South Korea's new President Lee vows to revive democracy from 'near demise'

South Korea's new President Lee vows to revive democracy from 'near demise'

Lee has expressed more conciliatory plans for ties with China and North Korea, in particular singling out the importance of China as a major trading partner while indicating reluctance to take a firm stance on security tensions in the Taiwan strait.

<South Korea's new President Lee vows to revive democracy from 'near demise' - Asia & Pacific - The Jakarta Post>

South Korea's impeached president is removed from office, four months after declaring martial law

South Korea's impeached president is removed from office, four months after declaring martial law

South Korea's highest court has removed embattled President Yoon Suk Yeol from office, ending months of uncertainty and legal wrangling after he briefly declared martial law in December and plunged the nation into political turmoil.

<https://edition.cnn.com/2025/04/03/asia/yoon-impeachment-verdict-south-korea-intl-hnk/index.html>

After 100 days, little to show for Prabowo's energy, food security plans

After 100 days, little to show for Prabowo's energy, food security plans

President Prabowo Subianto kicked off his term with promises to make Indonesia less dependent on fuel and food imports by ramping up renewable energy supply and building massive agricultural estates.

<https://www.thejakartapost.com/business/2025/02/02/after-100-days-little-to-show-for-prabowos-energy-food-security-plans.html>

Govt considers additional funding for free meals program

Govt considers additional funding for free meals program

The government is considering seeking additional funding to achieve this year's full recipient target for President Prabowo Subianto's flagship free nutritious meals program amid struggles to cover ballooning costs.

<https://www.thejakartapost.com/business/2025/01/21/govt-considers-additional-funding-for-free-meals-program.html>

Investigators scale barbed wire to arrest S Korea's impeached president

Investigators scale barbed wire to arrest S Korea's impeached president

South Korea's Yoon Suk Yeol has become the country's first sitting president to be arrested, ending a weeks-long standoff between investigators and his personal security.

<https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cg45zqz225vo>

Lessons from Korea

Lessons from Korea

Our political culture often permits leaders to evade accountability

<https://www.thejakartapost.com/opinion/2024/12/21/lessons-from-korea.html>

South Korean MPs impeach president over martial law attempt

Yes. We made it again in 8 years! 👏👏

<https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c140xjv31lxo>

With green camo and combat boots, Prabowo's new cabinet kicks off mountain retreat

With green camo and combat boots, Prabowo's new cabinet kicks off mountain retreat

Ministers and their deputies donned caps and camouflage outfits and stood in salute at a parade ground of a military academy in Central Java province to hear briefings from Prabowo, a former special forces commander.

<https://www.thejakartapost.com/indonesia/2024/10/25/with-green-camo-and-combat-boots-prabowos-new-cabinet-kicks-off-mountain-retreat.html>

Prabowo pledges self-reliant future

Prabowo pledges self-reliant future

In his inaugural speech on Sunday, President Prabowo Subianto promised to make Indonesia a self-sufficient country in food and energy, as part of his larger goal to build a more prosperous nation.

<https://www.thejakartapost.com/indonesia/2024/10/21/prabowo-pledges-self-reliant-future.html>

Tensions simmer as campaign season for regional races begins

Tensions simmer as campaign season for regional races begins

As the official campaign period for the regional head elections commenced on Wednesday, tensions between competing factions were apparent, with outgoing President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo at the center of much of the contention.

<https://www.thejakartapost.com/indonesia/2024/09/25/tensions-simmer-as-campaign-season-for-regional-races-begins.html>

Jokowi appoints Prabowo's nephew as Indonesia vice finance minister

Jokowi appoints Prabowo's nephew as Indonesia vice finance minister

Incoming president's family likely to gain prominent roles in new administration

<https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/Jokowi-appoints-Prabowo-s-nephew-as-Indonesia-vice-finance-minister>

Strategy is in Knowledge Management(6)

Global Mando, strategy is in knowledge management

In the wake of Asian financial crisis back in 1997-1998, Mando went bankrupt and froze out all corporate expenditures. However, Mando strategically didn't stop investment in knowledge management. As a result, Mando finally revived with 41 billion won in net profit in 2008. 

With high recognition of Mando's knowledge management, Korea's top business daily, MAEIL Business Newspaper and BOOZALLEN Korea awarded Mando the best prize in knowledge management in 2007. In fact, Mr. Oh Sang Su, CEO and president of Mando in 2007, valued knowledge management as the indispensible part of the corporate strategy.

Former TMU President appointed Taiwan's new Minister of Health(1)

Former Taipei Medical University President becomes Taiwan's new Minister of Health

Dr Wen-ta Chiu, most recently President of Taipei Medical University (TMU), was appointed Taiwan's new Minister of Health in February. Dr Chiu is a highly distinguished neurosurgeon, medical researcher, academic leader and public health advocate. He served as TMU President from 2008 to 2011. 

He is best known to the public for promoting legislation on motorcycle helmets, which prevented an estimated 30,000 deaths since its enactment in the 1990s. As President of TMU, he led the successful growth of a world-class medical university and hospital, including doubling the size of the hospital to 3,000 beds.

