[Grace Kao] Young adults and financial literacy

As a sociology professor, I lecture not only on K-pop, but also about race, immigration, stratification and inequality. Personal finance is not a typical subject matter for a college course, but maybe it should be. After the 2008 financial crisis in the US, I talked about how more houses were “underwater” when I realized that college students did not understand the structure of mortgages. Since then, I’ve given an entire lecture on mortgages by explaining interest rates, credit scores, amortizat

Oct. 14, 2025

[Editorial] Ever-present risk

Trade war tensions between the US and China are escalating again, ending months of an uneasy truce. Beijing said Thursday that it would restrict its exports of rare earths. The following day, US President Donald Trump said he would impose an additional 100 percent tariff on imports from China beginning Nov. 1. That would bring US tariffs on China to 130 percent, nearing the 145 percent rate Trump imposed in April before the US agreed to shelve them while China paused its retaliatory duties. The

Oct. 14, 2025

[Editorial] Trapped beyond borders

A nation’s responsibilities extend beyond its borders. When a South Korean university student was allegedly tortured to death in Cambodia in August, the tragedy exposed more than a single failure of law enforcement. It revealed the erosion of safety for Koreans abroad and the limits of Seoul’s reactive diplomacy. The case was shocking in its cruelty: A young man lured by a “high-income” overseas job offer was apparently held captive by a criminal ring and found dead in a car near Bokor Mountain,

Oct. 13, 2025

[Elizabeth Shackelford] Gen Z protests spreading

Around the world, Generation Z -- roughly comprising young people under 30 -- is leading a wave of anti-government protests. It is the most significant spike in global dissent since the Arab Spring 15 years ago, with a geographic reach already to four continents. Though the proximate cause of protests in each country differs, all are driven by young people who are angry at rising government corruption, poor government services and mismanaged economies. In cities across Morocco, young people have

Oct. 13, 2025

[Yoo Choon-sik] Stock market’s boom should not be destination

South Korea’s stock markets are on a record-breaking rally, grabbing headlines in most major news media outlets and helping improve sentiment not only among stock investors but also among the general public toward the future. Higher stock prices are always welcome for various reasons, including the most direct and obvious positive effect on the cash flows of many households. The local stock market’s benchmark Kospi jumped 1.73 percent to 3,610.6 on Friday, marking its second straight all-time hi

Oct. 13, 2025

[Editorial] Europe’s steel fortress

A steel tariff shock has landed, this time from the European Union. On Oct. 7, the European Commission unveiled a sweeping plan to halve duty-free quotas on steel imports and double the tariff on excess volumes from 25 to 50 percent. The EU’s move confirms that protectionism is back in fashion. For South Korea, the second-largest supplier to Europe after China, it closes off one of its key open markets. After Washington’s tariff surge earlier this year, the EU’s move tightens the squeeze. The ne

Oct. 10, 2025

[Lee Byung-jong] A Korea–Japan economic tie-up

The notion of a South Korea–Japan Economic Community may sound utopian — an idea fit only for idealists. Given the deep scars of Japan’s colonial rule over the Korean Peninsula and unresolved territorial disputes, most observers would dismiss the concept as naive or politically impossible. Yet one of Korea’s most influential business leaders, SK Group Chair Chey Tae-won, has long argued that deeper integration between the two economies is not only desirable, but necessary to survive the growing

Oct. 10, 2025

[Editorial] Double signals

It is a paradox worthy of an economic textbook: South Korea's exports in September surged to their highest in 3 1/2 years, yet domestic consumption in August sagged to its lowest point in more than a year. On paper, outbound shipments soared 12.7 percent year-on-year to $65.9 billion, the highest September tally ever. But behind the record, the arithmetic is less flattering. With four more working days than last year, the daily average slipped by more than 6 percent. South Korea's celebrated exp

Oct. 3, 2025

[Robert J. Fouser] Hangeul Day thoughts

October 9th is one of my favorite holidays: Hangeul Day. The holiday is the only public holiday in the world to honor a writing system and one of the few to honor language. North Korea honors Hangeul on January 15th as a national, not a public, holiday. Over the years, I have been honored to share my thoughts on Hangeul, particularly from a linguistic perspective. As a writing system, it is a wonder of simplicity and linguistic engineering that remains perhaps Korea’s greatest contribution to hu

Oct. 3, 2025

[Wang Son-taek] Trump is not an enemy

In recent weeks, South Korea has witnessed a surge of anti-Trump sentiment. The controversy over tariff negotiations with Washington, along with the shocking detention of Korean workers in Georgia, has triggered waves of anger. Protesters have shouted anti-American slogans, and some public figures have openly insulted US President Donald Trump. Such reactions may feel cathartic, but they are not solutions. Shouting slogans is an outlet for frustration, not a strategy for change. There is no deny

Oct. 2, 2025

[Editorial] Risky response

Some ruling party lawmakers have been harshly criticizing the United States recently over the difficult tariff negotiations between South Korea and the US. Referring to US President Donald Trump's demand that Korea invest $350 billion in the US in "upfront" cash, a member of the Supreme Council of the Democratic Party of Korea said Monday that the demand is without cause, comparing it to forcing reparations from defeated countries for their war crimes. Seoul had pledged to invest that amount in

Oct. 2, 2025

[Shang-Jin Wei] Can India withstand US trade war?

India has long benefited from geopolitical arbitrage, maintaining working relationships with Russia, the United States and Europe. But this delicate balancing act is now being tested by a series of policy shocks delivered by US President Donald Trump’s administration. These disruptions, unlikely to ease anytime soon, raise a critical question: Can India retain its status as the world’s fastest-growing major economy? The most urgent challenge facing Indian policymakers is weathering the escalatin

Oct. 2, 2025

[Kim Seong-kon] When Korea became a country of doctors

Imagine that, by 2050, Korea becomes a country of medical doctors. Even in a small town, you could find so many doctors’ clinics and sometimes even a hospital, as well. It all looks so convenient, but something is not quite right. Since well before the early 2020s, many Korean parents have wanted their children to become medical doctors, as the job market is unstable and highly constricted. In their eyes, doctors enjoy both a stable, high-income career and social prestige. There is also no retir

Oct. 1, 2025

[Christopher Ketcham] AI promises to make us stupider

Floating along on my bicycle on a daydream of a country road, up behind me came a man on a hissing e-bike, going fast, headed somewhere important. I thought at that speed — 25 miles an hour, I estimated. I saw him later at the crest of the hill that I’d climbed. He whizzed in circles and headed back down while I rested. The hill had been a tough one for me. As you weaken with dependence on the machine, I muttered to myself, I grow stronger. There is one certainty in the cycling world: Trad biker

Oct. 1, 2025

[Editorial] Voyage to nowhere

The image was meant to be triumphant: sleek vessels skimming across the Han River, ferrying office workers from Seoul’s eastern suburbs to the towers of Yeouido. Instead, what lingers are idle docks and grounded boats — the city’s much-heralded Hangang Bus service suspended only 10 days after its launch. Billed as emblematic of innovation, it has become a case study in haste, hubris and squandered trust. From the outset the project invited skepticism. Commuters noted the ferry would be slower th

Oct. 1, 2025