Failan Among Us in the Age of Population Decline

'Failan' is a film directed by Song Hae-sung and released in 2001. Actor Choi Min-sik played the role of Kang-jae, a third-rate gangster, while actress Cecilia Cheung portrayed Failan, a woman from China. In the film, Failan legally exists within Korean society, but in reality, she is not truly connected to anyone. On paper, she is someone's wife and has a name within the system, but her daily life is lonely, impoverished, and she is almost invisible. The letters she leaves behind belatedly shake Kang-jae's heart, evoking regret for recognizing someone's existence too late. This lingering sense of remorse is the lasting impression the film leaves. The reason this film resurfaces more than 20 years later is that our society is now facing similar questions on an entirely different level. South Korea has already entered a stage where population decline and aging are directly impacting the labor market. Foreign workers are no longer just supplementary labor; they have become a vital pillar

2026.04.29 11:01

Questioning the Rationale for the Existence of the Preferred Stock System

The Korean stock market has made history. On April 27, the KOSPI index surpassed the 6,600 mark during intraday trading, riding the explosive boom in semiconductors. This is the first time in history that the KOSPI has crossed the 6,600 threshold. The market remains heated with high expectations for continued growth. However, it is difficult to attribute this upward rally solely to improved performance in a specific sector. The unprecedented tightening of regulations in the real estate market has driven a massive influx of idle capital into the stock market. Additionally, the government's amendments to the Commercial Act and proactive shareholder return policies, such as major companies' buyback and cancellation of treasury shares, have fundamentally altered the market's foundation. In this environment, there is a crucial issue that must be addressed: the preferred stock system. As the market matures and corporate governance reform becomes a central topic, it is time to reconsider whet

2026.04.28 11:22

The Oldest Way to Thrive in the Age of AI

A day is exactly 24 hours, without any margin for error. This was true thousands of years ago, and it remains true today. However, the patterns with which people use the hours in a day have changed dramatically. Early humans lived in the raw flow of time. They traveled long distances on foot and relied solely on memory for information. As technologies such as the printing press, automobiles, computers, and the internet developed, the efficiency and quality of time usage improved significantly. Yet, with every gain comes a loss. Automobiles are convenient, but people move less as a result. Navigation systems make it easy to find any place, but our spatial memory is diminishing. Artificial intelligence (AI) is likely to intensify these issues. The concern is even greater because AI is a superintelligent general-purpose technology modeled after humans. While the benefits of AI are welcome, we must guard against the pitfalls that come from over-reliance on AI. Time management is a prime e

2026.04.22 11:01

The Harm of Party Monopoly: Not Just a Problem for Daegu

"A single party monopolized power, eliminating competition and damaging politics. In the end, the absence of political competition led to Daegu's decline." Former Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum made this diagnosis on March 30 last month when he announced his candidacy for Daegu mayor. The monopolization of politics through the absence of competition is not just an issue for Daegu. The single-party domination in Honam is even more entrenched. The duopoly of the two major parties in central politics is similar. These days, it often appears as if the Democratic Party is in a position of absolute dominance. Of course, the political landscape varies by region, and the momentum each party has for the June 3 local elections also differs. However, the harmful effects of a monopolistic system that has erased competitive party democracy are the same. The regional structure of political parties in Korea can be traced back to the 1987 presidential election and the 1988 general election, when party po

2026.04.03 11:39

Petrochemical Industry Directly Linked to National Security

Due to the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, 27,000 tons of Russian naphtha?designated as a sanctioned item by the United States?have entered South Korea. This is especially welcome news for the petrochemical industry, which has been suffering from the so-called "naphtha crisis" triggered by the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a consequence of the unresolved Middle East war that has lasted for over a month. It had become an urgent reality for us to devise alternatives to Middle Eastern naphtha, which previously accounted for 35% of domestic demand. Fortunately, breathing room was provided as the United States temporarily eased sanctions on Russian petroleum products. Although the imported volume is less than Korea’s daily consumption, it is still a highly encouraging achievement resulting from the cooperation between the government and corporations. However, it must be noted that this does not mean Korea can now continue to import Russian crude oil and naphtha without restricti

