Among the many weighty questions that Russia’s government has struggled with in recent months -- of war and peace, budget cuts and sanctions -- is this one: Is poker a game of skill or chance?The answer is far from trivial. It will go a long way to determining whether Russia can legalize online poker, and so bring the craze for the game which has swept the nation in recent years within reach of the nation‘s tax collectors. It’s a debate that‘s closely bound up with the fate of Russia’s proud tra

Viewpoints April 24, 2016

Dozens of Thais have seemingly attempted illegal residency in South Korea after allegedly disguising themselves as supporters of a professional soccer team from Thailand, which held a match with a Korean team last Wednesday.According to the Thai team, about 40 of more than 100 supporters that accompanied the players vanished after passing through immigration at Incheon International Airport. Considering the immigration office rejected the entry of 13 of the 100-plus supporters, the 40 runaways a

Editorial April 24, 2016

Korea’s financial authorities are seeking to extend the daily trading session of the stock market by 30 minutes in the coming months. The closing time of the main and secondary bourses would be changed from the present 3 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.The Finance Ministry is fine-tuning details with the Financial Services Commission and the Korea Exchange before unveiling the plan and implementation date. It seems the government is set to notify the public of a trading hours extension based on a road map to r

Editorial April 24, 2016

It has become a truism to say the American political system is suffering from dysfunction. But weirdly, even the insurgent candidates, Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders, don‘t talk much about how they would fix it. This is a populist insurgency without a clear manifesto.So it’s refreshing to hear Rep. John Sarbanes present a detailed action plan to repair what‘s broken. This proposal isn’t a cure-all. It wouldn‘t fix the immigration problem or fund Social Security or fight terrorism. But by changi

Viewpoints April 24, 2016

While South Korea is pushing for expansion of trade with Iran, the latest government data shows that uncertainty continues to loom large. Despite the lifting of international sanctions in January, Korean exports to the Islamic republic have dropped.According to Korea Customs Service, exports to Iran were down 44.7 percent on-year in the first quarter, at $660 million.While it is premature to be disappointed with the lackluster export performance, given the huge expectations, there is a need to r

Editorial April 21, 2016

Law schools are likely to create controversy in society again amid allegations that irregular screening processes were used to select students at some universities.Social conflict could arise from a series of litigations from people who failed the bar exam, as the Ministry of Education is deciding whether to unveil the result of its full-fledged scrutiny of 25 law schools nationwide over possible admissions irregularities.One allegation is that some children of legal professionals entered law sc

Editorial April 21, 2016

More than 500 earthquakes have occurred since last Thursday, with focuses in Kumamoto and Oita prefectures. Due to fear of aftershocks, over 90,000 people have vacated their homes and are huddled together in evacuation centers.It is important to provide relief and assistance needed by those affected swiftly and surely.Evacuation centers are packed with a greater number of residents than expected by local municipalities, and we see so many cases where it is impossible to accommodate all of them.

Viewpoints April 21, 2016

Last November, a group of Indians filed a petition in a British court asking for the return of the famous Kohinoor diamond that sits ensconced in a crown in the Tower of London. The gem was part of the British plunder of the subcontinent, they held, and justice demanded that it be returned.As happens with anything the Indians do, the Pakistanis were not to be left behind. Within a month, a Pakistani barrister filed a petition in a British court, asking for the return of the diamond to Pakistan.

Viewpoints April 21, 2016

Like a lot of Americans, President Barack Obama thinks cable TV costs too much. Unlike a lot of Americans, he is in a position to do something about it — and even if he fails, it’s still worth the effort.Last Friday, Obama took the unusual step of announcing his support for a proposal from the Federal Communications Commission intended to make it easier for customers to purchase their own set-top cable boxes. Whether the idea would actually save consumers money remains to be seen, but it could h

Viewpoints April 21, 2016

A month-long extraordinary parliamentary session kicks off Thursday as the three major parties have agreed to bring the 19th National Assembly to a fruitful conclusion.The agreement deserves praise, as there are many issues that cannot wait until the launch of the 20th National Assembly in early June.During the one-month session, the three parties should work productively, given that the 19th National Assembly is widely viewed as the least productive parliament in history.The public will closely

Editorial April 20, 2016

The government is shifting its focus to corporate restructuring, an issue that is of vital importance to the economy but has been put on the back burner due to the April 13 general election.Finance Minister Yoo Il-ho said during his visit to Washington last week that the government would speed up the long-delayed restructuring of such troubled industries as shipping and shipbuilding.Referring to Hyundai Merchant Marine Co., one of Korea’s largest shippers drowning in debt, Yoo said that if shipp

Editorial April 20, 2016