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Thu, April 26, 2018 | 12:28

Opinion > Thoughts of the Times >

Hahoe masks of Andong

I recently returned to Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, where I did six weeks of basic military training in early 1974. The city exudes the spirit of traditional Korea, the heart of Korean Confucian culture, which values justice, righteousness and the preservation of civilizing customs. Many prominent scholars such as Lee Hawang (penname Tae-gye ) and Ryu Seong-yong thrived...

Thoughts of the Times | 2018-01-31 16:36

Learning English in Korea

I learned English in Korea. Not until I left Korea did I realize what I learned was American English. The first batch of English-speaking settlers (that is, 102 Puritans from Plymouth, England) arrived in what is now the United States in 1620 by Mayflower. They were later followed by successive waves of immigrants from England as well as other parts of Europe who brought thei...

Thoughts of the Times | 2018-01-30 17:11

South Korea's military problem

I recently had a conversation with the mother of a college-aged man who, when discussing her son's upcoming conscription period, referred to it as his “military problem.” I told her that this was an opportunity, not a problem, as he would be allowed to serve and defend the nation. She dismissed that concept and stated it was the responsibility of the U.S. military to protect ...

Thoughts of the Times | 2018-01-29 18:23

A journey in search of freedom, myself and the unknown

Last Christmas, I saw the movie “Becoming Who I Was” a story about a boy in Ladakh, India, and an old monk who lovingly took care of him for a long time, as they began a long journey to Tibet together. The last scene features the old monk, who parted from the boy, standing alone on top of a high snow-covered mountain. The scene prompted me to set out on my own life-changing j...

Thoughts of the Times | 2018-01-28 17:15

Choosing the right university

At this time of the year, college counsellors in Korea and around the world shift some of their focus from seniors to junior high school students. Seniors, or those in their final year of high school, will have completed their college applications, and will be receiving offers from universities and working toward their final examinations. The hard work of college application ...

Thoughts of the Times | 2018-01-26 16:22

Google translator can't represent me!

I have taught many students how to improve not only their English skills but also their teaching skills in Gukje Cyber University as a chief professor of English education department for 13 years. Of course I met many kinds of students and most of them are in Republic of Korea but some of them are in all over the world. It's the merit of cyber education. Recently many foreign...

Thoughts of the Times | 2018-01-25 15:57

Kim's divisive diplomacy

In what appears as a dramatic shift in diplomatic strategy, Kim Jong-un in his New Year address expressed that he was open for dialogue with South Korea and agreed to send a delegation to the PyeongChang Winter Olympics scheduled for Feb. 9 to 25. This was in sharp contrast to the previous year's perilous level of brinkmanship, which drew his regime the closest to an all-out ...

Thoughts of the Times | 2018-01-24 17:23

The Olympics and anti-Americanism

I am both very proud and happy that South Korea is hosting the 2018 Winter Olympics, but I am also somewhat apprehensive. An event like the Olympics tends to raise nationalism in all countries and, from my experience, especially in Korea. Korean nationalism and anti-Americanism both spiked in 1988 and 2002 just after the hosting of the Summer Olympics and the co-hosting of th...

Thoughts of the Times | 2018-01-21 19:09

Pyongyang's intentions

Kim Jong-un’s New Year’s address which expressed a desire for North Korea to participate in the Olympics was viewed by many as an olive branch to Seoul after a volatile 2017. This was followed by Pyongyang agreeing at Jan. 9 North-South talks to send a delegation to the Winter Olympics and to hold discussions with Seoul about lowering military tensions. The talks also touched...

Thoughts of the Times | 2018-01-21 19:04

Securing a dream job

In today's environment, landing full-time employment can be a challenging experience. Aside from basic economics and the number of available jobs, finding the position that you love and that you're good at is a different story. One question professionals need to ask is whether they are merely looking for a job to make ends meet or if they are looking for a job which they can ...

Thoughts of the Times | 2018-01-21 17:10

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Missile attack on Syria