Culture & Society
Samsung strike deal, Starbucks backlash and Lee-Takaichi summit — Ep. 133
South Korea weighs chip-sector profit sharing, May 18 historical sensitivities and renewed shuttle diplomacy with Japan
May 22, 2026
South Korea’s local races tighten as conservatives regain political ground
Seoul and Busan contests reveal growing voter concern over concentrated power under the ruling Democratic Party
May 19, 2026
South Korea’s fiscal rebound expands Seoul’s economic security toolkit
Government-backed financing tools are becoming more important as geopolitical instability raises industrial risks
May 14, 2026
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 mayoral race tests local governance model beyond district level
Chong Won-o seeks to scale Seongdong track record citywide as housing policy and central coordination take focus
May 8, 2026
Koreans’ willingness to ‘give birth’ spikes, but more among men than women
Unmarried Koreans’ intention to have children jumped from 30% to 41% in two years, but structural problems remain
May 8, 2026
Samsung Electronics union faces mass exodus after chips, smartphone sector feud
Over 2,500 members quit as bonus demands favoring semiconductor workers alienate the non-chip workforce ahead of strike
May 5, 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
South Korea in April 2026: A month in review and what’s ahead
An analytical look at the main developments from April 1 to 24, 2026, and key outlook for May 2026
April 30, 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
