Analysis
Energy shock splits corporate Korea into winners and losers
Import price surge and supply disruption create uneven earnings outcomes between exporters and fuel-intensive industries
May 12, 2026
Seoul faces rising pressure after South Korean-linked ship strike in Hormuz
Officials avoid blaming Iran for attack so far, wary of expected pressure to join U.S.-led maritime operations
May 11, 2026
Haegung export signals South Korea’s pivot to plug-in defense sales model
Malaysia contract opens new markets while shifting integration and export decisions beyond Seoul’s control
May 7, 2026
Coupang probe strains US-South Korea ties as legal dispute hits security talks
Seoul’s data breach response draws U.S. political and trade pressure, with spillover into defense and nuclear talks
May 6, 2026
South Korean ship fire raises the stakes for Seoul in Middle East war
Trump’s claim of Iranian strike leaves Lee balancing maritime security, citizen safety and alliance pressure
May 5, 2026
UAE’s exit from OPEC puts South Korea between two key Gulf partners
Energy supply disruption raises stakes in managing ties with Abu Dhabi and Riyadh without alienating either
May 4, 2026
South Korea pushes pet healthcare overhaul to unlock insurance market
State-led data standardization aims to expand coverage but faces resistance from veterinarians over pricing and control
May 1, 2026
Samsung’s AI windfall turns labor into South Korea’s next chip-sector risk
Profit-linked demands spread across strategic firms, raising questions about cost structures and investment discipline
April 29, 2026
South Korea revives local party offices, reshaping political competition
Reform raises political presence at district level, raising challenges for resource allocation and corporate engagement
April 28, 2026
Early Yellow Envelope rulings reveal fuzzy definitions of ‘substantive control’
Weeks in, rulings show mixed signals on employer status thresholds and when unions can bargain in separate units
April 27, 2026
