For Sam Kim's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
South Korea’s trade figures offer a timely assessment on the health of global commerce as its manufacturers are positioned widely across supply chains.
The country has now recouped more than 80% of the positions lost during the COVID-19 crisis, its finance ministry said in a statement.
The government has shifted its policy focus away from reversing population decline and toward finding a way to live with it.
Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix will lead more than 510 trillion won of investment in semiconductor research and production in the years to 2030 under a national blueprint devised by Moon.
While people will have to increase their adaptability to work in a fast-changing high-tech environment, policymakers will also need to play their part, the minister said.
The idea has gained traction within the ruling party in recent weeks as the K-shaped nature of the recovery became clearer.
The figures point to an accelerated need for Kim to come up with a new five year economic plan to survive the crisis.
Critics say the dominance of chaebols, where key decisions often rest on a handful of large shareholders, hampers fair business practices and stifles competition.
Lee built the company into the electronics powerhouse of today, becoming synonymous with the rise of South Korea on a global economic stage.
After destruction of inter-Korean liaison office, analysts warn of even more provocative behavior over the next year.
