The minimum wage is the hot potato of the year. As the first step to fulfill his pledge for the minimum wage at 10,000 won (US$8.91), President Moon Jae-in increased the minimum wage by 16.4 percent compared to 2017. Since 7,530 won (US$6.71) has been settled, the Korean Peninsula is noisy with a great diversity of opinions.

Some complain that the government’s policy while being favorable to workers will add to the difficulties of small and medium-sized businesses. Experts say that more sophisticated and sensitive actions are needed to meet the goal of income-driven growth, which is to raise public income for boosting domestic demand. On the other hand, some think that the stories in the media concerning the minimum wage issue are too biased; that there must be merits caused by the increase of the hourly wage, but that they are not covered by the press.

Every single thing has both a dark side and a bright side. What matters is to look at the issue from various angles, and to open one’s ears to divergent words. Someone should not think and speak as if they know everything, just like a blind man touching an elephant. People need to stop pretending to be omniscient beings.

Everyone experiences trials and errors when they make a new start. Until something really happens, people never know what impact it will have; they can only speculate. The thing that counts is to learn by trial and error and try not to make the same mistakes again.

The Argus makes a fresh start with our new staff reporters. As it is our first time working together, we may make mistakes. However, The Argus will always do our best to pursue the highest standard of campus journalism. Greeting the new semester, The Argus hopes HUFSans, including new exchange students, will not be afraid of challenges and will make this semester an especially memorable one.

Jeon Nu-ri
Editor-in-Chief