Korea JoongAng Daily - Daily News from Korea

Jang Deok-jin

The author is a professor of sociology at Seoul National University.

About 20 years ago, I encountered a puzzling situation while serving as a department chair. Each semester, about 30 students received scholarships. A teaching assistant prepared a preliminary list, which faculty members reviewed and finalized. One semester, I noticed that the top student in the department, who had earned perfect A+ grades in every course, was missing from the list.

When I asked why, the answer was simple: The student lived in Apgujeong-dong, a wealthy neighborhood, and therefore did not need financial support. This raised a fundamental question about the nature of scholarships. Are they rewards for academic excellence or assistance for those in need? There is room for debate. But if even the top student receives no recognition simply because of family wealth, what incentive remains to strive for achievement?

Scholarships are not only about money. In many countries, even distinguished scholars in their 60s include scholarships they earned as students on their resumes. They serve as lasting evidence of dedication and accomplishment. After discussion, we decided to award the scholarship to the top student. From the following semester, we also introduced nonmonetary recognition that could support applications for further education or employment.

If high-performing students receive all the rewards, disparities may deepen, and some may call this unfair. On the other hand, if excellence is not rewarded at all, society risks losing motivation for achievement. Readers may consider which system they would prefer: a school that rewards performance or one that treats all students equally, regardless of outcomes.

The same dilemma applies at the national level. Recent reports have warned that Korea's asset Gini coefficient has exceeded 0.6, reaching a record high. However, the reality is more nuanced than the figure suggests. The Gini coefficient measures inequality and can be divided into income and asset components. While income inequality reflects current earnings, asset inequality accumulates over time and is typically higher — often about twice the income Gini.

For example, even if the most expensive apartments in Seoul rise from 10 billion won to 20 billion won ($6.6 million), this may have little direct impact on most individuals' daily lives. Yet such changes can significantly affect the asset Gini due to the nature of the calculation. Compared to other OECD countries, Korea's asset inequality remains in the middle to upper-middle range.

Under the Lee Jae Myung administration, following efforts to address the aftermath of political unrest, real estate appears to have become a central policy priority. The administration views unchecked property speculation as a serious threat. It has even suggested excluding individuals who own multiple homes from participating in housing-related policymaking.

At the same time, policies appear designed to redirect capital from real estate into financial markets. Measures such as revisions to commercial law, share buybacks and cancellations and efforts to boost the benchmark Kospi index have been accompanied by tax incentives. While real estate faces heavier taxation, financial investments benefit from separate taxation schemes, income deductions and capital gains relief.

There are legitimate concerns. For instance, aggressive share buybacks could expose companies to hostile takeovers, as seen during the 2003 Sovereign Asset Management case. Still, at a broader level, there is little reason to oppose efforts to develop a capital market that has long been undervalued.

The key question, however, is whether shifting from real estate to financial markets can reduce inequality. In any market, there are winners and losers. In real estate, early entrants into desirable locations benefit as property values rise, creating higher barriers for others. Not all of these gains stem from speculation. Stories of f...

Korea's first domestically developed multirole fighter, the KF-21, marked a milestone this week as its first mass-produced unit was rolled out. The Air Force plans to deploy a total of 120 KF-21 jets starting in September after completing performance evaluations.

The rollout comes 25 years after then-President Kim Dae-jung first outlined a vision for a homegrown fighter program in March 2001, placing Korea among a limited group of nations capable of producing advanced combat aircraft.

President Lee Jae Myung said at the ceremony on Tuesday that Korea has now secured the means to defend peace "in the air with [its] own technology and determination," following similar capabilities on land and at sea. The KF-21 program is intended to replace aging F-4 and F-5 aircraft that long served as the backbone of the Air Force. The project required an investment of 8.1 trillion won ($5.5 billion).

The program, however, faced significant skepticism. Critics questioned whether Korea could successfully develop an advanced fighter jet on its own. The process was further complicated when the United States declined to transfer four key technologies, including active electronically scanned array radar, infrared search and track systems, electro-optical targeting equipment and radio frequency jammers. Despite these challenges, the development timeline was shortened by about 18 months, demonstrating the growing capabilities of Korea's defense industry.

