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Wed, September 26, 2018 | 17:51

Opinion > Columnists > Choi Sung-jin >

Lee, Park and Lula

Three former presidents are in jail now _ two in South Korea and one in Brazil. There are similarities and dissimilarities between Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye on the one hand, and Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on the other.

Choi Sung-jin | 2018-04-10 17:29

Global trade war

Have the United States and China entered into a trade war? The answer seems to be “yes,” according to most Korean media outlets. It could be “no,” however, as some foreign newspapers describe recent events.

Choi Sung-jin | 2018-03-27 16:31

'Dotard' vs. 'Little Rocket Man'

Even in the world of diplomacy obsessed with formality, reality sometimes surpasses the wildest imagination. Nothing will show this better than the two forthcoming summits in as many months.

Choi Sung-jin | 2018-03-13 16:10

Don't overestimate your enemy

There is a giant bronze statue at the War Memorial of Korea at Yongsan, Seoul, next to the former headquarters of the U.S. Forces Korea.

Choi Sung-jin | 2018-02-27 16:58

Herculean task for Moon

On March 18, the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games and Paralympics will be officially over with athletes and countries counting their medals and rankings. For President Moon Jae-in and his diplomatic team, however, the main games will start from then.

Choi Sung-jin | 2018-02-13 16:40

One team, one nation

After many twists and turns, the single Korean women’s ice hockey team for the PyeongChang Winter Olympics went into joint training. It is heartening to see 23 South Korean and 12 North Korean players mingle with each other in a cordial atmosphere. The Olympic spirit that doing one’s best is more important than good results has long become an old story. Most, if not all, athletes, teams and nations appear now more interested in the colors of medals. The final standing for the joint South-North Korean team will be especially crucial given the controversy over forming the unified team.

Choi Sung-jin | 2018-01-30 17:05

False missile alarm

On Feb. 25, 1983, I was in the pressroom of the Prime Minister’s Office, in the now-disappeared Capitol Building in central Seoul. Around 10:30 a.m., an air raid siren wailed, and an urgent street broadcast repeatedly said, “Citizens of Seoul, we are issuing an air-raid warning. Take shelter underground.” We reporters thought it just a panic exercise. Then followed the voice: “This is a real situation, not a drill.” And we heard some jet fighters fly across the sky quite low and saw the PM’s security guards close the compound’s gate and draw out their rifles from long bags. We said to one an...

Choi Sung-jin | 2018-01-16 17:04

Olive branch from North Korea

Many observers of international politics, here and abroad, have said 2018 would be a crucial year for the Korean Peninsula.

Choi Sung-jin | 2018-01-02 16:40

Pride and pragmatism

President Moon Jae-in's four-day state visit to China last week has left some points to ponder about good diplomacy. The rival political parties disagree on most issues, but their assessments of Moon's China visit couldn't be more of a contrast.

Choi Sung-jin | 2017-12-19 16:05

Another tale of 2 cities

Pyongyang and PyeongChang - some foreigners might think these two similarly sounding places may be twin cities or something like that. Actually, a Kenyan official who was going to attend an international biodiversity conference in PyeongChang landed in Pyongyang in September 2014. This happened because a tourist agency mistook the English spellings of the two cities. As he violated the North Korean law by entering the country without a visa, the African delegate paid $500 in fines and was expelled to Beijing.

Choi Sung-jin | 2017-12-05 16:13

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Inter-Korean Summit in Pyongyang