{
  "id": 19442544,
  "title": "The need for civil debate in Korea",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/11/the-need-for-civil-debate-in-korea-19442544",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-11-11T04:22:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times-koreatimes",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/opinion/20261111/the-need-for-civil-debate-in-korea"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Debate is a process in which individuals with contrasting perspectives share their viewpoints and strive to convince each other through logical reasoning. Its objective is not merely to outdo one's adversary but to foster a deeper understanding of differing opinions and, whenever feasible, discover points of alignment. Even in the absence of unanimous agreement, participants ought to be able to conclude their exchange amicably. This epitomizes a sophisticated culture of debate. Regrettably, such debates are often scarce in Korean society. As an illustration, consider the National Assembly. Upon observing televised legislative debates, it becomes evident that substantive discourse is often absent. Rather than rebutting opposing arguments with reasoned counterpoints, legislators tend to reiterate their own stances and appear more preoccupied with outmaneuvering their opponents. As a result, debates often culminate in impassioned disputes rather than productive dialogues. The question then arises: why has a mature culture of debate failed to take root in Korea? In my view, one of the primary reasons can be attributed to Korea's traditional educational system. Korean schools have not adequately cultivated the skills necessary for constructive debate among its students.",
  "summary": "Debate is a process in which people with differing views exchange opinions and attempt to persuade one another through reasoned argument. Its purpose is not simply to defeat an opponent but to deepen mutual understanding and, whenever possible, find common ground. Even when agreement proves impossible, participants should be able to part on amicable terms. This is the essence of a mature culture…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}