Still, the rollout should not be seen as a final achievement. While the KF-21 incorporates advanced systems, it falls short in several areas compared to fifth-generation fighters such as the F-35. Leading military powers are already focusing on the development of sixth-generation aircraft, underscoring the need for continued advancement.

Korea must now work to increase the localization rate of KF-21 components, currently around 65 percent, to improve cost competitiveness and technological independence. Efforts are also needed to upgrade the platform toward fifth-generation capabilities. President Lee said the government will accelerate investment in advanced aviation engines, materials and components to support sustained industrial growth.

At the same time, broader questions of defense autonomy remain. The United States has at times redeployed key assets from the Korean Peninsula, including components of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or Thaad, system. This has heightened concerns about relying too heavily on external capabilities.

In that context, strengthening domestic capabilities across multiple areas of advanced weaponry has become increasingly important. The KF-21 program represents a significant step forward, but it also highlights the need for sustained commitment to innovation and self-reliance.

Rather than marking the completion of a national goal, the rollout of the first KF-21 should be seen as the beginning of a longer process.

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.

This article is by Michael Lee And Lee Soo-jung and read by an artificial voice.

Members of the diplomatic corps and business leaders gathered in Seoul on Wednesday to hear Financial Services Commission (FSC) Vice Chairman Kwon Dae-young outline President Lee Jae Myung's plan to steer the Korean economy through global instability and revive growth.

Kwon's speech at the 20th annual Korea Economic Forum, hosted by the Korea JoongAng Daily at the Westin Josun Hotel in central Seoul, was attended by some 170 participants, including ambassadors and executives from major Korean companies.

In his presentation, Kwon detailed efforts to bolster financial stability and advance a broad set of economic reforms aimed at sustaining growth.

Senior diplomats in attendance said Kwon's speech offered a clearer sense of how Korea intends to navigate long-running domestic woes, such as its stark regional imbalances and rock-bottom birthrate, as well as heightened geopolitical uncertainty due to the ongoing U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran and consequent disruptions to oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, a key artery for Korea's energy imports.

"It was very insightful today," said New Zealand Ambassador to Korea Dawn Bennet. She noted that economies are deeply interconnected, adding that it was "very interesting to hear how Korea is planning to handle all of these external shocks."

Bennet said she found it reassuring that Kwon expressed confidence in the resilience of Korea's financial system. She also emphasized the need for coordination among countries, pointing to "a community kind of spirit" in responding to shared challenges.

Jacques Flies, Luxembourg's ambassador to Korea, described the presentation as both "very interesting" and "very insightful." He said he was particularly struck by what he called a comprehensive policy road map aimed at turning the financial sector into a future engine of growth.

Flies pointed to inclusive finance and digital assets as areas of particular interest. Luxembourg, he said, is at the forefront of digital finance in the European Union, and he sees "a lot of room for further cooperation" with Korea in those fields.

For Carlos Peñafiel, Mexico's ambassador, the forum served a more practical purpose. He said it helped him better understand the Korean financial system, which he described as difficult to grasp from the outside.

"It's a great initiative," he said, adding that the session provided "a better view of the Korean economy" and its response to current global tensions.

Finland's ambassador to Korea, Jyri Jarviaho, said he was particularly interested in discussions surrounding financial markets and a newly proposed fund.

He noted that the timing of the forum was critical, citing geopolitical tensions and the situation in the Middle East. "We all need to navigate this difficult environment now and understand what's going on," he said.

Darío Celaya, Argentina's ambassador, said the presentation highlighted how Korean authorities are using monetary and financial policy to maintain stability in a volatile environment.

He pointed in particular to the broader geopolitical context, including energy disruptions, and said the government's approach reflected a focus on both economic growth and social stability — themes President Lee has repeatedly emphasized.

Celaya also suggested opportunities for closer bilateral cooperation. Argentina, he said, could serve as a partner in what he described as key areas such as food, energy and mineral security.

