Archive

Financial Turmoil at Tmon and Wemakeprice, Seoul's Student Rights Ordinance, Korean Language Village Minnesota

Tmon and Wemakeprice's Financial Crisis, Seoul's Student Rights Ordinance: Education Reform, Korean Language Village Minnesota Grows

South Korea's Household Debt Surge

South Korea's household debt has once again become a focal point of economic concern, with recent data revealing a significant surge in household loans. The upward trend has continued into July, raising alarm bells among financial regulators and economists alike.

South Korea's Nuclear Power Export Ambitions

We examine South Korea's path to its current moment of opportunity in the nuclear power reactor export market, coinciding with a global need for carbon-free power.

How South Korea's Healthcare Crisis Emerged This Year

As the crisis unfolded, it became clear that this was not merely a disagreement over numbers but a fundamental clash of visions for the future of healthcare in South Korea.

NATO Diplomacy, South Korea's AI & Space Tech Push

NATO's Diplomacy and China's Concerns, South Korea's AI and Space Tech Push

Potential Impeachment Hearings, Lithium Discoveries, Delayed Life Milestones for Youth

Democratic Party's Controversial Push for Presidential Impeachment Hearings, Lithium Discovery Sparks Hope for South Korea's Green Future, Delayed Life Milestones Reshape South Korea's Future

South Korean EV Advances, LS Cable & System Invests in US, Regional Floods

Changing Dynamics in South Korea's Electric Vehicle Market, LS Cable & System's Move into US Submarine Cable Manufacturing, Recent Heavy Rainfall and Flooding in Central South Korea

Voice Phishing Prevention, Potential summit with Ukraine and partners, Medical Sector Reconciliation

Tackling the Scourge of Voice Phishing, Potential Summit with Ukraine and Indo-Pacific Partners, Olive Branch Extended to Resolve the Resident Doctors' Standoff

South Korea's NATO Engagement, Rural Healthcare Crisis, Industrial Safety Concerns: A Week in Review

President Yoon's NATO Summit Attendance, Emergency Room Closure Highlights Rural Healthcare Crisis, Industrial Safety Under Scrutiny Following Ink Factory Fire

South Korea's Education: CSAT Reforms, Student Intelligence Screening, and a City in Mourning

Major Changes Proposed for South Korea's College Scholastic Ability Test, South Korea's Bold Plan to Support Students with Borderline Intelligence, Seoul Grapples with Loss and Road Safety Concerns

Impeachment motion at KCC, Payday Loan Delinquency, Early Childhood Education Changes

Impeachment Motion Filed Against KCC Chairman, Rising Delinquency Rates Sound Alarm on Payday Loans, Early Childhood Education Shake-up Aims for Equity and Quality

The Architects of South Korea's Grand Strategy: From Survival to Global Influence

From the early days of anti-communist fervor to the current era of economic security and global engagement, we'll examine the pivotal moments and influential figures that have defined South Korea's approach to the world.

Sergeant Chae Special Prosecutor Act Advances Amid Controversy, While Deadly Battery Factory Fire Raises Concerns

Legislative Battle Intensifies Over Marine Corps Death Investigation, Deadly Fire at Hwaseong Battery Factory Raises Serious Concerns, Leaflet Campaigns Spark Domestic Debate amidst Inter-Korean

South Korea's Response to Rus-NK Deal, Gig Economy Grievances, Mental Illness in the Civil Service

South Korea's Considers Weapons for Ukraine in Response to the North Korea-Russia Alliance, Tensions Between Delivery Platforms and Workers/Store Owners, Increasing Prevalence of Mental Illness Among Civil Servants

Russia-NK partnership, Scandals Dog Presidential Admin, Shipbuilding Surges

Russia-North Korea Partnership Raises Tensions, Presidential Scandals Persist as Investigations Intensify, Government Throws Support to Surging Shipbuilding Industry

Coupang Fined Record 140 Billion Won for Unfair Practices; Presidential Office Proposes Real Estate Tax Reforms; Korean Firms Bid on Major Overseas Projects

In a landmark case, the Korea Fair Trade Commission (FTC) has imposed a record fine of 140 billion won on e-commerce giant Coupang for engaging in unfair trade practices.

