Briefings
South Korea presses US for visa reforms as ROK firms face fallout from raid
Companies urge new visa categories after ICE raid, but US politics and election pressures threaten progress
September 11, 2025
Lee Jae-myung slams 15.9% loan rates for South Korea’s most vulnerable borrowers
Rising household debt and pressure on non-bank lenders heighten concerns over risks of political intervention in lending
September 10, 2025
Lee administration announces plans for sweeping government reorganization
Overhaul would abolish prosecutor’s office and split economic ministries, risking institutional disruption
September 9, 2025
South Korea secures release deal after US raid detains 300 workers
More than 300 Koreans were detained in Georgia, revealing visa gaps and fueling doubts about US reliability as a partner
September 8, 2025
South Korea extends SME loan terms to 15 years, entrenching fiscal liabilities
Seoul’s move to ease burdens on shuttered firms shifts private debt risks onto state, raising sustainability questions
September 5, 2025
South Korea unveils record $193B trade insurance and $9.8B tariff relief
Lee administration reframes subsidies and loans as industrial policy, but risks moral hazard and global scrutiny
September 4, 2025
South Korea’s inflation dips to 1.7% as SK Telecom rebate skews CPI data
Food and processed goods remain elevated despite 1.7% headline rate, complicating fiscal and monetary coordination
September 3, 2025
South Korea proposes record 2026 budgets for science and industry resilience
Lee administration boosts basic research and AI factories, but fiscal strain and US dependence raise long-term risks
September 2, 2025
US tightens export controls on Samsung and SK Hynix’s China-based fabs
Washington ends Biden-era waivers, requiring new licenses that block expansions and upgrades, raising supply chain risks
September 1, 2025
Bank of Korea holds rate at 2.5% as housing debt and Fed risks loom large
Seoul balances fiscal stimulus with financial stability as Powell signals US slowdown and tariff-driven inflation
August 29, 2025
