N. Korea's Olympics Proposal Undermines U.S. Hawks
At a scholarly conference on international politics and security I attended early December in the U.S., many an opinion was proffered on the state of geopolitics in Northeast Asia. But one dominant view, expressed at least privately by a number of scholars, was that the Donald Trump administration is
Seocheon: Overlooked, All the More Authentic
The mudflat is vast, stretching as far as the eye can see. A few fishermen in thigh-high rubber boots waddle through pools of seawater. Two elderly women are hunched over, digging up shellfish. We gingerly hop from one rock to another, trying not to fall while still admiring small sea
Donald Trump: A Merchant of Death
So it all comes down to arms sales. First, Donald Trump threatened “fire and fury,” prompting concerns that war was imminent on the Korean Peninsula. Then he said no one “should underestimate American resolve” and reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to its allies. At last, Trump’s 11-day Asia tour began
No-Kids Zones and the Myth of "Parasitic Mothers"
A year ago, a friend of mine, a female radio producer in Seoul, confided that visiting someone who had just given birth horrified her. She talked about this young mother as being cooped up in the apartment all day while her husband worked, and feeling her intelligence diminishing to the
Not All Genitalia Images Are Obscene: Supreme Court Rules
Pictures of genitalia are not obscene. A caveat: so long as their “evil” can be contextualized through criticism or explanation. That was the ruling by the Supreme Court last Thursday, concluding a six-year debate over just what constitutes obscene materials in South Korea. The case centered on Korea University law
End of Itaewon As We Know Nears
Rendering of Hannam Newtown District 3 as it would look after redevelopment (courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Government) Itaewon in central Seoul is one of South Korea’s most diverse and interesting neighborhoods. American soldiers from the nearby military base are a fixture. Diplomats from around the world are stationed at
Michelin Guide Accused of Selling Out to South Korean Government
Michelin Guide, published since 1900 by a French tire company of the same name, is one of the most respected names in the restaurant industry. It employs anonymous inspectors to evaluate restaurants and rewards one, two or three stars to select establishments, with the three stars indicating “exceptional cuisine, worthy
Hollywood Has Harvey Weinstein. South Korea Faces Its Own Demons.
Hollywood is still reeling after the New York Times found that Harvey Weinstein, one of the industry’s most powerful figures, had sexually harassed and assaulted actresses for decades. Then there is South Korea, where a similar debate is unfolding over how its own film industry is treating women. Back
Insadong: Breathing Its Last
Every South Korean used to need a seal for conducting legal affairs, and I was fourteen when I had my first seal carved. We could have gone to any seal shop in the neighborhood, but my father insisted that we go to Insadong and make a family outing out
Lee Myung-bak: One More President to Face the Past
Former president Lee Myung-bak has enjoyed a comfortable retirement until now, thanks to having a fellow conservative succeed him. But now that Park Geun-hye has been replaced by Moon Jae-in, from the center-left Minjoo Party, Lee faces growing scrutiny over his term, from 2008 to 2013. A reform committee within
Moonppa: A Troubled Start for the Moon Jae-in Presidency
It could just be that the rising temperatures summoned a high-pressure system and clean air, but even nature seemed to acknowledge the momentousness of the occasion. On May 9 South Koreans elected Moon Jae-in as president. And just as suddenly, the noxious spring smog that normally blankets the Korean Peninsula
KÉ Interview: Building an App to Engage Young People in Politics
Many young South Koreans have taken to calling their country “Hell Joseon” because they see no hope in it. The job market is getting exceedingly competitive, and corporate culture, not to mention social relations in general, is rigidly hierarchical. But South Korea is also becoming known for its thriving start-up