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Jason Lim

Korean-style parent diplomacy is killing teachers

Over the summer, my 11-year-old boy visited his grandparents in Seoul, where his slightly older cousin lived. Although his cousin, who was in 7th grade, had a summer vacation from late July to mid-August, my son was able to see him only on the weekends, if he was lucky. The cousin, who lives in the ultra-competitive area of Gangnam, had to go to various “hagwons,” or private tuition schools, till 11 p.m. every night. During his summer vacation! This didn’t stop when school restarted. He would go to various hagwons after school until very late at night, six days a week.

2023-09-26 16:35

Korea's fabulous, atomized society

I recently stayed in a hotel near Dongdaemun, which brought into better focus the contradiction that is modern Korea than if I had stayed in Gangnam surrounded by the new and modern. The super modern hotel with the best facilities and services lay smack in the middle of a neighborhood spotted by old, crumbling buildings that had housed the sweatshops of the past and markets of old, not to mention remnants of the ancient walls and gated fort that survived the turbulence of the times.

2023-09-14 16:35

Japan's 'Toto world'

Every time I visit Japan, I find myself surprised at the lack of English language in the public arena. This is such a contrast with the ubiquity and even effusiveness of English language everywhere in Seoul; I mean, it's almost impossible to avoid English in Korea anywhere you go. I remember watching a TV show where contestants were challenged not to use English words in their everyday speech and failed miserably. There are even Koreans who actually use typical English names as their legal names. I don't mean Korean Americans like me. I mean Koreans, born and raised in Korea, who prefer to u...

2023-08-31 16:35

Instagram nation

Growing up in the '80s, I remember how “conspicuous consumption” was used to describe a lifestyle in which luxurious “things” were bought for the express purpose of showing off, thereby gaining a sense of superiority from the collective envy of others. The only limiting factor about conspicuous consumption was that you actually had to have the resources to consume something outlandish enough to be worthy of showing off.

2023-08-15 15:08

'Nothing Compares to U'

Sinead O'Connor has died. As you get older, hearing about the deaths of people that you knew - either personally or as a public figure - is increasingly frequent and marked with only passing curiosity except in certain cases where you feel compelled to pause. This is one of those times.

2023-08-03 16:35

How would Korea collapse (again)?

If you discount the unsubstantiated myths about ancient Korea being the center of the Eastern World several millennia ago, today is the most powerful and most influential that Korea has ever been.

2023-07-18 16:46

Colorblind Constitution

It is only appropriate to quote from the American Declaration of Independence for a column published on July 4: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

2023-07-03 16:35

Mad cows swimming in Fukushima discharge

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) notes in a recent report on the progress of the IAEA Review of Safety Related Aspects of Handling ALPS (Advanced Liquid Processing System) Treated Water at TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (FDNPS) that “these findings provide confidence in TEPCO's capability for undertaking accurate and precise measurements related to the discharge of ALPS treated water. Furthermore, based on the observations of the IAEA, TEPCO has demonstrated that they have a sustainable and robust analytical system in place to support the ongoing technical needs...

2023-06-20 16:35

Technological gaze of the Hermit Kingdom

Elise Hu, who served as the inaugural bureau chief for NPR in Seoul from 2015-2018, recently published a book titled, “Flawless: Lessons In Looks And Culture From The K-beauty Capital,” about her thoughts on the beauty culture in South Korea.

2023-06-04 17:03

The precious mundane

My wife and I just listened to a Zoom call for the parents of kids who have entered into a national chess tournament that's happening in a few weeks. There are over 1,600 kids coming to this tournament, many flying in from all over the country. The organizers were explaining everything from how the ratings are calculated to where to go and sit in the conference hall while your kids are playing a game. In a word, they were explaining all the critical, mundane details that make a huge conference tick.

2023-05-16 16:47

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