In this blog post, we examine the balance we must strike between our humanitarian responsibility to take in Syrian refugees and the safety of our own citizens, as well as the economic burden this entails.   Long ago, the suffering caused by dictatorship in Syria erupted into civil war. To make matters worse, the country became a primary target of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant...

In this blog post, we take an intriguing look at the possibility of time travel and predicting the future from the perspectives of scientific theory and human free will.   Most people have probably imagined time travel at least once during their childhood. We used to lose ourselves in a world of endless imagination, asking questions like, “I want to go back in time and see dinosaurs in...

In this blog post, I’ll share how the small, spontaneous moments I experienced in sweltering summer Osaka made my trip truly special.   What Led Me to Decide on a Summer Trip to Osaka Amid Osaka’s stifling heat, what exactly is the charm of a trip shaped by chance encounters? Summer in Osaka is stiflingly hot and humid, but even amidst this discomfort, unexpected joys and small moments add...

In this blog post, we’ll analyze the impact of ballast water on the marine ecosystem, explore the problems caused by the introduction of invasive species, and examine ballast water treatment systems (BWTS) designed to address these issues.   Ms. K, a Korean woman, enjoys eating Chilean grapes that are high in sugar content and can be eaten with the skin on. Today, as always, she orders...

In this blog post, we examine whether the ban on publishing poll results during the election period is a legitimate measure to ensure the fairness of elections or a form of suppression that infringes on the public’s right to know.   The issue of banning the publication of opinion poll results during election periods is emerging as a major social controversy. This is because arguments that...

In this blog post, we examine how well the “adjacent area” restriction—one of the admission criteria for Seoul National University’s dormitories—reflects actual commuting times and public transportation conditions, focusing particularly on the challenges faced by students residing in Siheung City.   The Issue and the Role of Dormitories Unlike most elementary, middle, and high schools...

In this blog post, we explore how imagined order shapes social hierarchies and influences individual identity and life.   Since the dawn of Homo sapiens, humans have formed groups to protect themselves from external threats. Realizing that being part of a social group was more advantageous for their well-being than living alone, they maintained these groups and expanded their size. As the...

In this blog post, we examine why Samsung Electronics lost its design patent lawsuit in the U.S. and why its communication patent claims were dismissed.   On August 24, 2012, Samsung Electronics, South Korea’s largest electronics company, lost a patent dispute with Apple and was ordered to pay a massive fine. Furthermore, Apple filed a lawsuit seeking a sales ban on certain Samsung phones...

In this blog post, we will examine whether living fossils can actually serve as evidence against the theory of evolution, or if they are, in fact, evidence that supports it.   The term “living fossil” refers to a species that resembles ancient organisms in appearance and has no living relatives today. Such living fossils are often cited by creationists as evidence that the theory of...

In this blog post, I will compare the leisurely lifestyle I discovered during my trip to Brazil with Korea’s intense daily life. I will also examine the reasons why Korean society has lost its sense of mental ease from historical and cultural perspectives, and propose ways to create a society that is more generous and kind toward others.   The Leisure I Discovered in Brazil and the Reality...