Trump’s Cheongung social media post tests Seoul’s refusal to arm to Ukraine
Korean law does not bar wartime transfers outright, leaving readiness and Russia as stronger reasons for restraint
September 16, 2026
ANALYSIS, OPINION & MORE
South Korea’s trade windfall faces first test from worsening energy shock
Record terms-of-trade gains give Seoul a buffer, but higher oil costs threaten to erode it in the months ahead
Lee Jae Myung risks public trust as South Korea rewires its justice system
Justice minister nominee’s reform credentials make him valuable even as controversies threaten confidence in overhaul
South Korea builds Central Asia ties around minerals, industry and finance
New C5+1 ministerial meetings show Seoul pairing resource access with Korean technology, investment and policy finance
South Korea turns to Central Asia as Iran war tests its energy resilience
Lee Jae Myung seeks lasting oil supply ties as China, Russia and Middle East disruptions narrow Seoul’s options
Lee Jae Myung stakes political capital on keeping South Korea fuel prices stable
Seoul is using refinery price caps, export controls and supply diversification to shield households from the oil shock
Houthi seizure of Mokha sharpens South Korea’s Hormuz deployment dilemma
Red Sea risks strengthen Seoul’s case for action while exposing limits of a narrow military mission focused on Hormuz
Hormuz deployment, France nuclear deal and Olympic Park protests — Ep. 149
Seoul weighs military involvement in Middle East, expands energy cooperation with Paris, ends sports federation blockade
Veteran general tapped for defense minister as Cabinet dispute grows — Ep. 148
Kang Shin-chul’s nomination, Yong Hye-in’s dual-role controversy and proposal for longer school days
South Korea’s drone push falters as police reform raises alarm — Ep. 147
Prototype crashes expose defense challenges while high-profile cases cast doubt on expanded police authority
Trump cuts UFS drills as Kim summit push rattles alliance — Ep. 146
Abrupt shortening of major US-ROK exercise raises readiness and OPCON questions as Seoul backs renewed diplomacy
Youth unemployment, housing misfire and AI legal gray zones — Ep. 145
South Korea’s headline employment gains mask weaker prospects for young workers as lawmakers test new housing, AI rules
College exam overhaul, heat-wave response and air base protest — Ep. 144
South Korea debates machine-scored essays as vulnerable workers face extreme heat and lawmakers revisit term limits
Hormuz deployment, France nuclear deal and Olympic Park protests — Ep. 149
Seoul weighs military involvement in Middle East, expands energy cooperation with Paris, ends sports federation blockade
Hyundai Steel deal gives Yellow Envelope Act its first real-world test
First principal-subcontractor agreement shows how employer duties may expand issue by issue under the new labor law
Japan’s stronger yen may cut Korea’s import bill while raising funding costs
BOK sees more BOJ tightening ahead as Seoul weighs cheaper imports, volatile markets and pressure over US investment
Lee uses Paris summit to expand South Korea’s technology and supply options
Samsung-Mistral, Naver and KHNP-Orano deals add commercial weight to a wider Korea-France industrial framework
South Korea leans on Europe as Hormuz deployment choices grow narrower
Lee is using a British-French framework to preserve a limited role as war, Iran and DP resistance constrain Seoul
South Korea’s record income surge raises stakes for household spending
Corporate profits and savings jumped in the second quarter, setting up a key test of whether consumption strengthens
