중앙데일리

[FOUNTAIN]Lame Ducks and Real Power

The term "lame duck" is said to have come into use during the American Civil War, referring to presidents who failed to win a second term and "waddled like ducks," unable to hold a consistent line in policy administration during the remainder of their term. The incumbent president's term used to run through March 4 following the November election, leaving defeated presidents with nearly a four-month period of uncertainty. But that changed in 1933…

May 04,2001
[EDITORIALS]Clean Up Our Drinking Water

We are shocked that viruses that can cause enteritis, hepatitis and encephalitis were found in the tap water supplied to some small and medium-sized cities. According to the Ministry of Environment, viruses were found in the reservoirs and the tap water of four out of 31 areas analyzed by a research team from Kyung Hee University beginning last May. Scholars, including Kim Sang-jong, a professor at Seoul National University, have warned s…

May 03,2001
[EDITORIALS]Crisis in the Ruling Party

The demeanor of the ruling Millennium Democratic Party these days leads us to wonder if it has forsaken its role as the party of the incumbent president. It seems to lack coherence, and is doing little in the wake of the defeat of all its seven candidates in the April 26 local elections. True, party Chairman Kim Joong-kwon acknowledged on April 27 that the the party should "humbly gauge and listen to the public." But inaction makes the words holl…

May 03,2001
[INSIGHT]The Downside of Low Interest Rates

A friend of mine abruptly stopped going out a while ago. Two years ago he retired from a renowned company where he was a managing director. He is said to be home all day long, day after day, even though his wife keeps saying, "Please go out." Until last year he could afford to go out for drinks of soju with his friends, depending on modest interest incomes from his retiree pay. These days he cannot do this any more. He told me, "That is the only …

May 03,2001
[OUTLOOK]When Our Head Must Rule Our Heart

The people of Jeongseon, Kangwon province rely on their casino and are up in arms over a plan by Hyundai Asan to operate a rival casino on its Mount Kumgang cruise ship. They are planning to burn the North Korean flag and a portrait of Kim Jong-il to mark their protest. But in these days of "sunshine," how dare someone think of burning the portrait of Kim Jong-il and the North Korean flag? Where does the courage come from? Hyundai Asan has so …

May 03,2001
[NOTEBOOK]Presidential Decision-Making

President Kim Dae-jung liked to debate when he was an opposition leader. He never made a decision quickly. He talked with many people, asked their advice and studied their reactions to his ideas. In this way, he slowly formulated his opinions. This was one noticeable difference between President Kim Dae-jung and former President Kim Young-sam. The former president retracted a decision right away if he realized he was going the wrong way. …

May 03,2001
[EDITORIALS]First, Fight Economic Pessimism

There is mounting concern that the economy may be headed for stagflation. While signs of recovery continue to elude the economy, exports are falling and prices have been rising sharply. In the second consecutive month of net decline, export figures for March dropped more than 9 percent compared to the same month last year. Consumer prices jumped 5.3 percent last month compared with a year ago, bringing the price increase so far this year to 2.…

May 02,2001
[EDITORIALS]Missile Shield Issue Requires Delicacy

President George W. Bush reaffirmed Wednesday his campaign pledge to construct a missile-defense system, and foreign governments as well as some Americans are voicing concern about his hard-line stance. While it is still being contemplated, the proposed program will effectively alter the international security system and become a factor in the hegemonic struggle among major powers. Amid all this, South Korea finds itself not being able forthrig…

May 02,2001
[OUTLOOK]Old Magazines and New Global Realities

Once in 15 years, everybody should have to close up a house and move somewhere else. It gives you a chance to throw out all the magazines you have been saving because you plan to get around to reading them some day. Pretty far down in my pile of "someday" reading when I cleared the house before coming to Korea was a 10-year-old magazine featuring a striking Chinese mandarin in black and gold on the cover and the headline: "Looking East: th…

May 02,2001
[MINORITY VOICE]The Wider Lesson From a Helping Hand

The nation marked the 21st Day for Disabled Persons on April 20. It was not an auspicious day. A recent Gallup study reconfirmed that Koreans' prejudice against the disabled has remained unchanged for the past 15 years, and statistics released by the Ministry of Health and Welfare show that 634 Korean children were adopted abroad last year, while just 18 were adopted domestically. The story of Adam King, a Korean adoptee, and his adoptive p…

May 02,2001

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