Court Decided the Case First
``It is the merit of the common law that it decides the case first and determines the principle afterwards."

By-Election Afternotes
There are two big stories from last week's by-elections. The first has been widely reported but the second has slipped under the radar.

Beyond Heroes and Collaborators
Oct. 26 is the 100th anniversary of Korean nationalist Ahn Jung-geun's assassination of Hirobumi Ito, the first Japanese governor-general of Korea.

Sticky Rice Problem
Koreans have too much rice. It is not a matter of bulging waistlines but of bulging grain stores.

The Sphinx of 'Hannaradang'
Park Guen-hye will never be the president of Korea.

N. Korea Can Fool No One
Some people could be forgiven for believing that North Korea has made a fundamental change in its strategic outlook and is seeking peaceful coexistence on a nuclear weapons-free Korean Peninsula.

Doing What Is Right
An era has closed with the passing of former President Kim Dae-jung. While even people with goodwill can disagree vigorously on his accomplishments and legacy, there can be little doubt of his dedication to his political beliefs and his influence o..

Clinton’s Dangerous Success
Perhaps I have been in Korea too long but, upon seeing Euna Lee and Laura Ling depart their plane on American soil with former President Bill Clinton, I found myself hoping that the first words from them would be a ``sincere apology" for getting th..

Look to Latin America
While members of Korea's National Assembly ``defend democracy" against a supposed presidential dictatorship by attacking fellow members of the legislature, the world is witnessing the creeping advance of the real thing in Latin America.

Connection of Proliferation
Iran and Korea are locked arm-in-arm in their pursuit of nuclear and missile proliferation, to the detriment of regional security on opposite ends of Asia.

Korea’s Democracy Deficit
The handful of bleary-eyed young riot policemen on hand early Wednesday morning at Deoksu Palace were treated to a strange sight.

Lee’s NK Dance With Obama
Seoul and Washington have often been out of step over the past decade over how to deal with North Korea. Lee Myung-bak's summit meeting with Barack Obama scheduled for Tuesday is an opportunity to get the allies in sync.

Ramifications of Roh's Death
While this should be a time of quiet reflection and grieving for the Korean people, it is quickly becoming a political circus. Perhaps that is a fitting end for a public official who has had as tumultuous a political career as Roh Moo-hyun.

Korea's Adult Party?
In comparison to their opponents, the majority Grand National Party has been a model of stability and decorum.

Election: Winners and Losers
Aside from the candidates themselves, there were several winners and losers in last week's by-elections.

Attack of Zombie Politicians
No Korean election is complete without a visit from a political corpse. Chung Dong-young will fill that role during the National Assembly by-elections coming up on April 29.

Missile Launch and Lee’s Middle Way
North Korea's missile launch on Sunday will be a test of South Korean President Lee Myung-bak's diplomatic skills, but the test will not be his skill in dealing with Pyongyang but his ability to effectively coordinate policy with Washington and Tok..