The Korea Herald

[Editorial] Hanjin crisis on mend?

Aug 11, 2011

Cho Nam-ho, chairman of Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction, vows to settle his company’s labor dispute at an early date ― one of the worst the nation has witnessed in recent years. He should, if he wishes to restore his reputation as a businessman, which has been seriously damaged by his evasi
[Editorial] Guard against N. Korea

Aug 11, 2011

The South Korean government is providing protection for Minister of National Defense Kim Kwan-jin on intelligence that North Korean agents are on a mission to assassinate him. When he is on the move, he is escorted by a military police detail dressed in civilian clothes.The assassination plan, if tr
[Editorial] East Sea campaign

Aug 10, 2011

Korea has lodged a formal protest with the U.S. government for ignoring its request that it use both “East Sea” and “Sea of Japan” in calling the body of water between Korea and Japan. The East Sea is Korea’s preferred name for the maritime area.According to reports, the U.S. government has confirme
[Editorial] Irrational politicians

Aug 10, 2011

To leaders of the ruling Grand National Party and the main opposition Democratic Party, the twin sovereign debt crisis in Europe and the United States is a fire on the other side of the river. They are watching the flames without bothering to find out what caused it or learn its lessons.The main cau
[Editorial] Tolerance and leniency

Aug 9, 2011

The Republic of Korea proves to have one of the loosest systems regarding military secrets among nations with strong armed forces. Its court also deserves note for its leniency on cases involving leak of military secrets, quite discomforting fact in a country that faces constant threats from a most
[Editorial] Free lunch referendum

Aug 9, 2011

Two weeks are left until the referendum on free school lunch in Seoul. The capital city will now be engulfed in raging campaigns that will force every resident to define their ideological orientation in the heated contest between the left and right.The referendum is a costly affair; citizens feel so
[Editorial] Ahn Chul-soo syndrome

Aug 8, 2011

Ahn Chul-soo, 49, a medical doctor-turned-software businessman, is the Korean version of Bill Gates plus Michael Sandel. Currently the dean of the Graduate School of Convergence Science and Technology, Seoul National University, he runs the Ahn Chul-soo Research Institute, the largest software enter
[Editorial] North in transition?

Aug 8, 2011

Amid the general bleakness in inter-Korean relations, there are reports of some signs of change in the North. For one, Pyongyang has refrained from verbally attacking President Lee Myung-bak from the beginning of this month. Since the summer of 2008, North Korea’s official mouthpieces had called Pre
[Editorial] U.S. rating downgrade

Aug 7, 2011

In a surprise move, Standard & Poor’s has lowered the credit rating of the United States by one notch from the highest “AAA” level to “AA+.” The unprecedented rating downgrade is expected to have far-reaching effects on Korea and the global economy as it could hinder the U.S. economic recovery and a
[Editorial] Auditing universities

Aug 5, 2011

The Board of Audit and Inspection starts a three-week audit of 31 private junior colleges and universities throughout the nation next week. All private higher education institutions will be called on to use the outcome of the audit as a reference when they are setting tuition fees. It should also se
[Editorial] Tolerance wearing out

Aug 5, 2011

A labor dispute that must be settled by Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction has now evolved into a major political conflict. It has become a rallying point for scattered opposition parties as well as dissident groups, imposing a heavy burden on the ruling party and its pro-business lawmakers in
[Editorial] Wrong traditions

Aug 4, 2011

Even before the National Assembly’s confirmation hearing started for the appointment of the new prosecutor-general, some top-ranked prosecutors retired ― just to follow the tradition that has persisted not only in the prosecution but in most other organizations with hierarchical structures in Korea.
[Editorial] Illegal immigrants

Aug 4, 2011

Korea is heading to a multicultural society. The nation needs the influx of foreigners to maintain industries and homes. Migrant workers are active in growing areas of manufacturing and service businesses, including high-tech ones. One out of every 10 marriages has a foreign-born bride. However, acc
[Editorial] Privatizing airport

Aug 3, 2011

Management, be it of an airport or a utility, is generally more efficient in the hands of private enterprises aiming at minimizing waste and maximizing profits. In this regard, it is better to privatize Incheon International Airport, as the government plans to do in the near future, than to keep it
[Editorial] Leave companies alone

Aug 3, 2011

Minister of Knowledge and Economy Choi Joong-kyung invited legitimate complaints from the business community again when he called on large corporations on Saturday to cut executive pay and use the savings to create jobs. His remarks were received as an unwarranted act of government intervention in t

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