with the world’s 13th-largest economy. During this time it also experie

Dec. 14, 2016