Culture & Society
Symbolic governance erodes trust as South Korea’s fiscal populism expands
Rising employment and welfare spending fail to restore confidence among youth who view stimulus as political theater
October 20, 2025
Sex workers barricade against demolition in Seoul’s last red-light district
Miari Texas faces court eviction as women resist displacement, citing lack of aid, dignity and housing support
October 3, 2025
South Korea in September 2025: A month in review and what’s ahead
An analytical look at the main developments from September 1 to 30, 2025, and key outlook for October 2025
October 1, 2025
South Korea’s government data hub fire exposes digital fragility
Lithium-battery blaze cripples ministries weeks before APEC summit, reviving concerns over centralized IT resilience
September 29, 2025
Lee Jae-myung denounces ‘submissive mindset’ in bid to reframe ROK defense
President’s sharp rhetoric signals psychological and strategic shift in South Korea’s alliance posture with US
September 22, 2025
South Korea tests alliance limits with China outreach ahead of APEC summit
Growing discomfort with American coercion is driving subtle diplomatic realignment, though hard limits remain
September 19, 2025
South Korea faces rising labor costs as government pushes shorter workweek
Shorter workweek and overtime ban raise costs that could erode competitiveness unless hourly productivity surges
September 18, 2025
Favorability divide widens between South Korea and Japan amid Tokyo turmoil
Poll shows rising South Korean goodwill but entrenched Japanese skepticism, complicating Lee Jae-myung’s outreach
September 12, 2025
South Korea’s record job gains hide a worsening youth employment crisis
Youth jobs fell for 16th straight month in August, underscoring structural issues that Seoul’s AI push can’t mask
September 10, 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
