Rarely in modern history has a party appeared as divided over its nominee as Republicans are over Donald Trump. But will his GOP critics really keep their backs turned through November, or will they come around?Some leaders of the conservative movement claim they will never vote for him -- not only think-tank intellectuals, but also members of Congress, such as Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska. Columnist George F. Will, once a backstairs adviser to Ronald Reagan, says good Republicans shouldn’t merely

Viewpoints May 5, 2016

The case of harmful sterilizers used in humidifiers shows that a combination of social germs, such as money-grubbing corporations and negligent government officials, could pose an immense threat to public health. The primary blame, of course, should go to the makers of the toxic sterilizers, which have claimed the lives of more than 100 people since 2002, including pregnant women and babies. Outrageously, Oxy Reckitt Benckiser, the leading maker of the sterilizers, and other suppliers tried to s

Editorial May 4, 2016

One essential thing you need to live in a fair society is solid legal justice, for which highly ethical and capable legal professionals -- prosecutors, judges and lawyers -- are indispensable. Sadly, this is not the case with Korean society. A recent case highlights that the legal community is as vulnerable to corruption as other sectors of society. The central figure in the latest scandal involving legal professionals is Jung Woon-ho, CEO of cosmetics firm Nature Republic, who is serving a pris

Editorial May 4, 2016

This month marks the 100th anniversary of the Sykes-Picot Agreement that formed Iraq, Syria and the other fragile nations of the modern Middle East. The past few weeks have provided dramatic new evidence, if more were needed, that the old colonial framework created by Britain and France isn’t working.Iraq and Syria are coming apart: Iraq is effectively divided into three warring regions: a Sunni area ruled by the Islamic State, a Kurdish mini-state that’s nearly autonomous, and a zone from the c

Viewpoints May 4, 2016

Mosquitoes are back. They are quite possibly the worst insects imaginable. The tiny yet ever-so-loud whirring noise their wings make is enough to drive a man insane, and the itch caused by their bite may as well have been cooked up by a medieval torturer. These days their evil schemes are aided by manmade environments. The water tanks and dank corners of older buildings are said to provide indoor habitat, allowing the tiny vampires to return earlier than they would in the wild.In addition to the

Viewpoints May 4, 2016

An attempt to undermine the Pentagon’s decision to allow women to serve in combat roles backfired spectacularly last week -- and the U.S. will be safer for it.During a congressional debate on the defense policy bill, Rep. Duncan Hunter of California proposed requiring all 18-year-old women to sign up for the draft, just like their male counterparts. He didn’t actually support the idea -- in fact, he voted against his own amendment -- but said he wanted to start a “discussion” about Defense Secre

Viewpoints May 4, 2016

If it votes to leave the European Union in next month’s referendum, Britain will bear a substantial and lasting economic cost: That’s the conclusion of several authoritative new studies. Campaigners for exit must either refute these findings or say why they don’t matter. Their efforts up to now have fallen far short.The Vote Leave campaign has cast the referendum mainly as a decision about sovereignty, democracy and immigration -- legitimate concerns. But the economic consequences can’t be waved

Viewpoints May 4, 2016

Warren Buffett, chairman and chief executive of Berkshire Hathaway, is a confident man. Having built one of the greatest businesses in history, and having become one of the world’s richest men in the process, he sees great prosperity in the rearview mirror, and more of the same ahead.Speaking Saturday at his company’s annual shareholders meeting in Omaha, Buffett said, “Twenty years from now, there’ll be far more output per capita in the United States in real terms than there is now. In 50 years

Viewpoints May 4, 2016

Justice Ministry data showed early this week that the number of foreign nationals in South Korea, including tourists, has topped 1.9 million for the first time, heralding the upcoming era of 2 million foreigners.The figure of 1.94 million foreign nationals far surpasses the population of Daejeon, which is estimated at 1.51 million. It is also close to that of South Chungcheong Province, whose population is 2.07 million.Considering that Daejeon is the nation’s fifth-largest city and South Chungch

Editorial May 3, 2016

Hyundai Motor Group has suffered a rapid drop in car sales in China so far this year, although the market has been the most lucrative revenue source for the second-largest South Korean conglomerate.Hyundai Motor posted 229,011 units in Chinese sales during the first quarter, down 18.2 percent over the same period last year. Its sister firm Kia Motors reported a 10.4 percent decline by selling 138,292 units.Amid the slump, a report from a global consulting firm is frustrating Hyundai-Kia, which i

Editorial May 3, 2016

On April 16, something unusual happened at our farmhouse, marking a milestone in our rural life since we started farming and gardening about 10 years ago. My wife and I held an unveiling ceremony of stone toads in commemoration of a short fairy tale I wrote.The ceremony was attended by our grandkids and their parents. Prior to the unveiling, I briefly mentioned that the love of my grandkids motivated this writing, and thanked them. And I said that it was only a beginning and that there would be

Viewpoints May 3, 2016

Corruption in Mexico is not just a legal and moral problem. It is an economic one. The annual cost amounts to 5 percent of gross domestic product, according to one report, which also found that almost half of business owners said officials have sought money in exchange for contracts or business opportunities. Worse, those who are caught have rarely been punished: Only 1.5 percent of corruption cases lodged in Mexico end in conviction. In Singapore, in contrast, the share is 80 percent. In fact,

Viewpoints May 3, 2016