Pleasures of Seoul
The Covid crisis continues, and free travel seems a distant prospect. As we wait for the restrictions to lift, here we reminisce about Seoul and the pleasures it offers.
Se-Woong Koo
End of 2019, End of Candlelight Revolution’s Hope
The Candlelight Revolution three years ago brought hope for South Korea's ailing democracy. Moon Jae-in, who came into power then, has dashed that expectation.
Where Elders Are Denture-Clacking Vermin
In a country that has promoted competition for decades, it was inevitable that intergenerational conflict would worsen, with the young and the old seeing one another as enemy in a race to win limited resources.
Tyranny of South Korea’s Majority Against Refugees
When a self-righteous majority levels undiluted hatred at a small group of refugees, and thinks itself ordinary, it's downright chilling.
The Singapore Summit Gives Hope that Peace Is Still Possible
The Singapore summit did not quite live up to the hype, but it is certainly preferable to last year’s tensions, and there are enough reasons to be still hopeful that negotiations can work this time.
A Small Scandal, A Big Blow to Moon Jae-in’s Credibility
What seems like a fight over minor failings of Kim Ki-sik, South Korea's new Financial Supervisory Service governor, has undercut the Moon Jae-in government's claim that it is morally superior to conservatives who ruled before Moon.
Watching North Koreans Watch South Koreans
Inter-Korean relations may be on the mend, but it’s an uphill battle to challenge the narrative of brainless, heartless North Koreans.
Foreign Media in South Korea: Arbiters of Truth, and Players in Their Own Right
When the BBC correspondent in Seoul sent out a tweet last weekend, it demonstrated the power foreign media wield in South Korea, as well as the difficulty of staying above the muck of local politics.
N. Korea’s Olympics Proposal Undermines U.S. Hawks
North Korea said it wants to participate in the winter Olympics in South Korea. This is an unexpected gesture for the hawks in the U.S.
Seocheon: Overlooked, All the More Authentic
Seocheon was never on my list of places to travel. Is the travel experience more 'authentic' when the destination is more overlooked?
Donald Trump: A Merchant of Death
“We are making the finest equipment in the world, and you are buying a lot of it and we appreciate that." Trump's visit came down to one thing: arms sales.
No-Kids Zones and the Myth of “Parasitic Mothers”
No-kids zones are polarizing South Korean society. Blame often falls on the parents, and unfortunately more often on the mothers.