튼튼이와 씩씩이의 블로그

Abe keeps refusing to admit wartime atrocities Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe still refuses to acknowledge or apologize for atrocities his country committed during World War II. His refusal has continued since his 2012 inauguration. It is disappointing for the nationalist leader to mark Japan's surrender without expressing any regret for its shameful past. He has no intent..

Korean and Japanese civic groups will join forces to urge the Shinzo Abe administration to resolve the issues of wartime forced labor and bilateral tension that have escalated since the Japanese government enacted trade restrictions against Korea. According to a coalition of 18 Korean civic groups, Tuesday, it and a coalition of civic groups from Tokyo will gather in Seoul on ..

Seoul must take corresponding steps quickly After Japan tightened export restrictions on South Korea, Friday, by removing it from a list of countries enjoying simplified export procedures for a broad range of industrial materials, the country is considering corresponding measures in all sectors with a deep sense of crisis. Japan's unilateral steps will have serious ramificatio..

Imports of Japanese cars and beer fell sharply in July due to the spreading boycott of Japanese products amid a trade dispute with Tokyo, data from the Korea Customs Service (KCS) showed Tuesday. According to the data, Japanese beer imports plunged 45 percent month-on-month to $4.34 million in July, while passenger car imports fell by 17.2 percent to $65.74 million from a mont..

South Korea will hold its largest military drill on a cluster of islets in the sea between South Korea and Japan, with the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard participating, a senior presidential aide confirmed. "Yes, South Korea's military will conduct a biannual defensive military dill on Dokdo. Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard will partici..

The Presbyterian Church of Korea (PCK) court ruled against Myungsung Church on Tuesday regarding its controversial father-son pastoral succession. The ruling reversed the denomination's decision last year which gave the megachurch the green light to go ahead with the selection of Rev. Kim Hana to succeed his father Rev. Kim Samhwan as head pastor. "We, the court members, confi..

The Moon Jaein administration will tighten its import quota on fishery and agricultural products from Fukushima in Japan in response to Tokyo's decision to remove Korea from its whitelist of Group A countries that receive preferential trade processing. A presidential aide said Sunday that if the Japanese Cabinet's decision to remove Korea from the list takes effect Aug. 28, So..

Japan should not suppress freedom of expression Japan has invited the ire of Koreans by stifling freedom of expression in relation to a statue of a girl symbolizing victims of wartime sex slavery. This comes as Seoul-Tokyo relations are at the worst level in decades. The statue has been closed off to the public at an international art festival in Aichi Prefecture. The "Statue ..

Next year's plan should aim at stabilizing economy The Ministry of Economy and Finance unveiled revised tax codes for next year Thursday, fixing tax rates and projected revenue amounts for each category. The 2020 tax revision bill mainly aims at raising taxes on high-income earners while reducing the burden on companies reeling from the slowing economy. Regrettably, the plan d..

Moon should avoid revolving door appointments President Moon Jaein is expected to conduct a Cabinet reshuffle early next month. The planned reshuffle should focus on appointing the best qualified figures to cope with pending issues such as the trade row with Japan, prolonged economic slump and the stalled denuclearization of North Korea. Yet there are growing worries that Moon..