INTERVIEW: Korea's weak won reflects structural dollar imbalance, not crisis conditions

South Korea’s won has weakened past 1,470 per dollar, a level that evokes memories of past currency crises. But strong external fundamentals suggest the current situation differs sharply from previous episodes of financial turmoil, according to Jeon Kwang-woo, chairman of the World Economic Research Institute and a former head of the Financial Services Commission (FSC) and the National Pension Service (NPS). Despite record current account surpluses and a stock market ral

December 17, 2025

OPINION: A reckoning for church-state separation

South Korea’s Constitution guarantees freedom of religion while mandating the separation of church and state, a principle enshrined in 1948. For more than eight decades, this constitutional boundary has remained largely uncontested. Recently, however, calls have emerged to clarify the scope of this separation and strengthen penalties for violations, reflecting growing concern that the principle is being eroded. President Lee Jae Myung recently underscored the need for firm a

December 16, 2025

OPINION: In defense of Korean democracy in martial law aftermath

On Dec. 3, 2024, President Yoon Suk Yeol’s declaration of martial law sent shockwaves through South Korea, one of the world’s leading economies. The country was unprepared for such a drastic measure. Although rumors had circulated, few believed they would materialize. A nation built on the sacrifices of its people suddenly confronted a crisis evocative of its painful struggles for democracy. South Korea’s path to democracy has been anything but smooth.

December 16, 2025

OPINION: Human cost of overnight delivery

SEOUL, December 16 (AJP) - South Korea’s lightning-fast delivery services, including overnight and same-day options, have become a defining feature of its retail industry and a source of national pride. For consumers, the appeal is clear: fresh groceries and online purchases arriving at the doorstep by morning. Yet behind this convenience lies a less visible cost, borne by delivery workers who endure punishing night shifts and unsafe working conditions. To sustain overn

December 16, 2025

OPINION: Uzbekistan-Turkmenistan, regional proximity, mutual trust and outcomes of cooperation

SEOUL, December 15 (AJP) - Today, the process of mutual integration and sustainable development among the Central Asian republics has entered a new phase. Recent reforms and transformations in Uzbekistan are contributing not only to the development of the entire region but also to the strengthening of mutual

December 15, 2025

OPINION: How to harness AI in education

Consider this. AI can automate tasks but it cannot replace relationships. AI can generate content but it cannot provide judgment. AI has knowledge but teachers have lived experience. AI amplifies teachers but it does not replace them. That said, AI should not be feared but leveraged. Education now has a responsibility to equip teachers and students with the skills, tools, and ethical guidelines required for meaningful learning and responsible innovation in an AI-powered wo

December 15, 2025

OPINION: Rethinking economic security in age of AI

SEOUL, December 15 (AJP) - In early December, Reuters reported that private capital would help launch the “Invest America Program,” a cornerstone policy of President Trump’s second term. Michael Dell and his wife pledged $6.25 billion to activate what are known as Trump Accounts, an initiative embedded in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed into law in July. Under the program, every American child born between Jan. 1, 2025, and Dec. 31, 2028, will receive $1,

December 15, 2025

OPINION: When a language becomes a barrier

Every society reveals its anxieties in its exams. South Korea revealed quite a lot this year. The English section of the College Scholastic Ability Test, the Suneung, became so difficult that it briefly escaped the country’s borders. The BBC compared it to deciphering an ancient script. The New York Times, with a mix of bemusement and challenge, presented readers with excerpts from the test — a passage invoking Immanuel Kant, another steeped in gaming jargon &mda

December 14, 2025

Colombia's Gripen deal raises questions beyond fighter jets

Colombia’s recent decision to acquire 17 JAS-39 Gripen fighter jets from Sweden’s Saab for €3.1 billion was officially framed as a long-overdue modernization of its aging Kfir fleet. Yet the controversy surrounding the deal suggests that the issue extends far beyond replacing obsolete aircraft. The Colombian government insists the selection process was transparent. Still, key details remain unclear. It is not publicly known whether the contract includes weap

December 14, 2025

OPINION: Why China becomes more popular in 2025

SEOUL, December 12 (AJP) - The year 2025 has entered its final month. This year, unilateralism and protectionism have injected greater uncertainty into the world. China, however, has charted a different course. China has remained proactive, winning greater global goodwill through increasing opening up, stronger momentum of innovation, and an ever

December 12, 2025