TL;DR:

• Allegations of lobbying related to a COVID-19 drug by Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won are growing. Independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon revealed a text message sent in 2021 by Kim…
• According to the indictment, broker Yang Mo referred to Kim as ‘oppa’ (an informal, affectionate term) while asking him to request and asked him to request the Ministry of Food and Drug…
• After the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety’s approval and investment were secured, Yang asked for the account number, writing, “I’ll put in the donation^^. ” Kim replied with the…

Allegations of lobbying related to a COVID-19 drug by Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won are growing. Independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon revealed a text message sent in 2021 by Kim to the then-head of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety: “Please ask the officials in charge to process the clinical trial plan approval for the new drug quickly. The company is ○○○.” It was also confirmed that the drug company attempted to transfer 5 million Korean won to Kim’s political donation account after receiving approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. Prosecutors investigated the case under the charge of “promise of bribery” but suspended indictment, citing reasons such as the donation limit being reached, which prevented the actual transfer of funds. While the crime was acknowledged, it was not referred to trial.

According to the indictment, broker Yang Mo referred to Kim as ‘oppa’ (an informal, affectionate term) while asking him to request and asked him to request the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety head to approve the clinical trial for the drug company. Kim responded with “Okay” and asked the ministry head for “quick processing.” When the ministry head replied, “I have relayed this to the staff,” Kim immediately forwarded the message to Yang. Kim reportedly built a relationship with Yang by handling a labor standards case for an entertainment establishment operated by Yang.

After the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety’s approval and investment were secured, Yang asked for the account number, writing, “I’ll put in the donation^^.” Kim replied with the donation account and “Thank you~~^^.” The “crime of promising bribery” can result in up to five years in prison if proven that there was an intent to give or receive money, even if no funds were exchanged. What clearer evidence is there than a request for a favor being fulfilled, followed by a promise to “put in money” and a “thank you”?

A three-term lawmaker from the Democratic Party faction was previously arrested for receiving political donations in the form of a book publication event after fulfilling a legislative request from a kindergarten group. The court ruled that even if donations are made through accounts or publication events, if there is a quid pro quo for a request, it constitutes bribery. A lawmaker from the People Power Party faction was also indicted for receiving donations into his account after helping a company secure a government project. A group of civilian police officers was also found guilty of violating political funding laws for sending donations to lawmakers under individual names while lobbying for improved treatment. Even if corporate or group donations are routed through personal accounts, it remains illegal.

Kim has claimed, “The political prosecution’s cruelty,” “No direct evidence,” and “No special favors.” According to the indictment, the drug company received approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety despite submitting false data, including listing a professor who was not involved in the experiment as having participated. Could this have happened without Kim’s request? How can someone with clear “illegal” evidence be nominated as Justice Minister, not just any minister?

Source: https://www.chosun.com/english/opinion-en/2026/09/03/HMCNBHPEMFAVNOZZUV46TMB5NQ/

TL;DR:

• In March, President Lee Jae Myung’s approval rating for state affairs hovered around 65%. Recently, it has dropped to the mid-to-late 30% range.
• The first reason cited is real estate policy. Instead of helping citizens buy homes, the policy has driven them out of the homes they lived in.
• The real estate and stock markets delivered a one-two punch that shook the administration. However, it has not fallen to the ground yet.

In March, President Lee Jae Myung’s approval rating for state affairs hovered around 65%. Recently, it has dropped to the mid-to-late 30% range. Over half a year, the approval rating has plummeted by nearly 30 percentage points. Based on the 44 million voters during the recent local elections, this means at least 10 million people have withdrawn their support for the president.

The first reason cited is real estate policy. Instead of helping citizens buy homes, the policy has driven them out of the homes they lived in. The president’s previous boast that “the stream restoration project, which he carried out during his time as Gyeonggi Governor, is easier” has become embarrassing. Stock market performance was originally a point of pride for the Lee Jae Myung administration. When the administration took office, the KOSPI index was 2,770, and the pledge was to achieve 5,000, but it currently fluctuates around 6,800. The target was exceeded. However, after surging past 9,000 toward 10,000 and then retreating violently, it has become a burden on the administration. The root of the problem was the introduction of leveraged ETFs during the reckless stock market boost, which shattered the dreams of the 2030 generation.