"We are in a position to supply food and agricultural products anywhere," he said, adding that Argentina is also a net exporter of energy and critical minerals. "We are in a condition to be a safe partner to Korea."

Ivan Jancarek, the Czech ambassador, said Kwon delivered a "clear message" about the government's priorities.

He said the vice chairman had explained in detail how Seoul aims to calm financial markets in what he called "this not very stable world t...

This article is by Lee Jae-lim and read by an artificial voice.

Korea aims to shift its economic model away from real estate-driven growth toward one centered on equity investment under a more trusted capital market environment, Financial Services Commission Vice Chairman Kwon Dae-young said Wednesday.

Speaking at the 2026 Korea Economic Forum held at the Westin Josun Hotel in central Seoul, Kwon outlined the government's key financial policy agenda for the year.

"Real estate poses a major economic and social risk for Korea," he said. "At the individual level, excessive leverage is being used to invest in property, while banks continue to rely on collateral-based lending and interest margins, which do little to support productive economic activity."

To address this, the government aims to reduce the economy's heavy concentration in real estate and redirect capital toward sectors such as artificial intelligence and semiconductors.

Under the Lee Jae Myung administration, a series of measures has been introduced to curb speculative demand in the housing market, including tighter mortgage restrictions on owners of multiple homes and a requirement that owners reside in their properties. These efforts aim to contain rising household debt and prevent capital from being concentrated in nonproductive assets.

As part of this broader strategy, the government plans to launch the National Growth Fund, a public-private investment program that will mobilize 150 trillion won ($100 billion) over five years. The fund will target 12 advanced industries, including semiconductors, AI, biotechnology, defense and nuclear energy, as well as energy and infrastructure.

"This initiative will include large-scale flagship projects," Kwon said, citing a 2.5 trillion won low-interest financing package for Samsung Electronics' Pyeongtaek semiconductor facility in Gyeonggi as an example.

The project refers to Samsung's P5 fab, a mega investment exceeding 60 trillion won in total. With government-backed support, the company plans to bring forward the production timeline from 2030 to 2028 to strengthen its competitiveness in advanced memory chips and AI semiconductor manufacturing.

Of the 150 trillion won fund, half will be raised through government-guaranteed bonds, while the remaining 75 trillion won will come from private-sector financing. The fund will also be open to foreign investors and will support Korean companies expanding overseas.

Around 40 percent of the funding will be allocated to regional areas outside the capital region to support balanced development, particularly in areas rich in energy resources such as renewable power and electricity infrastructure.

The government is also moving to strengthen the resilience and credibility of Korea's capital markets, which have seen strong gains to reach record-high figures this year despite recent volatility linked to the Iran war.

"Among our key initiatives is addressing issues such as dual listings of parent and subsidiary companies, as well as introducing measures to improve valuation metrics for undervalued firms — encouraging companies to enhance their price-to-book ratios through targeted reforms," Kwon said.

"Korea also operates the Kosdaq market, comparable to the Nasdaq, and we are working to segment it more clearly by distinguishing between mature, high-quality firms and growth-stage companies. This will improve market clarity and help investors make more informed decisions."

This article is by Sarah Chea and read by an artificial voice.

While Korea has recently stepped up its push to join the Morgan Stanley Capital International Developed Markets Index, the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (Amcham) has called for reforms to the country's information technology network separation rules and greater flexibility in its real-name verification system, arguing that such changes are essential to strengthening its global financial competitiveness.

Amcham Korea on Wednesday released a report called Korea's Financial Hub Agenda, which examines regulatory areas in the banking and securities sectors where Korea's regulatory framework differs from global standards. It identified 39 regulatory issues, including 15 cross-sector issues, 13 banking-sector issues and 11 securities-sector issues, with 10 priority reforms identified as areas where policy improvements could significantly enhance Korea's attractiveness to global financial institutions.

