The Korea Herald

[Ban Ki-moon] Coping with the threat of resurgent polio

ViewpointsMay 24, 2012

As the World Health Assembly convenes in Geneva this week, one item on the agenda will be polio, or more specifically, how to finally deliver on an epic promise made a quarter-century ago: to liberate humankind from one of the world’s most deadly and debilitating diseases.The world’s war on polio has been as ambitious an undertaking as the successful campaign to eradicate another great public health menace, smallpox. Slowly but surely we have advanced on that goal. Polio, a highly preventable di
Why KAIST students choose suicide

ViewpointsMay 24, 2012

In the very early morning of April 17, a senior KAIST student committed suicide. Outside of KAIST, it was recognized simply as another suicide, because just last year, four students and one professor killed themselves. But it was a shock to the community of KAIST because it happened after the introduction of the so-called suicide mitigation plan.KAIST is well-known as a fully government-supported, privileged university. Not only was tuition free but living expenses were also supported during stu
A Greek exit could make the euro area stronger

ViewpointsMay 24, 2012

A Greek exit from the euro area would inflict heavy damage in Greece and throughout Europe. It could also be one of the best things that ever happened to the currency union. Greece’s repeat parliamentary election next month will serve as a referendum on whether the country should end its 12-year membership in the common currency. An affirmative answer would trigger a cardiac arrest of the Greek economy, as the banking system collapsed and foreign suppliers refused payment in drachmas. The financ
[Eli Park Sorensen] Why keep returning to the mysterious crime scene?

ViewpointsMay 24, 2012

In the winter of 1933, the Belgian detective and former police officer Hercule Poirot boards the Orient Express in Istanbul that will take him on a three-day train journey across the European continent. Somewhere in the Balkans, the train comes to an unexpected halt as large snowdrifts cover the tracks. The next morning, an American businessman who occupied the compartment next to Poirot is found murdered ― stabbed to death. Since there is no obvious suspect and furthermore since the clues are m
[Editorial] True progressivism

EditorialMay 23, 2012

An investigation into an alleged electoral fraud involving the United Progressive Party will now undoubtedly gain momentum, as prosecutors have secured the server used for the party’s data processing. The main targets are those accused of rigging an online vote conducted among party members to select candidates for their proportional representation list in the general election.The party succeeded in winning 13 seats in the 300-member National Assembly in the April 11 elections ― seven in distric
[Editorial] Energy conservation

EditorialMay 23, 2012

The government has already kicked off a campaign to lower room temperatures, even before summer has come. The nation has no option but to conserve energy if it is to avoid blackouts, given that demand for electricity, left unrestrained, is expected to exceed supply.But electricity is not the only form of energy that will be in short supply. A squeeze on oil supply is anticipated as Korea is under pressure from the United States and the European Union to suspend crude imports as early as this mon
China’s chronic misrule of law

ViewpointsMay 23, 2012

PHILADELPHIA ― A last-minute deal between the United States and China may afford human-rights lawyer and activist Chen Guangcheng the opportunity to enroll in law school in New York. But, even if a way out of the diplomatic debacle is at hand, much about the case remains troubling. In particular, despite more than three decades of legal reform in China, Chen had precious little recourse to fight harassment and house arrest at the hands of the Chinese authorities.Indeed, 23 years after dissident
Health care ruling a campaign bombshell

ViewpointsMay 23, 2012

The U.S. Supreme Court is about to toss a judicial bomb into the middle of the presidential campaign, and nobody knows what impact it will have.The bomb, of course, is the court’s ruling on President Obama’s health-care law, which is expected next month.At first glance, the political implications might look simple. If the court upholds the law, Obama’s biggest legislative achievement, the president wins; if the court declares the law unconstitutional, he loses.But as with many things in politics
Obama given credit for the DIY generation

ViewpointsMay 23, 2012

Barack Obama wanted to be a transformational president, and as we head into the general election, he may have gotten his wish ― just not the way he or his supporters might have thought.Obama seems to have transformed the cohort of 18- to 29-year-olds, a whopping 66 percent of whom preferred him over John McCain, from passionate voters who thought Obama really did offer change they could believe in, into people feeling, in the words of veteran political analyst Charlie Cook, “disappointment and d
Banking burnouts blow away myths of Wall Street glamor

ViewpointsMay 23, 2012

Ever since March, when the New York Times decided to make a cause celebre out of the resignation of Greg Smith, a vice president at Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (GS), a cottage industry of first-person Wall Street departure stories has sprung up across the print media and blogosphere. For instance, the Guardian in London has run a series of 60 columns ― titled “Voices of Finance” ― that give current and former Wall Street bankers and traders a chance to anonymously describe what their jobs are reall
[Joseph E. Stiglitz] A breakthrough opportunity for global health

ViewpointsMay 23, 2012

NEW YORK ― Every year, millions of people die from preventable and treatable diseases, especially in poor countries. In many cases, lifesaving medicines can be cheaply mass-produced, but are sold at prices that block access to those who need them. And many die simply because there are no cures or vaccines, because so little of the world’s valuable research talent and limited resources is devoted to addressing the diseases of the poor.This state of affairs represents a failure of economics and la
U.S. can fix Egypt ties if military power eased

ViewpointsMay 22, 2012

U.S.-Egypt ties have become snarled over the past year. Many Egyptians resent the U.S. because it supported the deposed regime of Hosni Mubarak. And the U.S. has struggled for a coherent response to the country’s back-and- forth dance with democracy under transitional military rule. The Egyptian presidential election May 23 and 24, with a runoff June 16 and 17 if necessary, offers a chance to revive the relationship. For the last few months, Egypt’s relationship with the U.S. has been stuck, ove
[Editorial] Enhancing top courts

EditorialMay 22, 2012

The inaugural congress of the Association of Asian Constitutional Courts and Equivalent Institutions is being held in Seoul for five days this week.Institutions exercising constitutional jurisdiction in 10 Asian nations including Korea comprise the regional forum intended to promote democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights by enhancing cooperation and friendship.Representatives from the member institutions are joined by observers and guests from 20 other countries at the congress held u
[Editorial] Open primary

EditorialMay 22, 2012

Whether or not to introduce an open primary is becoming a key, and potentially divisive, issue in the ruling Saenuri Party’s race to nominate its candidate for the presidential election in December.The undisputed frontrunner, Rep. Park Geun-hye, has reacted negatively to mounting calls from her challengers to allow any registered voter to vote in its primary, regardless of party affiliation.Park’s competitors ― Gyeonggi Province Gov. Kim Moon-soo, former party leader Rep. Chung Mong-joon and sen
[Daniel Fiedler] Hiring foreign talent for Korea

ViewpointsMay 22, 2012

Traveling through South Korea these days I am continually impressed by the high level of economic and infrastructure development. South Korea has high speed trains, seamless 3G phone and internet service, modern highways, a sophisticated financial system, and almost everyone effortlessly uses the latest cutting edge technology. South Koreans have pushed their country to the top tier in international rankings of gross domestic product, life expectancy, per capita income and worldwide brand recogn