Domestic Politics
South Korea sets late-2028 target to free Gwangju air base for mega chip cluster
Military relocation, US coordination and year-end power supply leave little room for delays in Seoul’s Honam plans
August 11, 2026
US scrutiny of South Korea’s Network Act widens the sovereignty fight
An Aug. 20 briefing demand extends Washington’s pressure from Coupang into online speech and platform regulation
August 10, 2026
South Korea’s health insurance deficit puts Lee’s health agenda under strain
A 3.9 trillion won first-quarter shortfall comes as Seoul seeks more funding for regional and essential medical care
August 10, 2026
South Korea’s heat response improves faster than its public infrastructure
Seoul’s heat response improved, but record temperatures test whether welfare, labor rules, housing and power can cope
August 7, 2026
College exam overhaul, heat-wave response and air base protest — Ep. 144
South Korea debates machine-scored essays as vulnerable workers face extreme heat and lawmakers revisit term limits
August 7, 2026
Jang Dong-hyeok’s greatest strength may be the People Power Party’s weakness
Opposition leader has failed to broaden party’s appeal, but internal divisions make immediate leadership change unlikely
August 6, 2026
South Korea in July 2026: A month in review and what’s ahead
An analytical look at the main developments from July 1 to 29, 2026, and key outlook for August 2026
July 31, 2026
Lee Jae Myung’s housing squeeze is arriving years ahead of his housing supply
2025 census shows a market split by geography, household size and building age as credit restrictions take effect first
July 30, 2026
Foreign residents hold South Korea’s population flat as working-age base shrinks
Korean nationals fall for fifth year, working-age share drops below 70% for first time, men in their 20s decline 3.8%
July 29, 2026
South Korea plans for lower gas demand while preparing for higher LNG use
Seoul forecasts declining baseline consumption but keeps a higher planning scenario as AI demand remains uncertain
July 28, 2026
