Why “Busan Is Good” Falls Short as a City Brand
“Busan Is Good” now reaches public transport, city institutions and local businesses. As Busan considers a change, the larger issue is whether its civic identity can outlast a mayor’s term.
Maru Kim
The Other AI Race Is for the Freedom to Change Course
Korea’s HBM strength gives it unusual leverage inside the AI stack. The harder question is whether that leverage can be converted into durable choices across compute, models and infrastructure before today’s bottlenecks shift.
How a Political Appointment Becomes a Judgment of Character
What Yong Hye-in’s nomination reveals about political representation, fairness and perceived hypocrisy—and how citizens form judgments when direct evidence of governing competence remains limited.
South Korea Has Outgrown Washington’s Nuclear Rules
The U.S. once constrained South Korea’s nuclear fuel cycle over real proliferation risks. As Seoul seeks greater uranium-enrichment latitude, those old rules now face a different Korea, a different fuel market and a changing American nuclear policy.
What South Korea’s 87% Drop in Aquaculture Heat Losses Really Measures
South Korea reported an 87 percent drop in aquaculture losses from high water temperatures in 2025. But data from major black rockfish farming waters show that local heat exposure, early harvest and emergency releases changed alongside farm protection.
North Port’s New Ministry and the Unfinished Work of Busan’s Old Downtown
Busan has secured a permanent center of national maritime administration at North Port. The harder task is ensuring that the ministry’s spending, decision-making, and daily activity reach the older neighborhoods behind Busan Station.
When High Home Prices Outgrow the Mortgage Market
Mortgage restrictions can reduce bank lending without removing the money supporting expensive homes. Property gains, jeonse deposits, family capital, public guarantees and private credit increasingly determine who can still buy—and where the risk ultimately resides.