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The Korea Times

The Korea Times

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Columnists

6. Robert Atkinson

Is Korea serious about fighting climate change?

At various global summits and venues, leaders of many nations, including Korea, have firmly stated their pledges to take all needed action to cut global emissions leading to climate change. Like many developed nations, Korea has committed to achieving carbon neutrality, in its case, by 2050. The Yoon administration also recently tightened reduction targets and aims to use less carbon-intensive energy sources to reduce emissions by 45.9 percent from 2018 levels by 2030.

2023-09-03 16:35

Time for Korea-US cooperation to limit China's advanced tech gains

Even if Korea implements additional advanced technology policies, it will be increasingly difficult for Korean firms in advanced industries, like electronics, semiconductors, machinery, and autos, to compete against Chinese firms that are backed to the hilt by the Chinese government. China's innovation mercantilism playbook is to steal or coerce the transfer of technologies its firms and industries need to succeed, then back an array of national champions with massive subsidies while squeezing foreign competitors out of the Chinese market. From that assured “aircraft carrier” base of growth,...

2023-07-31 16:35

Why KFTC should put hold on proposed Online Platform Act

Korean companies and government policy officials are rightly focused on ensuring that Korea continues its evolution from a fast follower of innovation to an innovation leader.

2023-06-22 16:35

Korea needs to slow down regulation, speed up support for AI

Everyone, it seems, is all in a lather about AI, especially after the release of the most recent ChatGPT large language model. Elon Musk says AI will kill us all if we don't act now. More restrained voices predict just the end of work and the end of truth. Now the best way to get attention is to “cry AI.” Indeed, we are rapidly ascending to peak AI panic.

2023-05-21 16:35

When facts about China change, elites should change their views too

Since the late 1970s, the United States has been in the grip of a deep, almost religious belief that free markets and unfettered globalization maximize U.S. and global welfare. Termed the “Washington Consensus,” the view is based on a number of deeply held beliefs, including that small government is best, governments should not try to pick winners, no industry is more important than another, and more economic competition and global integration are always good.

2023-01-16 16:50

Korea should not require companies to pay to deliver digital content

Since the emergence of the broadband internet, there have been disagreements about who should pay to transmit data. When a Korean user downloads an episode of “Squid Game,” who should pay for transmission of that data from the server hosting the episode to the user's computer: the company hosting the content or the internet service provider (ISP) that the consumer pays for to obtain broadband access?

2022-12-19 16:55

Beware of tech principles in sheep's clothing

In the last few years, a growing movement has advocated “responsible” technology development and use, particularly for artificial intelligence. With monikers like “human-centered AI” and “responsible technology” these sound, as we say in America, like “motherhood and apple pie.” Who can be against human-centered and responsible technology?

2022-11-10 13:24

Korea should capitalize on soaring dollar

The U.S. dollar has reached near-record highs, including against the Korean won which is down 16 percent over the last 20 months. This makes U.S. imports to Korea more expensive and Korean exports to the U.S. less expensive. Great for American consumers but bad for American workers. And vice versa for Korea.

2022-09-15 17:05

Turning point for American industrial policy or one-hit wonder?

As American politics sinks farther into the hole of partisan vitriol and dysfunctionality, we can be reminded of former George W. Bush administration Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's statement that “we need a common enemy to unite us.” In this case, a common adversary - China - united Republicans and Democrats last month to pass landmark legislation: the CHIPS and Science Act. The two main features of the bill are to provide critical support for semiconductor firms and to boost science funding significantly, especially targeted to key technologies for U.S. competitiveness.

2022-08-15 16:03

Why dollar as reserve currency is America's Achilles heel

Here's a thought experiment. The government can wave a magic wand and automatically reduce the price of exports by 15 percent and increase the price of imports by the same.

2022-07-21 16:59

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