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The Korea Times

Entertainment & Arts

SCMP
Asia

The Korea Times

Opinion

Columnists

bernard Rowan

Forward with Japan?

Japan and South Korea have more national interests in common than many believe. Too many South Koreans and Japanese obviously do not think so. Despite Japan’s 20th century history of fascist and misguided imperial atrocities against Korea and other nations, the present era is one of “old enemies become friends.”

2015-10-13 17:03

A professor to remember

Through this column, in the thanksgiving season of the Chuseok festival, I write a tribute to my senior colleague and friend, Park Eung-kyuk. In doing so, I wish to celebrate his commitment to democracy and local government in Korea. Professor Park’s legacy of teaching and research as an academic professional and his love of international humanity are shining examples of accomplishment. I also wish to draw a broader reflection about the value of academia and Confucianism in Korea.

2015-09-29 16:10

Sunset for the Internet cafe

Present-day advanced society relies on a ubiquity of information. Korea has advantages in achieving information literacy because of its size. It's easier to spread Internet technology across the country. With many powerhouse corporations providing the means, Korean citizens can talk and send texts and emails with ideal convenience.

2015-09-15 16:58

'Korea's Face at the DMZ'

This past week, the two Koreas stepped back from the brink . Perhaps in retrospect it amounted to just another brink along the road to eventual unification. President Park receives tributes for firmness in the face of North Korean threats. South Korean diplomats receive praise for achieving some apology from the self-righteous Pyongyang regime.

2015-09-01 16:21

Enjoy Korean BBQ!

A great aspect of Korean cuisine is barbecue restaurants. I'm not talking about American-style barbecue joints or steakhouses, but instead the delicious places where Koreans prepare beef, pork and chicken over a grill. For this column, I'm going to share some of my recommendations and experiences based on many happy dinners with friends and colleagues.

2015-08-04 17:03

Land of apartment complexes

Apartment buildings are a widespread feature of present-day Korea, in particular within the major cities. These complexes, sometimes with dozens of floors, house most South Korean urban residents. They’re safe, inviting, convenient and designed to meet the preferences of today's Korean citizens. At the same time, they take on a humdrum, monotonous quality and excessively monopolize the skyline. Let's look at this part of Korean culture as an advanced nation.

2015-07-21 16:53

To our friendship!

The United States and South Korea uphold a strategic alliance that has many benefits for both nations, Asia and the world. These include military security, heightened international trade, exchange of expertise and two advanced global cultures. The U.S.-South Korea alliance gets much attention, but it’s not my topic today. The root of our Korean-American alliance is a history of international friendship. Arguably, it began with the Korean War, but it continues to grow. The proper basis for our alliance is friendship. Both arise from interest and from the common ideal of international humanity.

2015-07-07 16:55

For Korea's fathers

I'd like to write a column in tribute to Korean fathers. As a student and admirer of Korean society, I've spent much time learning about Korean ajumma, mature working women, and I've written several columns about them. Let's encourage similar thinking about Korea's many uncles and grandpas, the ajeossi and harabeoji.

2015-06-23 17:02

Explore Museums!

A great way to learn about South Korea is by visiting her museums. Korean museums are a technology for advancement. They record the path of this Tiger's ascent and lasting goals. They are living symbols of Korean history, society, culture and civilization. I've visited South Korea many times, but I always find a new museum to view. I'd like to share some of my favorites, in particular around Seoul.

2015-06-09 17:07

Korean syncretism

I'd argue that a central bane of civilization is an obsession with purity. Captivating the human imagination, purity grounds folly, death and misery. How much money have empires, kingdoms, kings, queens and nations spent? And how much invidious hatred has purity spawned? National, racial, religious and cultural purity drives prejudice, scapegoating and inhumane relations throughout our world and throughout history. Hitler built his monstrous state on delusions of purity, as did and do other fascist, totalitarian, religious and political fantasists. Still too many purists hawk their quackery ...

2015-05-26 17:04

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