Opinion & Editorials

Editorials, columns, and expert opinions on South Korea's economy, politics, and society.

Transformative Economy: Beyond Reuse to Value Conversion

When people first hear the term "transformative economy," many assume it's just another way of saying "circular economy." They think it's about reusing, discarding less, and improving efficiency. But ...

Published 2026.03.04. 14:53:29 | By Cho Nam-jun, Distinguished Professor at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (Director of NTU's Office of Industry and Director of the Transformative Economy Centre)

Korea Needs Burden-of-Proof Shift, Bold Rewards for Proactive Governance

In an era of complex crises, the rigidity and complacency of the public sector stand as the greatest obstacles to national competitiveness. The govern...

Published 2026.03.04. 14:32:41 | By Kim Ho-gyun, Professor of Public Administration at Chonnam National University

New Team Leaders Face Three Traps in Post-Promotion Season

Office atmospheres across South Korea are buzzing with excitement as organizations settle into their new structures following personnel changes. Congr...

Published 2026.03.04. 14:11:55 | By Lee In-jae, CEO of Korea Social Capital Research Institute (Former Director of Planning and Coordination, Ministry of the Interior and Safety)

Local Elections Must Address Regional Survival, Not Just Political Victory

The nationwide local elections scheduled for June 3, 2026, are not merely a political event. This election represents a critical turning point that wi...

Published 2026.03.04. 11:45:01 | By Seokyung IN

Lose the Narrative, Lose the Market

Over the past decade, ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) and DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) have dominated global business discourse....

Published 2026.03.04. 11:24:01 | By Lee Bo-hyung, President of Macol Consulting Group

Biotech Firms Must Manage, Not Avoid, Drug Development Risks

Risk is an inescapable fate for biotech companies. With success rates of just 1%, failure is more natural than success in new drug development. Techno...

Published 2026.03.04. 07:01:05 | By Lee Jung-min

Delisting Reform Strategy to Restore Market Confidence

The competitiveness of capital markets depends not simply on how many companies are listed, but on how many quality companies are present and whether ...

Published 2026.03.04. 05:00:05 | By Opinion & Readers Desk

Business Groups Urge Swift Passage of US Investment Bill Amid Political Gridlock

As economic uncertainty grows amid US tariff risks and the US-Iran conflict, Korea's business community has called for swift passage of the "Special A...

Published 2026.03.04. 24:05:05 | By Editorial Board

Budget Minister Nominee Vows Fiscal Discipline Amid Expansion Concerns

Park Hong-keun, nominee for Minister of Economy and Finance, declared on the 3rd that "the national budget is not a bottomless well," pledging to "bol...

Published 2026.03.04. 24:05:05 | By Editorial Board

Middle East Crisis Rattles Markets; Swift Response Needed on Financial, Oil Volatility

The "Middle East risk" stemming from U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on Iran and Iran's retaliatory response has delivered a megaton-level shock to domestic s...

Published 2026.03.04. 24:05:05 | By Editorial Board

In America, Even a Single Company Can Challenge the Government

U.S. President Donald Trump declared a complete government ban on Anthropic on April 27, just before launching airstrikes on Iran, calling the company...

Published 2026.03.03. 18:27:32 | By Sewon Lim, International Affairs Editor

Wednesday Poem: Morning

**Morning** By Jeong Hyeon-jong In the morning there is no such thing as fate. All there is is a new day's fresh energy! Fate may perhaps in t...

Published 2026.03.03. 18:24:46 | By Opinion & Readers Desk

Shia's Red Flag Rises Over Middle East

Following the death of Prophet Muhammad, founder of Islam, the Islamic world fell into chaos over the succession of leadership. Followers of Ali ibn A...

Published 2026.03.03. 17:52:33 | By Shin Kyung-lip, Editorial Writer

Silence Reveals Corporate Character in Crisis Response

On November 29 last year, Coupang disclosed a data breach affecting approximately 33.67 million customer records—a figure encompassing the majority of...

Published 2026.03.03. 15:16:02 | By Seung-ho Choi, CEO of Wise Partners

Invisible Fastening Technology Will Determine Future Industrial Supremacy

Technical standards in foundational root industries, long neglected by Korean manufacturing, are directly linked to future industrial hegemony. Indust...

Published 2026.03.03. 14:59:21 | By Lim Chang-ki, CEO of BoltsOne

North Korea Reshuffles Kim Family's Financial Gatekeepers

North Korea is a peculiar country that divides its national economy into three separate streams. The people's economy under the Cabinet handles the ci...

Published 2026.03.03. 08:12:27 | By Min Byung-kwon, Editorial Writer

Bithumb Incident Exposes Urgent Need for Crypto Market System Overhaul

Around 7 p.m. on the 6th of last month, Bithumb, Korea's second-largest cryptocurrency exchange, held a random box event for customers. The event was ...

Published 2026.03.03. 05:00:05 | By Park Chul-beom, Professor of Economics at Korea University

Why the Modern Economy Is So Hard to Understand

Those who follow internet discourse closely may recall the once-popular term "stochastic terrorism." It refers to outcomes that are predictable in agg...

Published 2026.03.03. 05:00:05 | By Megan McArdle, Washington Post Columnist

Samsung Electronics to Deploy Humanoid Robots, Labor-Management Must Find Path to Coexistence in AI Era

Samsung Electronics has announced plans to transform its domestic and overseas production facilities into "AI autonomous factories" by 2030, with phas...

Published 2026.03.03. 24:01:05 | By Editorial Board

Parliament Passes Only Jeonnam-Gwangju Merger Bill Amid Political Calculations

Of the three administrative integration bills covering Daegu-North Gyeongsang, South Chungcheong-Daejeon, and Jeonnam-Gwangju, only the Jeonnam-Gwangj...

Published 2026.03.03. 24:01:05 | By Editorial Board