BTS Returned to Gwanghwamun. Not Everyone in South Korea Was Celebrating.
The Korean government treated a BTS comeback concert as a national event. The response at home was more complicated than expected.
Journalism
South Korea’s AI PhD fast track cannot outrun its broken academic system
South Korea’s plan to fast-track AI doctorates reflects a broader effort to strengthen its research competitiveness. Yet the initiative exposes a deeper structural problem — accelerating degrees cannot compensate for an academic environment that struggles to attract, retain and support researchers. South Korea’s research constraints stem not from the speed of doctoral training but from long-standing systemic issues that undermine its scientific and intellectual base.
Opinion | The Christmas Gifts We Never Forgot
South Korea's Diplomacy Has An Institutional Problem
Korean diplomats stride onto the global stage with Indo-Pacific initiatives, APEC summits, and nuclear-submarine negotiations. But the very institution tasked with sustaining this momentum has changed far more gradually than the demands placed upon it.
Opinion | Gen Z, Socialism and the ‘Memes’ of Production
South Korea’s Foreign Aid at a Crossroads Under Lee Jae-myung
Seoul’s development diplomacy faces a crisis of identity as anti-corruption probes collide with cultural soft power ambitions.
Between Whiskers and Wings: NYC's Pigeon Feeders Face Consequences of Rat War
New York’s pigeon feeders are navigating an ongoing urban battle. While the city pushes for stricter regulations, those who find solace in feeding pigeons continue their quiet resistance. For them, it’s about connection, responsibility, and a piece of the city that won’t be so easily erased.
NYC Mayoral Candidates Face Off on Climate Policy
Mayoral Candidate Zohran Mamdani Kicks Off 2025 Canvassing
Mamdani is known for the bold promises of freezing rent and making MTA buses free, yet he remains relatively unknown to many New Yorkers. That's precisely why large-scale canvassing efforts are crucial to his campaign.
Future View: AI and the Automation of Work for Gen Z
The Search for the Korean Standard on Shareholder Democracy
The devaluation of the Korean stock market results from the rapid progress of the Korean economy and the neglect of shareholders' irreplaceable role in the market economy. Korea Discount, dealt in a wrong manner that disregards such a role, will ultimately lose national competitiveness in global markets.
Women in Academia, Academia on Women
While diplomatic missions are beginning to take concrete steps against gender imbalance, the stark reality remains: international relations academia continues to be a field where male voices echo the loudest, and issues of Women, Peace and Security (WPS) often fade into footnotes.
Idolization of English pronunciation
Korean obsession with native-like English fluency needs to halt. Praised are the ones who imitate the smooth American intonation or posh British accent; those who fail to do so are viewed as terrible English speakers.