[OPINION] ​Deciphering Hallyu's Popularity

New Delhi -- The Korean cultural wave Hallyu has indeed gone as global as globalization itself. It seems that in almost every city of the world which is connected to globalization, Hallyu is having strong reverberations. In its present avatar, Hallyu is largely led by South Korean pop music and South Korean dramas. Gangnam Style, BTS, BLA

March 3, 2023

[OPINION] Economic security: new mantra in Japan

KARACHI -- In the last few months, particularly after the release of Japan’s new National Security Strategy (NSS) document in December last year, the phrase “economic security” has acquired inor

February 20, 2023

[COLUMN] The National Assembly, the birth rate and the way out of hell

SEOUL -- The National Assembly last week passed a motion to impeach Lee Sang-min, the Minister of Interior and Safety, over the Itaewon tragedy. It’s now up to the Constitutional Court whether to approve or reject it. Reading this news, I found myself thinking about Korea’s falling birth rate. I know this makes little sense but let me try to explain the c

February 17, 2023

[OPINION] ​Tragic devastation in Turkey and Syria

KENOSHA, Wisconsin -- The tremendous devastation in Syria and Turkey as a result of the February 6 earthquakes is an ongoing important focus of world action. The l

February 16, 2023

[OPINION] Beijing's balloon and practical Asia realities

KENOSHA, Wisconsin -- The large balloon launched by China, which drifted at a leisurely pace over North America until shot down by a U.S. F-22 fighter, is definite

February 10, 2023

[OPINION] 'US special operations forces strike in Africa'

KENOSHA, Wisconsin -- Bilal al-Sudani is not exactly a household name, which is all the more reason to highlight the fact that this dangerous terrorist leader ha

February 6, 2023

[OPINION] Vietnam War: anniversary and legacies

KENOSHA, Wisconsin -- The Vietnam War ended officially on January 27, 1973, with the signing of the Paris Peace Accords. The governments of North Vietnam, South Vietnam, and the United States, plus the revolutionary National Liberation Front (NLF, which included the military Viet Cong) were par

January 31, 2023

​[OPINION] President Yoon's diplomatic gaffes: Not so serious, but serious

[This article was contributed by Sandip Kumar Mishra, an associate professor at the Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India. NEW DELHI -- South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol triggered an unnecessary controversy over his remarks January 15 when he was on a four-day state visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). He told Korean troops of the Akh unit stationed there that the UAE is a "brother country." He added “the security of our brother nation

January 25, 2023

Retaining that loving Elvis feeling

[This article was contributed by Dr. Chris Baumann and Iggy Pintado. Baumann is a professor at Macquarie University, Sydney, visiting professor at Seoul National University (SNU) in Korea and visiting associate professor at Osaka University in Japan. He has a great interest in music with a focus on Elvis Presley and the Bee Gees and scholarly, the role of music in marketing. Pintado is an influential, strategic leader with expertise in leading businesses through grow

January 23, 2023

[OPINION] "Look Beyond Media Scare Stories"

"Let a smile be your umbrella … a smile will always pay.” That is from a tune which became very popular through a 1957 recording by singer Bing Crosby. By custom and habit, this writer regularly – though not always – devotes a column relatively early in the New Year to positive and encouraging economic, political, social and

January 18, 2023