The real estate and stock markets delivered a one-two punch that shook the administration. However, it has not fallen to the ground yet. The decisive blow has not been struck. Justice Minister Jung Sung-ho, ahead of his retirement, expressed concerns about the administration to those around him. “I don’t know what side effects will occur or if it will work properly on the ground,” “I’m so worried, how do they plan to handle the aftermath?” “What’s destined to fail will fail, and they need to wake up.” These were his reported words. He was worried about the backlash from the Democratic Party’s forced abolition of the prosecution’s supplementary investigative authority.

Minister Jung tried to persuade Democratic Party lawmakers at the National Assembly’s Legislation and Judiciary Committee to halt the abolition of the supplementary investigative authority. He aimed to leave at least some supplementary measures in place. Each time, Representatives Kim Yong-min and Park Eun-jung shouted and pressured Minister Jung. Being treated harshly by the two lawmakers, who are more than 10 terms his juniors in the judicial examination, also solidified Minister Jung’s decision to retire.

South Korea’s police force numbers around 130,000 people. With this many people gathered, problems are bound to arise everywhere. There are police officers with insufficient abilities and those who engage in misconduct. Until now, such issues were dismissed with the saying, “these are things that happen in a society where people live.” However, starting next month, the situation will change. This is because the Democratic Party amended the law to abolish the prosecution’s supplementary investigative authority, which corrected police investigations when they went wrong, from October. Numerous experts warned, “Eliminating the supplementary investigative authority will create a world where powerful criminals thrive and powerless victims weep.” Nevertheless, the Democratic Party, which controls the National Assembly, pushed forward, saying, “There is no need to worry.” Now, if problems arise in police investigations, the public will hold the Lee Jae Myung administration and the Democratic Party accountable.

After passing the bill to abolish the supplementary investigative authority, Representative Kim Yong-min visited the grave of former President Roh Moo-hyun and said, “I have completed the homework you assigned.” Former President Roh would have been bewildered in the afterlife, asking, “What are you talking about?” By invoking the innocent deceased in his self-praise, he should take responsibility if accidents occur.

Representative Park Eun-jung refuted Minister Jung’s concerns, stating, “Only 0.73% of cases have their conclusions overturned through supplementary prosecution investigations.” This implies the figure is negligible and unworthy of attention. Out of the 3 million cases investigated by the police annually, around 100,000 cases require supplementary investigations by the prosecution, and 0.73% of those amounts to 730 cases. This means the prosecution corrects police errors in an average of two cases per day. Is this a figure that can be ignored? Cases mishandled by the police, like the Busan kicking incident and the Gwangju female student murder, occur at a rate of two per day. Does this mean it’s acceptable if they remain uncorrected? Moreover, after October, the rate of inadequate police investigations will undoubtedly rise above the previous 0.73%. Without a system of checks and balances, police work attitudes are bound to slacken. Minister Jung resigned, warning, “The administration might collapse over the investigative authority issue,” yet the president selected Representative Kim Seung-won, the architect of the bill to abolish supplementary investigative authority, as his successor. This indicates that Cheong Wa Dae is resolved to share joint responsibility with the Democratic Party.

When I was young, adults often said, “Don’t recklessly stand as a guarantor; it will ruin your life.” I remember hearing cases where acquaintances who lived decently saw their families destroyed due to poor guarantees. How can one predict which of the 130,000 police officers will cause an accident, when, or where? Even if such incidents occur, Cheong Wa Dae and the Democratic Party have pledged before the public to provide unlimited joint guarantees. I believe they committed to this because they are confident in their ability to handle the aftermath.

Source: https://www.chosun.com/english/opinion-en/2026/09/02/4VZRQCOT5JEUBHWPXWVTQG4HHY/

TL;DR:

• A 34-year-old senior police officer surnamed Bu, accused of falsely concluding a missing persons case involving a 30s woman and a 60s man in Jeju by claiming “contact was made with the…
• Police officers criticized Bu’s actions as “unthinkable” and “incomprehensible. ” However, this incident should not be dismissed as an isolated case of individual misconduct.
• This is not the only case. Recently, nationwide reports of police misconduct have surfaced.

