Domestic Politics
Tving security failures hand Seoul a new test after the Coupang dispute
MSIT found 39.5 million accounts exposed as weak controls put Korea’s privacy enforcement and consistency under scrutiny
September 4, 2026
South Korea’s record 2027 budget puts the chip windfall under central control
A new 162 trillion won fund and 55-year overhaul of education transfers shift more fiscal power to the executive branch
September 3, 2026
South Korea’s record 2027 budget puts semiconductor windfall to work now
Lee Jae Myung’s government channels surging tax revenue into a new Future Response Fund and strategic investment
September 2, 2026
South Korea in August 2026: A month in review and what’s ahead
An analytical look at the main developments from August 1 to 28, 2026, and key outlook for September 2026
August 31, 2026
Lee replaces key ministers as housing woes expose limits of his first team
Finance and land promotions favor insiders as defense returns to a former general and Blue House policy control expands
August 31, 2026
South Korea’s drone push falters as police reform raises alarm — Ep. 147
Prototype crashes expose defense challenges while high-profile cases cast doubt on expanded police authority
August 28, 2026
Hyundai wage deal sets stage for South Korea’s next retirement age battle
Union wage protections could shape how companies respond to longer careers, youth hiring and automation after reform
August 26, 2026
Future Response Fund would give Seoul more control over future tax windfalls
New mechanism would redirect part of tax booms into AI, regional growth, education and fiscal stabilization reserves
August 24, 2026
South Korea’s retirement age push could make companies hire fewer young workers
Hyundai dispute revives evidence that keeping older staff longer can weaken youth hiring without wider labor reform
August 20, 2026
South Korea-Japan ties weather history as ACSA and CPTPP tests now loom
Seoul and Tokyo can contain historical disputes, but deeper military and economic ties face domestic political limits
August 18, 2026
