Domestic Politics
After restraint, Lee Jae Myung probes how far he can shift to the left
Early rhetorical changes suggest the administration is reassessing constraints before any formal policy moves
January 8, 2026
South Korea consolidates green budget power within climate ministry
Move reflects declining dominance of finance ministry as line ministries gain greater budget authority
January 5, 2026
How South Korea enters 2026 across politics, security and trade — Ep. 113
Record trade figures, postponed war games and mounting domestic political strain come into sharper focus
January 2, 2026
Lee Hye-hoon poised to take control of South Korea’s new budget ministry
Former conservative lawmaker with deep fiscal credentials tapped to step into powerful role to reshape state spending
January 1, 2026
Lee singles out industrial safety as economic priority in New Year address
Workplace deaths reframed as a growth constraint as president hints at expanded inspections without timelines
January 1, 2026
Why Lee Jae Myung’s livestreamed briefings may quietly weaken state capacity
Public accountability gains may come at the cost of bureaucratic fear risk aversion and slower policy execution
December 31, 2025
How South Korea governed through pressure rather than reform in 2025
A year of recurring stress saw the state rely on inspections and penalties while deeper preventive fixes stalled
December 30, 2025
Coupang compensation and state enforcement now advance on parallel tracks
Corporate restitution moves ahead as Seoul expands administrative scrutiny without signaling regulatory closure
December 30, 2025
South Korea in December 2025: A month in review and what’s ahead
An analytical look at the main developments from Dec. 1 to 26, 2025, and key outlook for January 2026
December 29, 2025
The Korea Pro Podcast’s end-of-year roundup episode — Ep. 112
The Korea Pro team reflects on the fragmentation, volatility and institutional strain that defined the past year
December 26, 2025
