Can cooperatives replace companies? A growing number of people are in a rush to create cooperatives. More than 1,000 cooperatives have been established across the nation in only six months after a basic law governing them became effective on Dec. 1. It was a cooperative of substitute..
Let's rebuild our community Disputes over noise in apartments and multi-housing buildings apparently reflect the fact that Korean communities have fallen apart amid rapid urbanization and industrialization.
Time to accept talks Former presidential spokesman Yoon Chang-jung has become a symbolic man who rose to stardom then suddenly fell to the lowest level. Physical greed seems to be what drove him to his demise. Such desire may have grown because he thought he deserved i..
Don't trust your men, Madam! Former presidential spokesman Yoon Chang-jung has become a symbolic man who rose to stardom then suddenly fell to the lowest level. Physical greed seems to be what drove him to his demise. Such desire may have grown because he thought he deserved i..
Drama throws apt questions I confess I am addicted to K-drama. I watch drama after drama and empathize with why viewers in Asia love them so much.
Online education revolution in Korea Every time a new government is in place, presidents typically offer parents assurances of broad-based education reform, which often fails to materialize. President Park Geun-hye is no exception. When she received a briefing from the Education Minis..
New growth formula Average Koreans have taken the brunt of the prolonged economic slump, enduring stagnant growth in income and a deteriorating quality of life.
Blackmailing out of fear Any classmate from Kim Jong-uns student days in Switzerland might be surprised to see the young North Korean dictator resorting to the toughest possible stance of blackmailing the world with nuclear weapons.
Public campaigns for good manners With its 10 million inhabitants, Seoul is a sprawling and bustling city. A metropolis of such size can yield a galaxy of observations each day.
Art of communication Years ago, I had the chance to meet Park Geun-hye at a casual dinner gathering along with a small group of foreign correspondents. At that time, she was just one presidential hopeful among members of the conservative party and few knew she would be..
'Emotional labor' Nurses, bank tellers, restaurant employees, telemarketers, call center operators and salespersons: what do they have in common? They all have service jobs. More accurately, they are called employees who engage in "emotional labor" in that they are ..
'Empty' promises Koreans have often said cynically that most campaign pledges made by politicians are all but empty promises.
My mother in aging society Most Koreans, living in a rapidly aging society, seem divided over how to spend their life after retirement. Some prefer going to the countryside, eager for nature free from daily stress, while others choose to stay in the city to engage in social ..
Korea 2013, long way to go You have free wi-fi here everywhere, a first-time visitor from Hong Kong whom I recently met on a business occasion commented with enthusiasm. Her expressive comment reminded me of how hard it was for me to access free wi-fi on a recent visit t..
Principle or compromise? Nothing is clear regarding President Park Geun-hyes administration at least for now. The first act was announced over a week ago, but the curtain remains up with no actors yet to walk onto the stage. Moreover, the director is yet to finish cas..
Making people happy Every Korean has a right to pursue happiness. This right is manifested in the Constitution. It is a basic human need as no one wants to be unhappy.
Expectations of President Park Geun-hye Today, President-elect Park Geun-hye will be sworn in as the 18th president of the Republic of Korea. Her inauguration will mark the end of President Lee Myung-baks term and the beginning of a new page in Korea as the countrys first female Pres..