Foremost among the priorities is the easing of Korea's stringent IT network separation rules, which were first introduced in 2014 after a major cyberattack in 2013 crippled the systems of several domestic banks. Foreign financial firms, however, have increasingly argued that the framework prevents them from aligning their IT infrastructure with that of their global headquarters, complicating timely security updates and hindering the adoption of emerging technologies such as AI and cloud computing.

The report also emphasized the urgency of reforming Korea's real-name verification regime, where Korea maintains an additional, country-specific real-name verification system under its law. This dual structure, it notes, diverges from international practice and poses practical challenges, particularly in verifying foreign corporate entities.

Thanks to President Lee Jae Myung's push to boost the stock market, the Korea Exchange has become the world's ninth-largest stock exchange by market capitalization.

"With the Kospi having recently surpassed the 6,000 mark, Korea is demonstrating strong momentum as a potential regional financial hub," Amcham Chairman & CEO James Kim said. "Building on this momentum will require aligning Korea's regulatory framework more closely with global standards and reinforcing its position as an attractive and reliable capital market for international investors."

This article is by Lee Ji-won and read by an artificial voice.

Every time the Korean stock market swings sharply, something else moves along with it: the emoticon live rankings on KakaoTalk, the country's dominant instant messaging app. When the Kospi surges, emojis saying "it's going up" rank first. When the market plummets, crying parrot emojis screaming " tteok-rak" (Korean investor slang for an extreme plunge) take their place.

The Kospi told you the number. Kakao told you how it felt.

On Monday morning, the Kospi opened five percent lower, triggering a sell-side trading curb at 9:18 a.m, the sixth case this year alone. By 9:30 a.m., the keyword "market crash" climbed to No.1 on Kakao's most searched emoticon keywords live ranking. By 9:45 a.m., crying parrots and weeping cartoon characters, devastated by plummeting stock prices, were flooding the rankings.

KakaoTalk's emoticons are animated, character-based stickers used in the messenger app to express texters' emotions and enhance conversations. They are widely used to communicate tone and reactions, even replacing conversation. They often feature popular characters or cute animals. The emoticons differ from Western emojis, which are standardized, minimalistic pictograms, in that they offer countless options, with diverse characters and themes for each user's taste.

There were 850,000 emoticon options on KaKaoTalk as of November 2025. Users can pay 2,500 won ($1.67) for a set of 24 to 32 emoticons.

Monday morning was not the first time the Kospi's turbulence had been reflected in an unexpected ranking.

On the morning of March 9, the Korea Exchange triggered a full circuit breaker at 10:31 a.m. — halting all trading as the Kospi collapsed more than 8 percent. But millions of Koreans had already seen it coming. Forty-six minutes earlier, at 9:45 a.m., "market crash" was trending at No. 3 on Kakao's live emoticon ranking, with cartoon parrots screaming and characters weeping over nose-diving price charts. The official circuit breaker took effect at 10:31, but the emotional one occurred on Kakao 46 minutes earlier.

Four days before, on the morning of March 5, Korean stock investors bonded over FOMO, or the fear of missing out. Fueled by the Kospi surging nearly 10 percent just a day after it plunged 12 percent, the collective regret from those who missed the opportunity was so strong that it triggered a buy-side trading halt on the Korea Exchange, an automatic stock market suspension caused by an excessive number of purchases.

The extreme fluctuation put the keyword "I should have bought then" at No. 3 on Kakao's live emoticon ranking by 9:51 a.m., with dozens of emoticons featuring weeping characters looking at the soaring stock chart.

Emoticons may seem like nothing more than cute, animated characters, but Kakao's "real-time" recommendations system is proving to be a bellwether of retail investor sentiment in the stormy seas of the Korean stock market.

In particular, KakaoTalk Emoticon Plus is an immediate mirror of the national mood. Kakao's Emoticon Plus is a paid monthly subscription priced around 4,000 won, depending on which app store you use. When a user types their message, the subscription identifies keywords and offers emoticon options for that keyword and its context.

