"Number 1-ga" Is Not a Certificate of Victory

As the June 3 local elections approach, it is not uncommon to hear remarks like, "This time, number 1-ga has basically already won," at reporting sites. Even when said jokingly, the underlying perception is serious. This attitude goes beyond underestimating the competition?it reflects a tendency to take the judgment of voters too lightly.Candidate numbers are not individual report cards. The numbers for candidates from parties with seats in the assembly are determined in order of parliamentary representation, and if the same party fields multiple candidates in a local council election, they are labeled as "1-ga," "1-na," and so on. It is believed that being placed at the front or having the "ga" designation can offer an advantage in the actual election. However, "1-ga" does not mean the individual has already been verified; rather, it is more akin to an institutional advantage at the starting line. That is why what Democratic Party candidates need more than confidence is humility. If s

2026.04.20 17:32

Subtle Investments Within the Trump Administration Amid the Iran War

There are observations that the second round of ceasefire negotiations between the United States and Iran may resume as early as this weekend. While there is hope that peace may finally come to the Middle East, there is also a lingering question: "Who will profit this time?" Recent foreign media reports have suggested that someone within the U.S. administration under President Donald Trump appears to have reaped considerable profits by taking advantage of the economic impact of the Iran conflict. This occurred just before President Trump announced a ceasefire on April 7. Evidence shows that over 50 new accounts on the online prediction platform Polymarket placed bets on a ceasefire, resulting in hundreds of thousands of dollars in winnings. A similar situation occurred in the futures market just 15 minutes before President Trump announced a suspension of airstrikes on Iranian power plants last month, with massive short positions in crude oil futures worth about 580 million dollars (app

2026.04.17 09:41

Preventing the Collapse of the Tower of Babel in Coding

The reporter attempted to study coding five years ago. With the coding craze in full swing, it seemed like learning it well would make it easier to process data necessary for news articles. However, just 30 minutes after starting, the reporter closed the book. Computer languages such as Python were simply incomprehensible. The sheer amount of code required to create even a single website or application also felt overwhelming. Despite having no prior experience with coding, the reporter recently created a website that analyzes investment tendencies by combining information from Saju (Korean fortune-telling) and the MBTI (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator) personality test. It took only two hours to build. Even without any knowledge of code, simply describing what the reporter wanted in words was enough for a generative artificial intelligence (AI) model to write the code. The AI even recognized and corrected shortcomings on its own. Although the reporter once felt defeated before the towering

2026.04.16 10:06

No “Energy Mountain” Without Public Buy-In

"What about the parking fees I have already paid?" An official working at a public institution in the Yeongnam region expressed frustration upon hearing the news of the "alternate-day vehicle operation system." Since the agency is located in a leased building, he lamented that he has wasted hundreds of thousands of won in monthly parking fees. For those who could reach work in 20 minutes by car but now have to endure an hour-long commute on public transportation, the government's slogan to "save and conserve" has translated into a cost in both time and money. It has now been three weeks since the government introduced the "alternate-day vehicle ban" as a measure to overcome the energy crisis originating from the Middle East. Some even describe this crisis as a state of emergency comparable to the "Third Oil Shock." While the intention for the public sector to take the lead in energy conservation during such a critical situation is commendable, the real issue is whether these efforts ca

2026.04.15 11:25

Does Changing Insurance Really Change People?

"The premiums for 5th-generation indemnity health insurance will be significantly reduced. Are you considering switching?"The reporter asked several acquaintances the same question, but the responses were largely the same."What I have now is good enough, so why should I bother changing? What if I end up at a disadvantage after switching?" The 5th-generation indemnity health insurance reform being promoted by the financial authorities is structured to lower premiums in exchange for reduced coverage. On average, premiums will be more than 30% lower than those of the 4th-generation policies. The aim is to curb excessive use of non-covered medical services and stabilize the loss ratio. Judging by the numbers alone, especially the 'loss ratio,' the reforms appear to be rational. However, consumer sentiment is different. Despite the announcement of the policy change, reactions remain lukewarm. Why are people hesitant to move to the 5th-generation indemnity health insurance? The answer lies i

2026.04.14 10:11

Why Are the Police Who Once Demanded Neutrality Now Silent?

