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  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
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  OPINION: Thailand and Korea: A legacy of friendship and sacrifice SEOUL, December 12 (AJP) - It is encouraging to see Korea and Thailand gaining renewed momentum in their economic partnership, as demonstrated at the recent Ignite Thailand–Korea Business Forum in Bangkok. More than 500 participants, including senior officials from both nations, explored cooperation in smart agriculture, advanced manufacturing, digital December 12, 2025
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  OPINION: Won discount reflects structural weaknesses The trauma of the 1997 financial crisis still casts a long shadow over South Korea. A rising dollar-won exchange rate evokes memories of a time when the rate surged to nearly 2,000 won per dollar and the foundations of the economy shook. Today’s rate—hovering around 1,470 won—is the highest since the 2009 global financial crisis, and its persistent climb has stirred fresh unease. Research by the Hyundai Research Institute shows that South Korea’s equilibrium excha December 12, 2025
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  OPINION: Why Beijing cannot tolerate Tokyo's remark related to Taiwan Strait Recent comments by Japanese leaders linking a Taiwan Strait contingency to Japan’s “survival crisis” have triggered a strong response from China. During recent conversations, many South Korean acquaintances asked why Beijing reacted so forcefully. China considers a firm response not only necessary, but also legitimate — and I hope this commentary clarifies Beijing’s position for Korean readers. First, Japan is interfering in China’s internal a December 12, 2025
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  OPINION: The compass for Seoul's FX policy now points to Tokyo The Federal Reserve has cut its rate target range again this week, but the news barely rippled across Korean markets. The dollar strengthened, Korean stocks softened and yields inched upward — hardly the reaction one expects after a major policy decision from Washington. That muted response reflected an important shift in global finance: the Fed may still set the rhythm, but it no longer commands the stage. Markets registered the U.S. rate cut and immediately turned their ga December 11, 2025
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  OPINION: Morning 3K, Keep going My day begins with what I call a “morning 3K.” Since January, this routine has quietly reshaped my life. In summer, I rise at 5:30 a.m.; in early winter, at 6:30. As dawn breaks, I drink a glass of water and head to a nearby park. After a brief warm-up, I run three kilometers in about twenty minutes. The seasons have changed around me—spring, summer, fall, and now winter. In summer, sweat pours down, and I rinse my face with cool water. Even in late fall, I f December 11, 2025
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  A German lesson for Korea amid geopolitical shifts “What is South Korea’s perception of China? Germany is currently deliberating its strategy toward China,” German Chancellor Friedrich Merz asked President Lee Jae Myung during their first summit at the G20 in Johannesburg on Nov. 22. Lee did not respond immediately. Merz, sensing the moment, added that Berlin would take Seoul’s perspective into account as it shapes its new China strategy. Lee, for his part, asked what Germany had learned from over December 10, 2025
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  OPINION: What South Korea can learn from UK housing policy SEOUL, December 8 (AJP) - Following his victory in the 2024 general election, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer unveiled an ambitious housing policy aimed at tackling what he described as a "national crisis." The plan included supplying 370,000 homes annually, totaling 1.5 million over five years, with a focus on expanding public sector involvement, developing new towns, and making use of green belt areas. His housing policy focused on two main priorities: restructuring December 8, 2025
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  OPINION: Political paralysis exposes need for structural reform SEOUL, December 8 (AJP) - The National Assembly has become a battleground of extreme confrontation rather than a forum for meaningful discussion. Deep political polarization, where each party sees itself as righteous and the other as fundamentally wrong, has eroded any space for compromise or dialogue. The concentration of power by a dominant party has encouraged authoritarian tendencies and shifted politics toward identity-based conflict rather than practical problem-solving. Thi December 8, 2025
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  When will South Korea get off the treadmill? Samsung, SK, Hyundai Motor and LG aren’t just South Korean brands anymore; they’re global fixtures, as ubiquitous as fast Wi-Fi and K-dramas on long-haul flights. There are few corners of the world where someone hasn’t heard of South Korea. In cultural visibility, the last decade has felt as dizzying as the old Han River Miracle — a second, soft-power-driven version. The artificial intelligence boom literally cannot operate without Korean memory chips. K-po December 6, 2025