For example, if a user types "market crash" on a bad morning, a crying cartoon character screaming that word will appear instantly. The service's "trending right now" tab shows a real-time ranking of the keywords 2.5 million paying users are typing in their private chats, as well as the words converted into emoticons.

When this reporter joined a public KakaoTalk stock-themed group chat on Wednesday morning, one user faced a real-time dilemma about whether to sell their Hyundai Motor shares and buy Samsung instead. Another user responded not with words but with an emoticon depicting a character declaring "[They] turned red" — in Korea, red signals a rise in the stock price.

"The Kospi is a publ...

This article is by Lee Jian and read by an artificial voice.

After a shaky yet hopeful year in the art world, Art Basel Hong Kong, 2026's first major art fair in Asia, is just around the corner. Set to kick off for three days starting Friday, this year's fair is anticipated to serve as a barometer for what many hope will be a recovering art scene.

As Asia's largest art fair, Art Basel Hong Kong typically draws between 80,000 and 90,000 visitors. This year, it will host 240 galleries from 41 countries, the same number of galleries as last year.

Its director, Angelle Siyang-Le, was bullish about the market ahead of the fair, pointing to strong performances at New York's marquee auctions late last year. At Sotheby's, a self-portrait by Frida Kahlo sold for $54.7 million, setting a new auction record for a female artist, while a portrait by Gustav Klimt fetched $236.4 million — among the highest prices ever achieved at auction.

"Established galleries continued to bring heavy hitters to the fair, including million-dollar works, showing that art fairs still hold significant weight," Siyang-Le told the Korea JoongAng Daily in an interview last month. "We definitely feel the market has become more stable from Q4 into Q1 of 2026, and there is more confidence overall."

Still, the broader picture remains complex. The global art market has struggled to regain momentum since the Covid-19 pandemic. Art sales fell 12 percent in 2024 on-year, marking a second consecutive year of decline, according to the Art Basel and UBS Global Art Market Report. The downturn extended to the beginning of 2025, with the three major auction houses — Christie's, Sotheby's and Phillips — recording an average 6 percent decline in sales in the first half of 2025 compared to the previous period.

And although high-profile auctions toward the end of last year showed signs of resilience, uncertainty persists amid ongoing economic unease and geopolitical tensions, particularly in the Middle East.

Hong Kong itself, long a major art hub in Asia, has faced increasing instability as it navigates a more precarious position between China and the West, intensified by Beijing's tightening control since 2020. Yet it remains the region's original art market powerhouse, bolstered by its strategic location, ease of transport, tax-free status and a strong base of deep-pocketed collectors. The city ranks second only to New York in ultra-wealthy residents, according to Altrata's World Ultra Wealth Report 2025.

For galleries, on the front lines of the art market, where sales are made and losses felt, the upcoming Art Basel Hong Kong 2026 means different things: for some, it is a natural and necessary return; for others, a risk and a dream.

Hakgojae, the fair's regular, said it felt mounting pressure during the market slowdown of 2023 and 2024, but was still "able to glimpse signs of possibility" at last year's edition. The gallery has participated in Art Basel Hong Kong every year since its founding in 2013.

"Although the [geopolitical] situation in Hong Kong has changed from what it was in previous years, which brought some concerns, it was also an occasion that confirmed that where there is a crisis, there can also be an opportunity," said Lisa Shin, exhibition manager at Hakgojae. "It may not be the same as during the boom years, but I believe there is always a way forward."

Recent trends suggest that lower-priced works are outperforming ultra-high-value pieces, but Hakgojae does not see this as a limitation.

"I feel that this is not simply a matter of price, but rather a time when the artistic quality of a work becomes even more important," Shin said. "When purchases are not made as easily, collectors think more carefully and look more deeply into the completeness of the work and the artist's overall practice. I believe this shift can actually be a healthy sign."

Taking a long-term view, the gallery has continued to introduce artists who were previously less known in Hong Ko...

This article is by Chung Yeong-gyo and read by an artificial voice.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said Pyongyang would treat South Korea as its "most hostile state," a move seen as reflecting the regime's intention to reject and disregard ties with South Korea in both rhetoric and action.

