As students take to the streets for cheaper university tuition ...Should government pay half for college?College fees in South KoreaIn recent days thousands of students have been taking to the streets to demand lower college fees, spurred on by recent pledges by both the Grand National Party and Democratic Party to cut the price of tuition.Student protests against rising fees are a common occurren

June 15, 2011

Samsung Techwin president resigns over undisclosed corruptionSamsung Electronics chairman Lee Kun-hee stressed the need to beef up the company’s auditing functions in the aftermath of a corruption scandal at a Samsung affiliate that led to the resignation of its chief executive.“The unblemished image of Samsung’s organizational culture has been marred,” the Samsung Group owner said. Lee expressed

Industry June 8, 2011

Giant book event to feature exhibitions, seminars and meetings with authorsThe 17th Seoul International Book Fair, one of the biggest book events in Korea, opens June 15 at COEX in southern Seoul with a total of 572 publishers from 23 countries participating.The five-day event is filled with diverse special exhibitions, seminars, and events on a variety of themes in today’s international publishin

Books June 8, 2011

After the Fukushima disaster and Germany’s decision to shut down its reactors ...Should Korea scrap nuclear energy?Yes: It is too dangerous for us to controlThe “nuclear renaissance” is still booming in Korea even after Japan’s Fukushima nuclear accident. Tokyo Electric (TEPCO) still seems unable to control its reactors with much more radioactivity still held inside the Fukushima nuclear power pla

June 1, 2011

In a country known for its residents’ impeccable dress sense, Korea is noticeably lacking in one department: secondhand clothing. Thrift stores, sources of many a rare, quirky or vintage bargain in the U.S. and Europe, lack a major presence here. But two expats have sought to do something about Korea’s lack of secondhand fare with Clothing Swapping in Seoul.“I know that I, like many people, buy cl

Expat Living May 17, 2011

Thanks to globalization, uneasy public sentiment about foreign cars has waned in recent years.In particular, young Koreans have driven the change. Foreign automakers say the general sentiment has turned to “favorable” from “negative” as younger generations, born in the 1970s and 1980s, have become mainstream buyers.They also say the number of Korean female drivers of foreign-made cars has been inc

Mobility May 15, 2011

Victims of Japan’s military sex slavery seek truth, apology and compensationThe weather was freezing at noon last Wednesday. Ears turned red and fingers went numb as the mercury dropped to nearly minus 10 degrees Celsius and strong winds blasted every nook and cranny. The streets of Seoul were almost empty ― just a handful of office workers rushed by to grab lunch.Braving the cold, scores of peopl

Social Affairs Jan. 7, 2011