The Korea Herald

Readers’ VOICE

On the Jeju base...I’m not Korean nor have I even been to Jeju, but I have seen many pictures of Jeju Island, read about it and dream to go there one day. I voted for it for the 7 Wonders of the World. I watched 1N2D go there and I was there in spirit with them as they showed me the wonders of Jeju

Oct. 17, 2011

[VOICE] Should Jeju have a naval base?

With construction under way and opposition not letting up ...Should Jeju have a naval base?Battleground of ideasThe proposed naval base at Gangjeong on Jeju Island has been a source of bitter controversy since it was first announced in 2007. The South Korean Navy argues that the $970 million dollar

Oct. 17, 2011

Readers’ voice

On mandatory quotas...It seems wrong to make a bill. However it is obvious many women have trouble getting promoted and feel prejudice in Korean society. Women have even more obstacles in many ways than men in South Korea.― Kim Hyeong-goo, Seoul via FacebookAbsolutely! Equal rights for all! There ar

Oct. 10, 2011

Should we force firms to hire more women?

With so few Korean women executives ...Should we force firms to hire more women?The business of genderSouth Korea has one of the lowest employment rates for women in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. The country is seventh-last with a female employment rate of 52.2, while th

Oct. 10, 2011

On K-pop in the U.S. ...

On K-pop in the U.S. ...There’s nothing wrong with desiring a larger market, but there’s Europe and the rest of Asia where K-pop is already familiar. Knowing the U.S., they’d pirate it anyway.Few things are destined to fail ― the market just isn’t what it used to be. When industry giants like Clear

Oct. 3, 2011

[Voice] Can K-pop break the U.S.?

With the Korean Wave making noise overseas ...Can K-pop break the U.S.?The Korean Wave statesideAs part of the Korean Wave, K-pop has enjoyed considerable commercial success outside of South Korea. Groups such as KARA and Girls’ Generation have made major inroads in Japan and other Asian countries,

Oct. 3, 2011

Readers’ VOICE

On naming suspects ...Trial by press is unacceptable for people who are just suspects. It could be argued that the West is wrong, as we have a duty to protect the identities of people ― there is a right to privacy in many countries, even if only in common law.As well, it is a moral problem; we could

Sept. 26, 2011

Should criminal suspects be named?

With many of those arrested remaining anonymous ...Should criminal suspects be named?A balance of rightsUnlike in jurisdictions such as the U.S., South Korean law and media convention in many cases protect the identities of criminal suspects. In accordance with the criminal code and Korean National

Sept. 26, 2011

Should conscientious objectors be jailed?

With U.N. and Korean rights panel calling for Korea to end the practice ...Should conscientious objectors be jailed?Obligations of serviceAll able-bodied Korean men are required to undertake at least 21 months of military service, a measure to maintain a strong military in face of the threat posed b

Sept. 19, 2011

Who should win in the People vs. Apple?

With more than 27,000 iPhone users suing Apple over location tracking ...A man uses an Apple iPhone.Consumers bite backKorean users of Apple’s iPhone have filed a class action suit, arguing Apple had violated its customers’ right to privacy by tracking their locations, causing distress. A lawyer suc

Aug. 29, 2011

Readers’ VOICE

On the Apple class-action suitWhen I read about the 27,000 South Koreans who’ve filed a joint lawsuit against Apple, contending that their right to privacy was infringed upon, I took it as a joke. iPhones have GPS built into them; many of their apps work on the assumption of a constant connection to

Aug. 29, 2011

Should all school kids get free meals?

As Seoul prepares to vote ...Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon campaigns ahead of the school meals referendum slated for August 24. (Yonhap News)A rocky road to a controversial voteAfter months of political dispute, Seoul citizens will decide on free school meals in a vote on Wednesday. The referendum will ask

Aug. 22, 2011

Readers’ VOICE

On school meals ...It should be subjective. Children who come from families of a low income should be able to get lunch in school for free. Those who come from higher income families should have to pay. How you decide what is high and low, I don’t know. But having a blanket system is just populist,

Aug. 22, 2011

Do we need so many public NETs?

As Gyeonggi Province cuts foreign teacher numbers ... A native English teacher at the National Institute for International Education in Seoul. (Yonhap News)The future of NETs in KoreaThere are currently about 30,000 native English teachers in South Korea, a majority of whom work at private scho

Aug. 15, 2011

Readers’ voice

On teacher numbers ...Even if non-native speakers of English are relatively good at teaching conversational English, it’s very difficult to teach culture, slang, idioms, customs, etc. When I taught at a public middle school, the non-native conversation teacher taught mostly in Korean. The only diffe

Aug. 15, 2011

Readers’ VOICE

On dog meat ...We eat many animals, why should dogs get special treatment? Perhaps because of their intelligence? Scientists tell us pigs are actually smarter, and yet we eat pork. Their status as a popular pet? Again, pigs can be pets as well (Charlotte’s Web anyone?) Admittedly inhumane treatment

Aug. 8, 2011

Should dog meat be banned?

As some restaurants serve up the dish for the summer ...Animal rights activists protest the consumpt ion of dog meat in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province. (Yonhap News) Eating man’s best friendThe production and consumption of dog meat is somewhat of a legal gray area in South Korea. In a strange leg

Aug. 8, 2011

Readers’ VOICE

On gambling ...Gambling should be legalized in Korea just like in other nations. First of all, gambling businesses stimulate the economy.Currently, the police in Korea restrict illegal gambling. If casinos were allowed in Korea, spending on the police would decrease and these units would be deployed

Aug. 1, 2011

Should casinos allow Koreans?

With all but one of the country’s casinos foreigner-only ...Gambling and the lawGambling in Korea is in principle illegal, falling under articles 246 and 247 of the Criminal Act. There are exceptions to these laws, however, including the two national lotteries Lotto and Toto, horse, motor and cycle

Aug. 1, 2011

Readers’ VOICE

On abortion ...If someone tried to kill you while sleeping, what would you do?Maybe you would shout out “Robber! Help me!” for a neighbor to hear. Or you might call the police.The baby in a mother’s womb is alive like us. Even if he can’t shout and talk, can we, even their parents, take away their life? We don’t have a right to do this. That is why the relationship is not top to bottom but horizon

July 27, 2011