Based on Kim's "two hostile states" doctrine, the remark on Monday was seen as another sign that he intends to define inter-Korean relations as one of "hostile coexistence" and completely scrap any ideological solidarity or special ethnic bond with the South, according to experts.

North Korea stated it discussed constitutional revisions, including renaming the Socialist Constitution of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to the Constitution of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, but did not disclose whether the changes reflected the "two hostile states" doctrine.

Analysts say the omission appears to be aimed at maximizing strategic ambiguity by heightening uncertainty and allowing Pyongyang to flexibly adjust its scope of action in response to future developments.

Kim on Monday declared a struggle against South Korea as an enemy in a policy speech on the second day of the newly convened Supreme People's Assembly (SPA), the country's rubber-stamp parliament, according to Tuesday's Rodong Sinmun.

The meeting opened on Sunday and closed after a two-day schedule. In the speech, Kim emphasized the irreversibility of North Korea's status as a nuclear weapons state and the achievements of the regime's policy of economic self-reliance backed by nuclear force.

"The government of the republic will continue to further cement its status as a nuclear weapons state and aggressively wage a struggle against the enemy to crush all provocations against the republic by hostile forces," Kim said of South Korea. "Any South Korean act that tampers with our republic will be made to pay mercilessly without the slightest consideration or hesitation."

The remarks were seen as an extension of the hostile line toward South Korea that Kim has maintained since he defined inter-Korean relations as those of "two hostile states" at the year-end plenary meeting of the Workers' Party of Korea in 2023. They suggested he sees the South as an "enemy" and is willing to launch offensive military action when necessary.

At the Ninth Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea in February, Kim again defined the South as a "thoroughly hostile state" and a "permanent enemy."

"It appears to be a declaration that goes beyond a strategy of dealing with Washington while shutting out Seoul and instead outright denies South Korea's very existence," said Lim Eul-chul, a professor at the Institute for Far Eastern Studies at Kyungnam University. "South Korea is no longer a compatriot to North Korea but a 'hostile entity' that can be struck at any time under both international and domestic law, and that has now been made official."

Kim cited the achievement of "nuclear weapons state status" as the greatest accomplishment during the 14th SPA term. "The reality today clearly proves how just our state's strategic choice and decision were to reject the enemies' sweet talk and make our possession of nuclear weapons irreversible and permanent," he said.

"The solid construction of the nuclear shield has guaranteed not only the military and security sectors but also development in all areas of the country, including the economy and culture, and improvements in people's livelihoods," Kim said. "There may be various alternatives for guaranteeing national security and regional peace and stability, but the surest, most permanent and most reliable option is to hold fast to the most powerful means of force, beyond anyone's reach."

"He spent a great deal of time explaining at length that advancing nuclear weapons was the right course," said Hong Min, a senior research fellow at the Korea Institute for National Unification. "The situations in Iran and Venezuela appear to have had a considerable ...

This article is by Lee Jae-lim and read by an artificial voice.

A prolonged Iran war is expected to weigh on liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier orders for Korean shipbuilders as pressure grows on Qatar's energy sector, while supporting broader shipbuilding demand as longer shipping routes strain global vessel capacity, according to industry sources.

Earlier this month, Iranian strikes on Qatar's Ras Laffan industrial complex disrupted about 12.8 million tons of LNG capacity, roughly 17 percent of the country's total exports. In response, QatarEnergy announced an indefinite halt to LNG production and warned it may invoke force majeure on long-term supply contracts for up to five years, including those with Korea.

A combined 60 LNG carriers tied to Qatar currently sit in shipbuilders' backlogs, from HD Hyundai, Hanwha Ocean and Samsung Heavy Industries.

Shipping firms are also losing out during the conflict, the resolution of which seems to be far off. Restrictions on transit through the Strait of Hormuz remain in a firm deadlock. While some countries are attempting to negotiate safe passage with Iran, normal shipping routes are unlikely to resume without naval escorts.

