Domestic Politics
How Coupang’s breach became a durable political confrontation in South Korea
Administrative enforcement, nationalist framing and public opinion aligned to sustain scrutiny long after disclosure
January 26, 2026
Coupang dispute enters treaty terrain as investors trigger arbitration clock
ISDS notice formalizes a regulatory clash Seoul had sought to contain while narrowing diplomatic room for maneuver
January 23, 2026
Seoul folds manufacturing AI push into sweeping 2026 livelihood policy package
M.AX alliance emerges as industrial signal inside a Cabinet-backed rollout centered on household relief
January 22, 2026
Why South Korea’s conservative rebranding playbook is finally failing
Past recoveries relied on progressive failure, not internal renewal — a pattern now strained after Yoon’s martial law
January 21, 2026
Han Byung-do takes the helm as scandal forces ruling party into defensive mode
After Kim Byung-kee’s collapse, DP opts for procedural control and discipline over factionalism ahead of June election
January 16, 2026
Death penalty politics, Seoul-Tokyo optics and central bank caution — Ep. 115
Yoon Suk Yeol’s trial outlook, Lee-Takaichi chemistry and rate decisions frame a fragile policy mix
January 16, 2026
Why Yoon’s death penalty case matters beyond the courtroom in South Korea
Judicial restraint is likely, but divided conservative responses could prolong political uncertainty after the ruling
January 14, 2026
South Korean prosecutors seek death penalty for Yoon in martial law case
Prosecutors use maximum sentence to close ambiguity around emergency powers despite low execution likelihood
January 14, 2026
Homeplus crisis exposes how South Korea’s retail rules distort capital flows
Restrictions designed for brick-and-mortar commerce now amplify structural decline and investment asymmetry
January 9, 2026
China diplomacy and alliance uncertainty collide for Seoul this week — Ep. 114
Lee’s Xi summit, reaction to U.S. action in Venezuela and muted arms export response shape a tense policy moment
January 9, 2026