South Korea's Silent Epidemic: The "Hikikomori" Youth Recluse Phenomenon

The term "hikikomori" was first used in Japan in the 1990s to describe a growing number of young people who had retreated into their bedrooms, rarely leaving the house. In South Korea, the phenomenon has gained attention more recently, as the number of affected individuals has surged.

Korea's AI Chip Ambitions Get a Boost with Rebellion-Sapeon Merger, Buan Earthquake, Korean Investments Surge in Central Asia

Merger of Rebellion and Sapeon Korea AI Semiconductor Startups, Magnitude 4.8 Earthquake in Buan, North Jeolla Province, Surge in South Korean Investments in Central Asia

DPK Amends Candidate Rules, Cadaver Controversy, South Korea's Early Heat Wave

Democratic Party Amends Constitution in Boost for Lee Jae-myung's Presidential Ambitions, Controversy Erupts Over Cadaver Lectures for Non-Medical Professionals, Record-Breaking Heat Wave Hits South Korea, Impacting Economy and Society

Government, ActGeo defend Korean Oil Find, Former Gyeonggi Gov Convicted

Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration Firm Defends Analysis, Conviction of Former Vice Gov and Impact on Lee Jae-myung, Impact of Military Pact Suspension on Korea-US Alliance

Broadcasting Laws, Critical Minerals, and Ongoing Doctor Protests

Power Struggle Over Media Control and "Broadcasting 3 Laws", South Korea's Efforts to Secure Critical Minerals from Africa, Conflict Between Government and Striking Resident Doctors

Energy Reserves, Psychological Warfare, and Tax Debates: Inside Korea's Latest Developments

Massive Oil & Gas Reserves Discovered in East Sea, South Korea Considers Resuming Loudspeaker Broadcasts, Democratic Party Debates Reforming Real Estate Tax

SK Group Chair $1B Divorce, UAE Trade Agreement, and North Korean Crypto Theft

Record-Breaking Divorce Settlement Rocks SK Group, SK Affiliates Expand Secondary Battery Material Production, South Korea Strengthens Ties with the UAE and Africa, North Korea's Crypto Heists Fuel Weapons Development

Korea-China-Japan Summit, President Yoon's Vetos, Record Low Fertility

Korea-China-Japan Summit Outcomes and Significance, President Yoon's Unprecedented Veto Spree, South Korea's Record Low Fertility Crisis

Pension Reform Stalemate, Provocative North Korean Satellite Preparation

Beyond the headline dispute over the income replacement rate, other key issues divide the two camps. One is the timing and scope of structural reforms, with the ruling party seeking front-loaded and expansive overhaul and the opposition favoring a phased approach focused on parametric changes.

China Launches Military Drills Encircling Taiwan After President Lai Ching-te's Inauguration, Summons ROK Ambassador

China Summons Korean and Japanese Diplomats to Protest Taiwan President's Inauguration Attendance, South Korea to Chair UN Security Council in June, Prepared to Convene Meetings on North Korean Provocations

Korea's Semiconductor Industry: Adapting to US Production Ramp and AI

The global semiconductor industry is undergoing a major shift as countries, led by the United States, aggressively invest in domestic production.

Moon Memoir Revelations, Korea-US Space Ties Deepen, Seoul Moves on AI Governance

Moon's Memoir Sheds Light on North Korea Summits and Diplomacy, U.S.-South Korea Space Ties Reaches New Level, South Korea Aims to Shape Global AI Governance at Seoul Summit

Speaker Election Upset, Seoul Housing Crunch, China-Russia Summit

In a surprising turn of events, five-term lawmaker Woo Won-sik defeated perceived frontrunner Chu Mi-ae to become the Democratic Party's candidate for National Assembly speaker.