A limited downside for LNG carriers, upside for broader shipbuilding

LNG carriers are generally delivered in tandem with the completion of liquefaction facilities, as shipping demand only materializes once production capacity comes online. A halt in QatarEnergy's production disruption could instigate risks that could lead to delivery delays or worse, cancel vessels that have already been ordered.

However, analysts view the risk as manageable, as the Middle Eastern market share takes up a smaller portion than expected. Nineteen percent of LNG carrier demand is linked to liquefied plants already under construction, but just 2.6 percent for projects in the front-end engineering design stage in the region, and virtually none at the proposal stage, according to a Samsung Securities report.

"Across all stages of development, the Middle East makes up only 6 percent of total LNG carrier demand, compared to 66 percent for North America," the report said. "On the contrary, continued instability in the Middle East could impede the expansion of North American LNG projects. Korean shipbuilders are seen as having a competitive edge over Chinese rivals in these markets, potentially positioning them to benefit from shifting demand patterns."

Outside the LNG carriers, the prolonged war translates to more bullish gains for the industry, as strained capacity leads to a surge in vessel orders, according to Prof. Kim Myung-hyun at Pusan National University's Department of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering.

"As flows through the Strait of Hormuz become constrained, more tankers will be required to move oil via alternative routes, including longer or indirect shipping paths," Kim said. "This is already prompting increased vessel orders, with major shipowners reportedly stepping up tanker investments."

More than ever, Korean shipbuilders are now focusing on high-value vessels such as LNG carriers, very large crude carriers and ultra-large container ships.

For example, global orders for crude oil tankers have surged to 91 vessels so far this year, according to data from Britain-based maritime analytics firm Clarksons Research, a sharp surge from just five orders placed during the same period last year. The figure already accounts for roughly two-thirds of the 143 tankers ordered in all of last year.

The increase is being driven by replacement demand as aging vessels reach the end of their service life. Tankers are typically phased out after 15 to 20 years, and many ships ordered during the prior shipbuilding boom between 2003 and 2008 have begun entering replacement cycles since last year.

Order surges are expected to be expedited further amid the war, as traffic through the Strait of Hormuz is halted. With around 20 percent of global crude shipments passing through the cho...

Kim Myung-hwa

The author is a playwright and director.

The term "posthuman" is appearing frequently these days. With the prefix "post," meaning "after" or "beyond," the word refers to a condition in which humanity moves past modern human-centered thinking and enters a new phase. The concept signals a departure from anthropocentrism and invites renewed reflection on what it means to be human.

I first encountered the term in the early years of the 21st century. It was through Spanish performance artist Marcel·lí Antúnez Roca's works "Epizoo" (1994) and "Afasia" (1998). These pieces connected the performer's body to a computer, creating a form of media art in which a mechanized body responded to sensors or synchronized with projected images. In some later presentations, including around 2003, the two works were staged in a combined format. The idea of a human body becoming a machine felt unfamiliar and even grotesque at the time.

I struggled to categorize the performance. While searching for references, I came across the term "posthuman" in a book on video art. The discovery was striking, as if it pointed to one possible direction for the future of art. What had once appeared only in specialized texts now seems to have entered everyday language, shaped by the rapid development of artificial intelligence.

Theater has also begun to reflect on the limits of human-centered modernity. An increasing number of productions explore posthuman themes. "A Village Without Electricity" presents a dystopia in which technological advancement coincides with the loss of power. "B Be Bee" attempts to move beyond anthropocentrism by focusing on bees. The Polish production "The Employees" (2020), which visited Korea last year, depicts a future in which humans and humanoids coexist aboard a spacecraft after Earth's destruction.

These works raise a shared question: Where is humanity headed?

The earlier works "Epizoo" and "Afasia" deal with a future society while paradoxically drawing on the narrative of the Odyssey. After the Trojan War, Odysseus wandered for years before returning to Ithaca, where his family awaited him.

For posthumans, however, it remains uncertain whether such a destination exists. If humanity moves beyond itself, the idea of a return may lose any meaning.

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.