The two main contenders for Wednesday’s presidential election have both suggested reforming politics as one of their signature campaign pledges. Conservative candidate Park Geun-hye and her liberal rival, Rep. Moon Jae-in, agreed to make joint efforts to pass political reform bills through parliament during their first TV debate on Dec. 4.But they should now feel ashamed that their campaigns have become preoccupied with actions that make their calls for political change sound hollow. It might no

Election officials have found it difficult to raise the low voter turnout in previous by-elections. It has been rare for the figure to exceed 40 percent, going down near 10 percent in some polls.But the upcoming by-elections are certain to have a record high turnout ― probably over 70 percent. Why? They are scheduled to be held on the same day as voters go to polls to elect the nation’s next president.But what is also certain is that most voters would only realize that they are meant to vote in

This year, the Bank of Korea cut the benchmark interest rate twice in its bid to help energize the flagging economy. But this low interest rate policy is hurting financial companies by squeezing their profits.On Thursday, the BOK decided to leave the key interest rate at 2.75 percent for December. Yet it is expected to cut the already low rate further next year as the economy is likely to remain stagnant. When the central bank lowers the benchmark rate, banks also cut their lending rates. But th

North Korea’s successful launch of a satellite ― effectively proving its long-range missile capabilities ― has offered a reality check to the two main presidential candidates on their policies toward the bellicose regime. The two frontrunners both stress flexibility and dialogue in their policies toward the North. But the launch has clearly shown that their policies are based not on reality but vague and groundless expectations.In the first TV debate held on Dec. 4, Park Geun-hye of the ruling S

Having caught the international community off guard with its long-range rocket launch on Wednesday, North Korea is pushing neighboring powers into another guessing game over whether it will go ahead with a third nuclear test. Pyongyang has a record of having done so in the wake of missile firings in 2006 and 2009.The impoverished regime under its young leader Kim Jong-un may believe the provocative acts in defiance of international pressure will help shore it up and bring more bargaining chips i

Korean primary and secondary school students placed in the top class in a global comparison of academic achievements in mathematics and science. Their outstanding performance in the 2011 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study, released this week, should have made their teachers and parents proud of them. But the sense of pride was replaced by a deep concern about other findings in the study, which showed that their interest and confidence in these subjects remained at the bottom a

The presidential candidates’ approval ratings in surveys conducted Thursday or thereafter will not be allowed to be made public. As such, the electorate will be kept in the dark until after the findings of exit polls are reported on Dec. 19.The ban has a dubious rationale: An opinion poll may affect the decision to be made by voters at the polls when its outcome is made public near the election day. But this assertion is not proven by any research. Moreover, what is wrong with voters using polls

If one were to select the country most likely to sway the outcome of the upcoming presidential election in South Korea, it would definitely be North Korea. A Pyongyang-initiated skirmish in the West Sea would rally security-minded South Korean voters behind the ruling conservative Saenuri Party. North Korea’s rocket launch on Wednesday, though perhaps less threatening than a direct attack, could still have a grave impact on the election. As such, the opposition center-left Democratic United Part

Medical expenses for senior citizens continue to rise at a fast pace, putting an ever growing strain on the balance sheets of the National Health Insurance Corp., the administrator of the nation’s compulsory health insurance program.In 2011, the medical bills the state insurer paid totaled 46.2 trillion won, up 6 percent from 2010. Of the total, elderly people aged 65 or more accounted for 15.4 trillion won, up 8.9 percent from a year ago.Last year was the only one in more than a dozen years tha

The three main presidential candidates held their crucial second face-to-face showdown on Monday night. The topics of the 120-minute TV debate were all related to the economy ― economic growth, economic democracy, job creation and welfare expansion.The second debate was more informative and livelier than the first one on Dec. 4, which focused on diplomacy and national security. It brought into relief differences in economic policies among the three candidates ― Park Geun-hye of the ruling Saenur

The number of urban dwellers moving to rural areas has increased sharply in recent years -― a phenomenon attributed mainly to a rising flood of retirees who want to seek a second life in the countryside.Returning to farming appeals to many baby-boomers, who were born between 1955-63 and are now reaching retirement age, as a stable way of making a living in their later years. A wish to be away from bustling urban life also seems to encourage them to live in the countryside.Figures released by Sta

Contrary to the usual caricature of George W. Bush as unread, he is an avid reader, according to his friend and former aide Karl Rove. In a 2008 column, Rove disclosed that Bush had read probably hundreds of books over the course of his presidency. The former U.S. president’s long reading list was still regarded by his critics as narrow and insufficient to get him out of his fixed ideas.It may be considered out of context ― or even out of the question ― to ask Korea’s two main presidential conte

In recent years, many countries have increased investment in early childhood education and care (ECEC) as it brings a wide range of benefits, including better child well-being and learning outcomes, poverty reduction, increased fertility rates and higher female labor market participation.The Korean government has also started to expand investment in ECEC to reap its benefits. The first thing it did was to assume more responsibility for education of children at age 5.In 2011, the government devel

The proposal to cut the number of parliamentary seats has been revived. The ruling Saenuri Party and the main opposition Democratic United Party have agreed to downsize the National Assembly. The two parties are expected to start talks soon to discuss the number of seats to be reduced and other related issues. Yet it remains to be seen whether they would really put the proposal into practice.The idea was first put forward by Ahn Cheol-soo, a former independent presidential candidate who set fort

Speculation has recently spread among political and judicial circles that President Lee Myung-bak may grant a special pardon in time for Christmas. Those to be pardoned would include some of his key associates and family members convicted of bribery and other corruption charges, according to observers.Possibly backing up the speculation, a presidential aide reportedly said this week there could be a special amnesty on the occasion of Christmas, though Lee has yet to make a final decision.It may