"They have been properly rewarded. Now isn't it time for them to show their loyalty?" The National Police Agency appointed 28 senior superintendents as candidates for promotion to commissioner-general on April 3. As the list was being read out, one police executive made this cynical remark. Commissioner-general is the fourth-highest rank in the police hierarchy. More than half of those nominated?16 individuals?either attended or expressed support for the "Senior Superintendents’ Meeting" in July 2022, which publicly opposed the establishment of the Police Bureau under the Yoon Suk Yeol administration. For those who were demoted for demanding investigative independence, this is a rightful restoration of honor. The real issue comes next. The abolition of the Prosecutors’ Office and the launch of the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency are now just six months away. The police will be reborn as a giant investigative body overseeing the entire process from initiation to closure of investiga

2026.04.10 11:20

“Just Do It Neatly” Productive Finance... The Pitfall of a ‘Number Game’ Without Standards

The key topic in the financial sector for 2026 is “productive finance.” In the first quarter of this year (January to March), loans to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from the five major banks increased by more than 6.3 trillion won compared to the end of the previous year. Loans to large corporations also increased by 8.7127 trillion won. As the government has instructed banks to tighten household lending while expanding loans to productive sectors such as businesses, banks are acting in a coordinated manner. While the financial industry acknowledges that government pressure is indeed burdensome, there is also broad agreement that the flow of money needs to shift away from asset markets such as real estate. However, it is now up to each bank to determine what constitutes “productive finance.” An executive at a commercial bank said, “We are making decisions on the ground as situations arise.” He explained, “A company that appears to be an ordinary manufacturer on the surface

2026.04.08 10:24

'Silver Democracy' That Forced the President to Surrender

The proposal by President Lee Jaemyung to restrict free subway rides for seniors during commuting hours has ultimately been scrapped. What is regrettable is not only the questionable effectiveness of the policy, but also the fact that it was not even properly reviewed. No government ministry took responsibility for coordinating the policy. Ministries that used to jump at any presidential order now passed the work on to one another. Even President Lee, once known for cutting through issues decisively, quietly withdrew his own remarks. The population of seniors aged 65 or older who are eligible for free rides surpassed 10 million last year. The number of people in their 70s (6.54 million) has now exceeded the number of people in their 20s (6.3 million). Considering these population figures alone, it is inevitable that politicians must pay close attention to the senior demographic, just as they do with younger generations. Naohiro Yashiro, a special professor at Showa Women's University i

2026.04.08 08:32

The Paradox of the Venture Investment Promotion Act That Hinders Innovation

"Some deep tech companies spend as long as three years just preparing for business. By the time they're finally ready, there are often few investment opportunities left." This is according to a professional in the accelerator (AC) industry. By law, ACs are required to invest at least 40% of their total investment capital in early-stage startups that are less than three years old. The Venture Investment Promotion Act defines ACs as corporations or non-profit organizations whose main work is professional incubation and investment, reflecting the intention that they should exist primarily to foster early-stage companies. The problem is how such regulations affect ACs. The restriction on investing only in companies within three years of founding means that promising businesses often have to be let go before investments can even be made. For example, a university professor may have established a corporation for the purpose of securing research grants but is not in a position to operate the

2026.04.03 10:49

What the US Overlooks While Criticizing Korea’s Digital Barriers

"There were specific circumstances behind our decision last May to restrict participation in the bidding process for high-performance graphics processing units (GPUs) and cloud services to Korean companies only." An official from the Ministry of Science and ICT recently commented regarding the United States Trade Representative’s inclusion of South Korea in its '2026 National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers,' which expressed dissatisfaction over the intentional exclusion of American companies in Korea’s artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure procurement and security certification systems. The official explained that there were special circumstances: the GPU bidding project was pursued through a supplementary budget, and it was essential at the time for the nation to secure its own AI models and infrastructure from a national security standpoint. The GPU bidding project referenced by the United States last May was part of the Korean government’s supplementary budget

2026.04.03 10:08