The lyrics from a catchy ’80s tune have been running through my head for the past week. “Stop spreading those rumors around. Stop spreading those lies.” Calling to mind this 1986 song by Timex Social Club was the lighthearted way I dealt with heavy emotions about the impact recent political rumors have had on the country. All week long, I read dispatches from Springfield, Ohio, recounting the school closures, bomb threats, deployment of state troopers and fear of some residen

The proportion of self-employed people in South Korea’s workforce is expected to fall below 20 percent this year, amid signs of ballooning credit troubles, a mix that calls for prompt policy measures by the government and financial regulators. If the trend continues, it will mark the first time that the share of self-employed people in the country falls below 20 percent since authorities began to compile related data in 1963. According to Statistics Korea, the number of self-employed peopl

There is a fascinating trend I have noticed in online media articles about America lately, such as “16 uniquely American things,” “13 positive stereotypes about Americans” or “23 US things that make the rest of the world jealous.” Those photo articles provide intriguing insights into what seems distinctively “American” in the collective mind and culture of the US. In the past, people often thought of America as a dreamland or the land of opportunit

Judging by its strong, dramatic language, Mario Draghi’s big report on European competitiveness was clearly intended to get EU decision-makers’ attention. Rather than trying to sugarcoat the pill, he warns that Europe is falling ever further behind the United States. Not only has it largely missed the digital revolution, but it is about to miss the AI revolution, too. Not one European technology firm can rival the likes of Apple or Microsoft. Moreover, Draghi notes that productivit

In Seoul, there are designer handbags everywhere. The Hermes Birkin for the ultimate flex. The Chanel Medium Double Flap for the very fancy. Lady Dior bags by Christian Dior are very popular. Of course there are the ubiquitous Louis Vuitton bags -- how many Speedy 30 bags can you see in a single day? Of course you also see Gucci, Prada, Bottega Veneta and sometimes Burberry too. I’ve seen YSL, Mulberry and Chloe here and there. I’m not here to judge Koreans’ love of designer ba

While there is no official definition agreed on globally, zombie firms are widely referred to as those that are risky, unproductive and unviable, yet which still manage to avoid immediate default, most likely thanks to continued support from banks, investors or governments, in light of misaligned incentives. The existence of zombie firms can be said to be inevitable for any country adopting market capitalism, at least for a certain period and under certain conditions, such as immediately after u

South Korea voiced optimism Friday when Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party elected Shigeru Ishiba, a former defense minister, as its new leader, a move that will make him the next prime minister. Ishiba, known for his dovish stance on historical issues between South Korea and Japan, secured the party leadership on his fifth attempt by defeating Sanae Takaichi, a conservative candidate, in a runoff vote. He will take over as prime minister from Tuesday, replacing Fumio Kishida. A senio

The Busan International Film Festival is one of the most popular and vibrant cinematic events in Asia. With its glamorous red carpet, a massive lineup of international films and a picturesque setting by the sea, it draws cinephiles, filmmakers and journalists from across the globe. Behind the dazzle, however, lies a complex, sprawling experience that can be difficult to navigate. The first rule of survival at BIFF is: Wear comfortable shoes. While the allure of dressing up for screenings or wa

Elon Musk might be one of the richest and most influential people in the world, but he is not untouchable. In Brazil, he recently had to give in to a court order to remove far-right extremists’ accounts from X, the powerful social media platform he owns and runs. Having defied the court order for months in the name of free speech, Musk had to surrender finally as the court blocked the site for 20 million Brazilian users. This case shows how nation-states could rein in the seemingly inv

As with other countries, major US-based tech giants such as Google, Apple and Meta have set up local subsidiaries in South Korea, a nation known for a large pool of active users and well-established online infrastructure. But some critics claim that there are problems with the way such overseas-based tech firms do business and pay taxes here. Among such problems, two topics stand out: lofty in-app purchase commissions and lower-than-expected tax payments to local authorities. The controversy ove