SKKU proud of Asia's oldest university(2)

SKKU boasts of Asia's oldest university with over 600-year-long history

It would be misleading, however, to view the school merely in the context of its pre-modern history. SKKU also takes pride in the school's innovative spirit. 

As a result of the never-ending efforts to place natural sciences on an equal footing with its strong foundation in humanities, SKKU now operates two campuses: the Humanities and Social Sciences Campus and the Natural Sciences Campus. 

Relying upon a highly successful partnership with Samsung, a Korea-based leading global IT giant, which has generously funded several core initiatives, the school has been alleged to be rapidly developing and prospering since 1996. 

Mr. Kim Junyoung, President of SKKU stressed: "Under the catch-phrase 'Unique Origin Unique Future,' SKKU continuously pursues to integrate its foundation philosophy with the modern technology with a vision of cultivating global talents who will lead the 21st century."

Knowledge Network is Power(4)

'Global Mando', Knowledge Network is Power

In fact, Mr. Oh Sang Su, CEO and president of Mando in 2007, valued knowledge management as the indispensible part of the corporate operation.

"Mando's development history is totally attributed to knowledge management. Over the past 10 years, all employees of Mando are deeply involved in as many as 243 communities of practice, global conference system and e-campus. In doing so, all knowledge is shared and core competency has been strengthened."

He added, "Measuring the value of knowledge asset and converting it into numbers for the first time in Korea is also big fruits of knowledge management. As a matter of fact, knowledge management contributed Mando as much as 144.1 billion won including core knowledge asset value of 81.9 billion won over the last 7 years." 

Asia's oldest university celebrates 400th anniversary

Asia's oldest university celebrates 400th anniversary with fireworks display

Philippines: The University of Santo Tomas celebrated its 400th anniversary in January this year, starting with a formal Eucharistic celebration. This was preceded by a week of festivities and culminated with a dazzling fireworks display. 

The papal legate, nearly 200 cardinals, archbishops, bishops, more than 700 priests as well as dozens of government officials, university presidents, about 75,000 students and alumni from all over the world attended the celebrations.

The 400-year-old institution's Rector, Rev Fr Rolando V. de la Rosa, OP, became the youngest-ever rector of UST when he was elected in 1990 at the age of 37. 

As part of its celebration, UST formed probably the largest living rosary in the world with over 20,000 students, faculty members, administrators and employees participating. On Ash Wednesday in March this year, UST mobilised about 24,000 people to form a black-and-white Dominican cross in front of the UST chapel and grandstand (picture).

Former TMU President becomes Taiwan's new Minister of Health

Former Taipei Medical University President becomes Taiwan's new Minister of Health

Dr Wen-ta Chiu, most recently President of Taipei Medical University (TMU), was appointed Taiwan's new Minister of Health in February. 

Dr Chiu is a highly distinguished neurosurgeon, medical researcher, academic leader and public health advocate. He served as TMU President from 2008 to 2011. He is best known to the public for promoting legislation on motorcycle helmets, which prevented an estimated 30,000 deaths since its enactment in the 1990s.

As President of TMU, he led the successful growth of a world-class medical university and hospital, including doubling the size of the hospital to 3,000 beds. At the same time, he also served as Superintendent of Shuang Ho Hospital and as a professor in TMU's College of Medicine and College of Public Health and Nutrition. In addition, he was Superintendent of Wan Fang Hospital, Chief of Neurosurgery, Director of the Biomedical Informatics Center and Dean of the School of Public Health. 

As the new Health Minister, Dr Chiu will focus on the second-generation health plan, which was passed as an amendment to the National Health Insurance Act by the legislature in January 2011.

SKKU boasts of Asia's oldest university

SKKU boasts of Asia's oldest university with over 600-year-long history

Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU) was founded in 1398 as the highest national educational institute in the early years of the Chosun Dynasty in South Korea. As the oldest university in Asia, it has fostered leaders of the Korean society for more than 600 years. '修己治人,' pronounced as 'Su-Gi-Chi-In,' SKKU's main ideology, teaches that SKKU students sincerely strive to perfect themselves to contribute to the society.

Old Sungkyunkwan was established over 600 years ago by royal decree to promote the scholarship in Confucianism. As a nation's highest educational institution, old Sungkyunkwan went through vicissitudes with the country it had served. Though a long history alone cannot guarantee the excellence of an institution, the rich culture, which exudes from a profound tradition, is surely a unique and valuable asset of the school.

It would be misleading, however, to view the school merely in the context of its pre-modern history. SKKU also takes pride in the school's innovative spirit. As a result of the never-ending efforts to place natural sciences on an equal footing with its strong foundation in humanities, SKKU now operates two campuses: the Humanities and Social Sciences Campus and the Natural Sciences Campus. 

Relying upon a highly successful partnership with Samsung, a Korea-based leading global IT giant, which has generously funded several core initiatives, the school has been alleged to be rapidly developing and prospering since 1996. Mr. Kim Junyoung, President of SKKU stressed: "Under the catch-phrase 'Unique Origin Unique Future,' SKKU continuously pursues to integrate its foundation philosophy with the modern technology with a vision of cultivating global talents who will lead the 21st century."