Korean and Japanese Business Leaders Meet to Strengthen Ties, Local Leaders Rising in DPK

Korea-Japan Business Conference Held in Tokyo, Former Local Government Leaders Rise in the Democratic Party, International Effort Yields Arrests in Brutal Pattaya Murder Case

Naver/Line Gets Political, Troubled Real Estate Financing,USD/KRW Threats to Growth

Korea Expresses Regret Over Japan's Pressure on Naver, Government Moves to Restructure Real Estate PF Market, USD/KRW Threatens Korean Growth

Gwangju Uprising Remembered, Naver's Stake in Line, Pressure to Decouple from China

Gwangju Remembered on 44th Anniversary, Tensions Over Japanese Government Pressure on Naver to Sell Line Stake, Pressure on Korea to Decouple from China

Korea Rethinks Industrial Policy and Initiatives Addressing Demographic Crisis

Korea's newly announced "Reshoring Support Strategy 2.0" aims to boost domestic investment by expanding subsidies and incentives for companies repatriating overseas earnings and facilities. Capital repatriation will now be recognized as a form of reshoring investment.

Special Prosecutors, EV Subsidies, and Korean Food's Global Rise

Special prosecutor probes put President Yoon's leadership to the test, U.S. EV rules force Korean automakers to rethink China ties, and Korean cuisine goes globally mainstream as cultural exports boom.

South Korea Weighs AUKUS role, Corporate investment commitments, Itaewon Disaster Probe

South Korea is actively considering a role in "Pillar 2" of the AUKUS security partnership between the US, UK, and Australia, following discussions at the Korea-Australia Foreign and Defense Ministers' Meeting on May 1.

Yoon-Lee Summit, Honors for Korean War Hero Puckett, Diplomatic Complexities

The long-awaited meeting between President Yoon Suk-yeol and Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung finally took place on April 29, marking the first summit between the two political rivals since Yoon took office nearly two years ago.

Debates Over Peace, Politics and Healthcare Reforms

In a video message marking the 6th anniversary of the historic Panmunjom Declaration, former President Moon Jae-in urged the Yoon Suk-yeol government to "swiftly shift the policy line on inter-Korean relations and the Korean Peninsula from confrontation and conflict to peace and prosperity."

Korean Shipbuilding: a fascinating story of middle power influence

Free issue. The heady atmosphere at the recent signing ceremony for the delivery of the Shinchaeho-class attack submarine, built by Hyundai Heavy and observed by officials from 9 countries, symbolized both the triumphs and tribulations facing Korea's strategically critical shipbuilding industry.

Korean Industry Battles Chinese Competition in Batteries and E-Commerce

As competition from China intensifies, the engines that have long driven Korea's economic growth are starting to show signs of strain. Manufacturing giants and family-owned conglomerates, the backbone of the Korean economic miracle, now face escalating challenges from Chinese rivals in key industries like batteries and e-commerce. How

The Shadow Over Yoon Seok-yeol's Presidency: How the Kim Keon-hee Controversy Shattered Public Trust

The crushing defeat of President Yoon Seok-yeol's People Power Party in the April 10 general election has plunged his year-old administration into a crisis of confidence. At the heart of Yoon's political woes lies the ongoing controversy surrounding First Lady Kim Keon-hee and her alleged role

"We Will Not Forget": Sewol Ferry Disaster 10th Anniversary Exposes Unhealed Wounds

The weather in South Korea on April 16, 2024 was exceptionally sunny, not unlike that fateful day exactly 10 years ago when the Sewol ferry carrying 476 passengers, including 325 students from Danwon High School, tragically sank off the country's southwestern coast. But for the families of the

Peeling Back the Sanctions: How Russia's Veto Could Unravel the North Korea Pressure Campaign

The edifice of sanctions painstakingly erected to thwart North Korea's nuclear ambitions is at risk of crumbling. In late October, Russia vetoed a UN Security Council resolution to extend the mandate of a panel of experts that plays an integral role in monitoring and reporting on the enforcement

Korea's Demographic Reckoning: Confronting a Shrinking, Graying Future

In 2023, a seismic population milestone passed with little fanfare. For the first time in six years, the number of domestic Koreans dipped below 50 million, registering at 49.85 million. This is no mere demographic blip, but a harbinger of epochal change as the dual forces of record low

President Yoon Faces Governing Crisis After Devastating Election Defeat

In a stunning rebuke of President Yoon Seok-yeol's leadership, South Korean voters have handed the main opposition Democratic Party and its allies an overwhelming majority in the National Assembly, plunging the conservative president into the biggest political crisis of his tenure just two years into his five-year term.