Domestic Politics
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
Lee’s Hormuz red line tests South Korea’s leverage in $350 billion US talks
Washington wants more allied support and Korean capital as Seoul tries to protect limits built into last year’s deal
September 22, 2026
Kang Hoon-sik resignation offer now tests Lee Jae Myung’s personnel reset
Chief of staff’s possible exit would answer pressure over failed nominations but cost Lee a key crisis manager
September 22, 2026
South Korea’s AI data center boom is colliding with the true cost of power
Samsung and SK Hynix rejected KEPCO’s grid bill, leaving Seoul to decide whether AI developers pay their share
September 21, 2026
