On Wednesday, the final episode of Oprah Winfrey’s long-running TV talk show will air. In the 25 years since the show has been nationally syndicated, Winfrey ― or, really, Oprah, since that is how she is globally known ― has made herself a singular force in television and the popular culture. In that period, she has topped the daytime ratings as talk show host, earned an Oscar nomination for her a

Viewpoints May 26, 2011

Under the War Powers Act, President Barack Obama had until Friday to get congressional authorization to continue U.S. military operations in Libya. But the day passed without his even asking for it, which means he has to disengage within 30 days. Obama may not heed that requirement either.Some members of Congress, from both parties, are unhappy about the administration’s disregard of the law. Six

Viewpoints May 26, 2011

The average monthly income for households grew 3.5 percent year on year to 3.86 million won during the first quarter of this year. But spending grew at the faster rate of 4.7 percent. As a result of the gap, household debt has snowballed.At the end of the first quarter, household debt surpassed the 800 trillion won mark. Loans from banks and non-banking financial institutions and purchases on cred

Editorial May 26, 2011

Both advocates and detractors may scratch their heads while trying to understand where the ruling Grand National Party is headed. Given the new policies that have been adopted or proposed for adoption, they have good reason to wonder if it is the same party it was before ― a bona fide conservative force.The ruling party has been pro-business and anti-communism. As such, it has pushed for a tax cut

Editorial May 26, 2011

The arrest of a leading French statesman and politician, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, on charges of sexually assaulting a New York hotel chambermaid became a transatlantic media spectacle when he was photographed ― manacled and miserable ― being led from a Manhattan lockup. Publishing such pictures is illegal in France, and some commentators there were incensed by the photos of what U.S. reporters call

Viewpoints May 26, 2011

Jacob is a golden retriever. Like many goldens, his favorite activity is retrieving a tennis ball. We throw the ball; he brings it back and drops it at our feet. It can go on for hours. Actually, we don’t know how long it could go on because we always give up before he does.But Jacob sometimes gets stuck when we play this game at my in-laws’ pool. This is because of two fixed, internal rules he ha

Viewpoints May 25, 2011

The United States may be the world’s only remaining superpower, but we’ve been a secondary factor in the wave of change sweeping the Arab world.Tunisia held its revolution without American help, unless you count Facebook and Twitter. In Egypt, President Obama probably helped speed Hosni Mubarak’s departure by withdrawing his backing of the regime, but it was the Egyptians’ revolution, not ours.In

Viewpoints May 25, 2011

United States Forces Korea is acting promptly to establish facts following claims by American veterans that Agent Orange was buried at a U.S. Army camp in southern Korea. The U.S. command has issued press statements almost on a daily basis since the disclosure through a U.S. cable network last week and the Korean and U.S. authorities conducted a preliminary on-site investigation at Camp Carroll in

Editorial May 24, 2011

The Blue House staff are red-faced after the new floor leader of the ruling Grand National Party suddenly came up with a half-tuition offer for college students, one of President Lee Myung-bak’s major campaign pledges which an unfavorable economy had forced him to shelve for the past three years. Rep. Hwang Woo-yea picked it up aiming at the votes of two million college students and their struggli

Editorial May 24, 2011

My brother David and I have long supported the principles that help societies prosper. I have actively done so for nearly 50 years, as has my brother for more than 40.In recent years, we have stepped up our efforts to deal with the enormous threats to the future well-being of the people of this country. This has prompted some extreme criticism. From the White House to fringe bloggers, we are now b

Viewpoints May 24, 2011

Since 2003, the California Chamber of Commerce has published an annual hit list of bills it labels job killers. The list has included legislation to protect consumers, workers and the environment and to raise revenue to fund public services or support middle- and working-class families.No politician ― Democrat or Republican ― wants to be known as someone who kills jobs, so many of them will avoid

Viewpoints May 24, 2011