news highlight

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  OPINION: American verdict suggests it was the economy after all Voters want a life they can afford and a government they can hold to account. The blue wave emerging from the U.S. midterm elections carries that message well beyond Washington. For South Korea, the warning is especially close to home: an economy riding the artificial intelligence boom depends heavily on investment decisions in a country whose voters are questioning who pays for growth. Democrats have won control of the Senate and are on course to retake the House of Represent November 4, 2026
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  Op-Ed: Persian studies at HUFS mark 50 years of Iran-South Korea ties Editor's Note: The following opinion article is contributed by Ahmad Erfanian, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the Republic of Korea The 50th anniversary of the introduction of Persian language studies at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (HUFS) offers a valuable opportunity to celebrate five decades of efforts to promote understanding of Iran’s language, history, and culture in South Korea. Since 1976, this academic endeavor has played an important role October 29, 2026
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  Op-Ed: Europe's ranks of 'sick men' are growing. Is Korea safe? Anxiety about the future has become a condition few countries can escape. Across much of the world, younger generations are coming to accept something their parents would once have considered unthinkable: that they may live less comfortably than the generation before them. Their anger is approaching a breaking point. Voters turn to new parties and leaders in search of change, only to find that a change of government offers little relief. Disparities between countries, companies October 28, 2026
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  Op-Ed: France knows how to revolt. But can it reform? “Is Paris burning?” The question immortalized in the 1966 black-and-while epic war film evoked the threatened destruction of a city whose survival mattered far beyond France. Paris was a repository of civilization, its streets and monuments belonging, in some measure, to the world. Today, images of burning buildings and vandalized streets invite a different question. Can the country that helped teach the modern world how to overthrow an old order still find the p October 23, 2026
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  OPINION: It's the living costs, stupid! The French are known for their fierce pride in their heritage. Their dismay and grief at the sight of the fire-ravaged town hall of Limoges are understandable. The 143-year-old landmark in central France had survived two world wars, only to fall victim to rioters. The anger sweeping Europe’s streets reaches far beyond France. In Italy, demonstrations over living costs and public services have turned violent. In Spain and Portugal, housing has become a rallying cry. Belgian s October 20, 2026
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  Op-Ed: Uzbekistan pushes Trans-Caspian corridor toward Europe Shifting international supply chains and expanding trade in Asia are driving demand for sustainable transport routes. For businesses, predictable delivery times, competitive rates, and reliable access to foreign markets are becoming increasingly important. Against this backdrop, the Trans-Caspian International Transport Corridor, linking China and Central Asia t October 16, 2026
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  OPINION: Korea's chip boom meets AI reality check South Korea’s chipmakers are minting profits, but investors are heading for the exits. For an economy riding the semiconductor windfall, the baffling disconnect demands a more sober reckoning than any single day’s market plunge. In seven trading sessions through Thursday, the KOSPI shed about a fifth of its value. The final session alone delivered a 7.57 percent rout. A rebound may soothe investors, but it should not lull policymakers into believing the storm has passed October 16, 2026
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  REVIEW: Heroine of our time: Sol Chin and her 10-year journey with Mahler An improbable undertaking begun by a 29-year-old woman conductor reached its culmination at Seoul’s Lotte Concert Hall on October 9, 2026. A decade devoted to Gustav Mahler’s symphonies became a story of artistic courage, collective endeavor, and the human spirit’s journey from death toward resurrection. According to the conductor, she is the youngest woman to have completed a Mahler symphony cycle. Her achievement has also drawn attention from figures associated October 15, 2026
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  OPINION: South Korea's path in the era of U.S.–China rivalry The world is undergoing profound turmoil. Yet upheaval does not arrive overnight. It emerges when long-standing balances of power collapse, when the values and institutions sustaining an established order weaken, and when new technologies transform the foundations of international society. The strategic rivalry between the United States and China represents just such a historical transformation. Their competition extends beyond military strength and economic influence to semicond October 14, 2026