Latest posts by Hyejin Kim from November, 2007
Korea: Foreigners on Korean TV
A TV program in Korea featuring foreign women who are able to speak Korean and who give their opinions about Korean society and culture has been popular recently. Participants in the program have fast become celebrities due to their exotic appearance. While TV audiences like the program and talk about...
Korea: The Entrance Examination for Colleges
The entrance examination for colleges finished last week. Every year it comes along with several events and stories. A story that is never omitted is a tragedy where examinees give up their lives due to the result of the examination. The story always generates opinions and complaints about the current...
Korea: Samsung Scandal
Samsung lobbying scandal – the creation of a slush fund, the bribery of prosecutors and government officials, and an effort by the chairman, Lee Kun Hee, and his aide to illegally help his son take over control of Samsung – recently has shaken Korean society and seems to affect the...
Korea: Role of the National Election Commission for the Coming Presidential Election
The National Election Commission (NEC) announced on the 22nd of June that internet netizens can’t support or criticize specific parties or specific candidates for the presidential election on the internet. Since the announcement, there are many worries that the NEC is taking freedom of speech away. In particular, one post...
Korea: Conflicts over Subway Seats
Young people respect old people. Old people take care of young people. That is one of the major traditional philosophies in East Asia. Regarding this perspective, excessive behavior is now bringing up questions about what the extent of the mannger between the elderly and young should be. Especially if you...
Korea: Special Compartments for Women on the Subway
What do you think about special compartments for women on the subway? One reason given for its necessity is to protect women from male sex criminals. A new policy that Seoul suggested causes a new kind of battle between men and women. 도쿄 경찰에 따르면 지난 2005년에 검거된 지하철 성추행범은...
Korea: Punishments at school
What is the best education? A series of recent incidents in Korean schools reflects the difficulty of striking a balance between the demands of teachers, students and parents. Teachers’ qualifications are always an important issue when school scandals emerge. 선생님들 체벌을 하세요 폭력을 휘두르지 마시고 최근 선생님들과 관련된 정말 씁쓸한...