Domestic Politics
Supreme Court vacancy hardens into constitutional showdown over Cho Hee-dae
Failed consultations now threaten to rewrite the informal rules that have long governed South Korean Supreme Court picks
October 7, 2026
South Korea bank hacks expose weak links beyond core financial systems
Regulators widen checks as attackers target employee, contractor and loan systems outside banks’ protected cores
October 6, 2026
North Korean mine dispute, new Lee advisers and US investment pressure — Ep. 151
Seoul navigates a sensitive DMZ incident while pushing engagement and resisting premature claims over Alaska LNG
October 2, 2026
North Korean POW dispute tests Seoul-Kyiv trust and future Ukraine policy
Conflicting accounts of the transfer deal raise questions over aid, intelligence sharing and future POW cooperation
October 1, 2026
South Korea’s tax windfall gives Seoul new room to spend and borrow less
Seoul’s revised forecast opens room for targeted support and lower bond issuance, but much of the gain is cyclical
October 1, 2026
South Korea in September 2026: A month in review and what’s ahead
An analytical look at the main developments from September 1 to 28, 2026, and key outlook for October 2026
September 30, 2026
South Korea puts worker relocation at center of semiconductor, AI strategy
Seoul is shifting beyond capital spending as it tries to create durable labor markets around semiconductor and AI hubs
September 30, 2026
South Korea’s CPTPP push exposes the cost of turning trade gains into consensus
Lee wants exporters to help fund the losers from trade, but legal hurdles and foreign demands complicate the bargain
September 29, 2026
South Korea’s CPTPP review enters harder phase as domestic costs emerge
Government estimates show gains for manufacturing but losses for agriculture and fisheries as consultations widen
September 29, 2026
Preschool test ban forces South Korea’s English hagwons to rethink placement
New rules curb early selection but leave academies weighing how to group students after enrollment without formal exams
September 25, 2026