2026.04.01 11:00

The Space for Workers Is Disappearing

The Moon Jae-in administration, pledging to realize a society that respects labor, aggressively pushed for minimum wage increases and working hour reductions from the outset. These efforts were called “income-led growth,” with the belief that boosting workers’ incomes would stimulate the economy. The Lee Jaemyung administration is also pursuing worker-centered policies, focusing on guaranteeing workers’ rights, reducing actual working hours, and enhancing safety, as demonstrated by the enactment of the Yellow Envelope Act and the Serious Accidents Punishment Act. This is based on the view that not only are workers a major support base, but also that they were unable to protect their rights or secure their fair share during the industrialization process. On Labor Day morning, former President Moon Jae-in delivered a statement emphasizing, “Workers are now the mainstream of our society.” Responding to this, business leaders, concerned that policies they disagreed with were being enforced

2026.03.30 11:00

The “K-Shaped Polarization” Hidden Behind the Bull Market

Although the South Korean stock market underwent an adjustment in the first quarter of this year due to the outbreak of war between the United States and Iran, it achieved an unprecedented milestone. The KOSPI index surpassed the 6,300 mark for the first time, posting the highest stock price growth rate in the world. While the Nasdaq struggled with concerns over artificial intelligence (AI) profitability and overvaluation, South Korea soared on the back of its semiconductor technology advantage, government-led corporate governance reforms, and active shareholder return policies. However, behind the dazzling digital displays, we are also witnessing the chilling reality of “K-shaped polarization.” The temperature of the local economy is below zero. Diagnosing the reality of the uniquely Korean K-shaped polarization reveals the pain experienced by the majority of ordinary citizens. Looking in detail, the first issue is the asymmetry in the industrial ecosystem created by the “semiconducto

2026.03.27 11:00

What Policies Exist for the 'Most Stressed Generation': People in Their 40s?

"I'm now in my 40s. I'm what you call 'Young Forty'." 'Chungju Man' Suntae Kim said this on a TV variety show on the 18th when asked about his age by the hosts. Like Kim, people in their 40s these days maintain their youth through exceptional self-care, taste-driven consumption, and network-based communication. For this age group, the average household income reaches 93.33 million won, and they are considered major players in the cultural market. It would not be an exaggeration to call them the most trendy and affluent middle-aged generation in Korean history. However, this generation is reportedly under tremendous stress. According to 2024 data from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, among all age groups, those aged 40 to 49 reported the highest rate?35.1%?of feeling "very much" or "a lot" of stress. People in their 40s are even less aware of their stress, with only 26.9% recognizing it?lower than those in their 20s. The main causes of stress are work life and economic i

2026.03.25 11:09

In the Age of AI, True Competitiveness Lies in the Ability to Ask Questions

"I've used it so much that I sometimes worry I'm becoming too dependent on artificial intelligence (AI)." This is what three university students currently taking my AI class said in unison this semester. Not a single student out of more than 20 last semester expressed the same concern. This marks a significant change in just half a year. Like language, the wheel, the printing press, automobiles, and the internet, AI is also a general-purpose technology. Paradoxically, general-purpose technologies quickly become taken for granted. AI is no exception. We are no longer surprised by the various powerful generative AI tools available today. Technologies that felt magical just two or three years ago have now become a familiar part of our daily lives. These days, it is difficult to find someone around us who does not use AI. Consulting AI for help has become routine. Just as we feel uneasy without our smartphones, people will undoubtedly feel lost if they are suddenly unable to use AI in the

2026.03.23 11:00

A Society Where We Can Call Life a Beautiful Picnic

The poem "Return to Heaven" by poet Cheon Sang-byeong compares life to a "beautiful picnic," and serenely accepts even death. "I will return to heaven / On the day this beautiful picnic of life ends / I will go and say, it was beautiful." This verse expresses gratitude for life and a peaceful farewell. The reason this work remains moving across eras seems to be the final belief that, at the end, we can say that our ordinary days were, after all, beautiful. However, in a society where the fear of war has become everyday reality, even words like these become a luxury. Recently, with conflicts in the Middle East and renewed military tensions surrounding the Korean Peninsula, anxiety is rising again. Of course, for many, war still feels distant. For some, war in the Middle East is a matter of survival, but for us, it may reach us simply as news of stock market fluctuations. Yet, if it became reality that we could die at any moment, could we truly say, like Cheon Sang-byeong, that life was

2026.03.20 11:00