[David Fish] Getting fired for social media posts

Americans think the First Amendment protects their speech. It doesn’t — at least not at work for most of us. Just ask the executives, teachers, lawyers and even a Secret Service agent disciplined after posting about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. A single Facebook update or tweet — whether mocking, angry or careless — can now end a career overnight. The line between our personal and professional lives has collapsed. Strangers online don’t just argue over posts they find

Oct. 15, 2025

[Kim Seong-kon] Korea reflected in Pak Kyongni’s 'Land'

Few Koreans are unaware of Pak Kyongni’s monumental epic novel “Toji,” or “Land.” It is an undisputed masterpiece that brilliantly depicts how the swift tide of sociopolitical disruptions can sweep everything away, and how tumultuous times affect the lives of ordinary people. In that respect, Pak Kyongni’s “Land” resonates with Margaret Mitchell’s “Gone with the Wind.” Written over 25 years, between 1969 and 1994, Pak’s “roman fleuve,” which consists of five parts and 16 volumes, portrays the co

Oct. 15, 2025

[Editorial] Productive longevity

South Korea has entered a demographic inversion that few advanced economies have faced so abruptly. As of the end of 2024, those in their 70s outnumbered people in their 20s. The milestone is more than a statistical curiosity; it exposes the structural limits of a labor market still built for a younger, expanding workforce. Unless the Korean government acts to turn longevity into a new source of growth, the country’s model — strained by a falling fertility rate and stagnating output — risks hard

Oct. 15, 2025

[Andrew Sheng] Six rules for new abnormal

In Hong Kong for the Asia Global Institute forum on Navigating the Tariff War, the consensus was that no one is immune to structural uncertainty where everything is happening all at once, with no one knowing what exactly comes next. Navigation is about planning and executing a journey, but you need maps, compasses and points of reference to know where you are and where you are going. Journeys across time and space need sound navigation, especially in troubled waters. Sailing is all about teamwor

Oct. 14, 2025

[Grace Kao] Young adults and financial literacy

As a sociology professor, I lecture not only on K-pop, but also about race, immigration, stratification and inequality. Personal finance is not a typical subject matter for a college course, but maybe it should be. After the 2008 financial crisis in the US, I talked about how more houses were “underwater” when I realized that college students did not understand the structure of mortgages. Since then, I’ve given an entire lecture on mortgages by explaining interest rates, credit scores, amortizat

Oct. 14, 2025

[Editorial] Ever-present risk

Trade war tensions between the US and China are escalating again, ending months of an uneasy truce. Beijing said Thursday that it would restrict its exports of rare earths. The following day, US President Donald Trump said he would impose an additional 100 percent tariff on imports from China beginning Nov. 1. That would bring US tariffs on China to 130 percent, nearing the 145 percent rate Trump imposed in April before the US agreed to shelve them while China paused its retaliatory duties. The

Oct. 14, 2025

[Editorial] Trapped beyond borders

A nation’s responsibilities extend beyond its borders. When a South Korean university student was allegedly tortured to death in Cambodia in August, the tragedy exposed more than a single failure of law enforcement. It revealed the erosion of safety for Koreans abroad and the limits of Seoul’s reactive diplomacy. The case was shocking in its cruelty: A young man lured by a “high-income” overseas job offer was apparently held captive by a criminal ring and found dead in a car near Bokor Mountain,

Oct. 13, 2025

[Elizabeth Shackelford] Gen Z protests spreading

Around the world, Generation Z -- roughly comprising young people under 30 -- is leading a wave of anti-government protests. It is the most significant spike in global dissent since the Arab Spring 15 years ago, with a geographic reach already to four continents. Though the proximate cause of protests in each country differs, all are driven by young people who are angry at rising government corruption, poor government services and mismanaged economies. In cities across Morocco, young people have

Oct. 13, 2025

[Yoo Choon-sik] Stock market’s boom should not be destination

South Korea’s stock markets are on a record-breaking rally, grabbing headlines in most major news media outlets and helping improve sentiment not only among stock investors but also among the general public toward the future. Higher stock prices are always welcome for various reasons, including the most direct and obvious positive effect on the cash flows of many households. The local stock market’s benchmark Kospi jumped 1.73 percent to 3,610.6 on Friday, marking its second straight all-time hi

Oct. 13, 2025

[Editorial] Europe’s steel fortress

A steel tariff shock has landed, this time from the European Union. On Oct. 7, the European Commission unveiled a sweeping plan to halve duty-free quotas on steel imports and double the tariff on excess volumes from 25 to 50 percent. The EU’s move confirms that protectionism is back in fashion. For South Korea, the second-largest supplier to Europe after China, it closes off one of its key open markets. After Washington’s tariff surge earlier this year, the EU’s move tightens the squeeze. The ne

Oct. 10, 2025

[Lee Byung-jong] A Korea–Japan economic tie-up

The notion of a South Korea–Japan Economic Community may sound utopian — an idea fit only for idealists. Given the deep scars of Japan’s colonial rule over the Korean Peninsula and unresolved territorial disputes, most observers would dismiss the concept as naive or politically impossible. Yet one of Korea’s most influential business leaders, SK Group Chair Chey Tae-won, has long argued that deeper integration between the two economies is not only desirable, but necessary to survive the growing

Oct. 10, 2025

[Editorial] Double signals

It is a paradox worthy of an economic textbook: South Korea's exports in September surged to their highest in 3 1/2 years, yet domestic consumption in August sagged to its lowest point in more than a year. On paper, outbound shipments soared 12.7 percent year-on-year to $65.9 billion, the highest September tally ever. But behind the record, the arithmetic is less flattering. With four more working days than last year, the daily average slipped by more than 6 percent. South Korea's celebrated exp

Oct. 3, 2025

[Robert J. Fouser] Hangeul Day thoughts

October 9th is one of my favorite holidays: Hangeul Day. The holiday is the only public holiday in the world to honor a writing system and one of the few to honor language. North Korea honors Hangeul on January 15th as a national, not a public, holiday. Over the years, I have been honored to share my thoughts on Hangeul, particularly from a linguistic perspective. As a writing system, it is a wonder of simplicity and linguistic engineering that remains perhaps Korea’s greatest contribution to hu

Oct. 3, 2025

[Wang Son-taek] Trump is not an enemy

In recent weeks, South Korea has witnessed a surge of anti-Trump sentiment. The controversy over tariff negotiations with Washington, along with the shocking detention of Korean workers in Georgia, has triggered waves of anger. Protesters have shouted anti-American slogans, and some public figures have openly insulted US President Donald Trump. Such reactions may feel cathartic, but they are not solutions. Shouting slogans is an outlet for frustration, not a strategy for change. There is no deny

Oct. 2, 2025

[Editorial] Risky response

Some ruling party lawmakers have been harshly criticizing the United States recently over the difficult tariff negotiations between South Korea and the US. Referring to US President Donald Trump's demand that Korea invest $350 billion in the US in "upfront" cash, a member of the Supreme Council of the Democratic Party of Korea said Monday that the demand is without cause, comparing it to forcing reparations from defeated countries for their war crimes. Seoul had pledged to invest that amount in

Oct. 2, 2025