While we often think of wellness as a singular concept, it is inherently multifactorial, encompassing dimensions such as the physical, mental, emotional and social. These dimensions are interconnected and collectively contribute to our overall quality of life. Life thrives when our bodies maintain homeostasis -- a delicate balance necessary for survival. Homeostasis ensures that bodily systems regulate functions like salt levels, brain pressure and optimal heart rate. Any disruption to this bala

I interviewed Eun-Mi Chae, the former CEO of FedEx Korea and currently an independent director of SKC. She broke new ground as the first Korean female CEO in the express transportation industry, successfully leading the company for 16 years. With over 35 years of experience, Chae is a pioneer, an exceptional communicator and an inspiring role model. Q. What was your mindset when you were first appointed as CEO? A. When I was appointed CEO of FedEx Korea, two key pieces of advice shaped my leader

In diplomacy, the national interest should be the highest priority. Yet, a country's internal political dynamics can significantly impact its ability to engage in diplomatic issues effectively. The recent controversy surrounding the bid for the Czech nuclear power plant becomes a case study of how internal political strife can undermine diplomatic efforts. The blame game between the ruling and opposition parties in South Korea reflects a lack of bipartisan cooperation in diplomacy. The oppo

This month, a brief, ambitious and many would say calamitous experiment came to an end: Oregon rolled back Measure 110, its policy decriminalizing the possession of small amounts of illicit drugs. Rather than handing out small fines with a nudge toward treatment, police are once again giving misdemeanors to people who are found with opioids or meth. What can we learn from this first-of-its-kind experiment in the US? Many would argue that it showed us what not to do. But an honest assessment of w

A lawmaker of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea proposed a criminal law revision bill with a clause introducing a new crime dubbed “legal distortion.” The main point of the clause is that a prosecutor would face up to 10 years in prison if he is found to have distorted the interpretation of evidence or the application of law. The bill seems to target the prosecutor who decided not to indict first lady Kim Keon Hee in connection with her acceptance of a luxury-brand handba

Could our unshakeable addiction to plastics be broken? That’s certainly the hope of activists. The US -- birthplace of the modern polymers industry, and the biggest producer of its key feedstocks, oil and gas -- has joined a bloc supporting a worldwide treaty capping plastics production. That could make a United Nations meeting in South Korea in November into a turning point in the material culture of humanity. The harder challenge will be ensuring that an agreement is workable. Whichever

South Korea has nurtured tightly interconnected broadband and mobile networks, a technological environment ideal for new digital and social media platforms. But the country’s record on online privacy protection has a long way to go, with companies big and small often hit by massive user data leaks and hacking incidents. Korea is also slow to regulate platforms like YouTube, Facebook and X in connection with privacy protection. One reason is that their headquarters and key operations are ba

Recently, on the website AsAmNews, I came across an interesting item entitled, “What are the Asian languages most Americans want to learn?” Out of 42 East and South Asian languages, Japanese topped the list, perhaps due to young Americans’ interest in anime and manga. The second most popular language Americans want to learn was Korean, no doubt thanks to the worldwide popularity of K-pop, Korean cinema and K-drama. That is not all. Amazingly, the same study revealed that Korean

To know NewJeans is to love them. I don’t think I’ve ever met a K-pop fan who didn’t like them. My husband and I don’t generally agree on the K-pop groups we like, but we both love NewJeans. The songs are catchy -- my favorite is “Ditto” and his is “Attention.” We both love the orchestra hits in “Supernatural.” My mood improves after hearing their songs. Their concept conveys a retro take on the sweet and charmed world of youth. However

The scorching summer heat wave persisted until the end of Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving) holidays Sept. 16-18, usually a time when the weather stars to cool. Just two days after the holidays ended, record heavy rains began to batter the nation, particularly its southern regions. Daily precipitation records for September were broken in many sites. Hourly rainfall rose to a high of 112.2 millimeters in Jindo, South Jeolla Province. Precipitation at the Yeosu Industrial Complex in the province Sept.