December 2015: Ending the Year on Two Down Notes in Inter-Korean Relations
A good stretch of optimism in inter-Korean relations ended in December, even before tensions rose in early January 2016 with North Korea’s fourth nuclear test.
The Irish Peace Process: Insights and Differences
In discussions of Korea’s possible reunification, observers often cite the German unification and integration process – but what about Ireland?
November 2015: Bookended by Military Operations, Talks Move Forward in Inter-Korean Relations
In November, both Koreas continued to demonstrate a willingness for inter-Korean contact while also maintaining a commitment to improve security. Military actions over the past few months have not scuttled opportunities for dialogue. Inter-Korean talks in November led to scheduling talks set for December 11 at the vice minister level.
Gender Discrimination in Job Interviews Contributes to Workforce Inequality
What interests you about this job? What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses? What are your measurements? One of these questions would raise red flags if asked by a potential employer here in the United States, but it is still relatively common in Korea
October 2015: Building from Family Reunions While Tensions Remain in Inter-Korean Relations
With North Korea celebrating the anniversary of its Workers Party on October 10, there was also some initial concern that the event would be marked by a missile launch or nuclear test, which would damage the possibility of the family reunions scheduled for later in the month. No missile or nuclear test occurred, and both the parade for the anniversary and the family reunions took place.
Happy Halloween: Korea Shows a Growing Interest in the Spooky Holiday
Halloween as we know it in the United States is still not widely celebrated in South Korea. Trick or treating is limited to kindergarten parties and English hagwons, and you’re unlikely to see many jack-o-lanterns or skeletons decorating peoples’ homes.
Global Korea? The Potential Long-term Implications of Recent Cuts to English Education
Last month, the Korean Ministry of Education announced major changes to the way South Korean students will learn English. Some of them are positive, and can potentially help ease the overwhelming classroom workload for Korean students. But these new policies may also have some unintended side effects.
The Korean and American Presidents Should Discuss Work-Family Balance Issues
Earlier this year in state of the nation addresses, both presidents stressed the importance of enhancing the lives of middle class families and their centrality to revitalizing their national economies. The work-family balance is no longer a matter of individual life, but a national (even global) issue that governments and policymakers should pick up and do something about.
How a Northeast Asian Development Bank Could Succeed
Still in the nascent stage of planning, a Northeast Asia Development Bank would serve as a multilateral development bank (MDB) to attract investment in Northeast Asia, specifically intending to incentivize the DPRK to denuclearize through access to external capital for development.
Native Korean Religions: The Old and the New
Although hardly a new phenomenon, a number of native religious movements both large and small have attracted scores of devout Korean followers, intermingled with political causes, and in some cases have notoriously landed in news headlines.