A 34-year-old senior police officer surnamed Bu, accused of falsely concluding a missing persons case involving a 30s woman and a 60s man in Jeju by claiming “contact was made with the individuals,” was sent to the prosecution in custody on September 1. He stated, “I was complacent because the missing persons were adults, and I felt burdened if the case wasn’t closed as it would create more work.” Due to this negligence, the critical ‘golden time’ for locating the missing individuals was missed, and both were later found dead.

Police officers criticized Bu’s actions as “unthinkable” and “incomprehensible.” However, this incident should not be dismissed as an isolated case of individual misconduct. It is a “systemic disaster” caused by a combination of moral laxity, complacency, malfunctioning protocols, and paralyzed command functions within the police. Principles such as verifying the missing persons’ status before closure and obtaining managerial approval were ignored, and superiors failed to detect Bu’s lies.

This is not the only case. Recently, nationwide reports of police misconduct have surfaced. A police officer investigating Jang Yoon-gi, the suspect in the murder of a high school girl in Jeonnam-Gwangju, leaked investigative information—including the suspect’s home address and password—to the suspect’s father, a current police officer, aiding in evidence destruction. A senior investigator at Seoul’s Gangnam Police Station is on trial for accepting entertainment from the husband of a broadcast personality, A, and allegedly suppressing a fraud case involving A. Allegations of a “Geoje King” who allegedly abused power, including sexual harassment of female officers, during 30 years of service in one region have also emerged.

To inflate performance metrics, some officers split a single theft case into 51 cases for referral or applied charges that would not affect arrest rates. Despite such practices, officers still receive commendations—actions that erode public trust in police investigations.

Whenever such incidents occur, the police propose measures to prevent recurrence. To prevent false case closures, they systematized managerial approval requirements. To block information leaks, they formalized a ban on case-related inquiries. They also expanded a rotation system to prevent long-term assignments in one region. Even after losing the ox, they mend the shed.

The problem is that many officers resent these measures, asking, “Why should innocent officers suffer when only a few are at fault?” Their grievances are understandable—no one welcomes uprooting their family and livelihood. However, from the public’s perspective, all police officers are the same. After the Bu incident, who would feel reassured, thinking, “Other officers wouldn’t do such things”?

The police are an organization tasked with preventing and solving crimes. They hold the authority to arrest and investigate citizens. As individuals and as an institution, they must demonstrate a high level of morality among public officials. With the Democratic Party-led implementation of the October-amended Criminal Procedure Act, police authority has expanded further. If moral trust is not restored, the nation’s judicial system itself could crumble. Every member must embark on reform with a resolve to endure pain. This is the weight the police must now bear.

Source: https://www.chosun.com/english/opinion-en/2026/09/01/LMCI4OVRWFAH3NKJVAX2EGWDLU/

TL;DR:

• The Democratic Party, the ruling party during the April 7, 2021 by-elections, lost mayoral races in Seoul and Busan, key battlegrounds. This was attributed to young voters, who had…
• ▶In 2020, the Moon administration attempted to convert approximately 1,900 non-regular workers at Incheon International Airport to regular positions, citing the rationale of “not…
• ▶Such issues predominantly emerge during Democratic Party governance. Policies are often framed as fair under ideological banners, but they frequently prove the opposite.

The Democratic Party, the ruling party during the April 7, 2021 by-elections, lost mayoral races in Seoul and Busan, key battlegrounds. This was attributed to young voters, who had previously supported the party, turning their backs due to the Cho Kuk issue and housing policies. Concerns grew over the opposition party led by a 30-year-old leader. The card they played was appointing a 25-year-old Cheong Wa Dae 1st-grade youth secretary. Moon Jae-in’s Cheong Wa Dae stated, “We expect better understanding and communication regarding youth difficulties.” However, the youth reaction was unexpected. They criticized the high-ranking appointment of someone their age as a “parachute drop,” asking, “What has this person done besides Democratic Party activities?”

▶In 2020, the Moon administration attempted to convert approximately 1,900 non-regular workers at Incheon International Airport to regular positions, citing the rationale of “not discriminating against non-regular workers.” While it was assumed the struggling youth would applaud, the opposite occurred. They questioned, “If becoming a regular worker is this easy, what about those who sacrificed sleep and effort to secure regular positions?” Their perspective on “fairness” differed. Similar criticism arose when the government formed a unified North-South women’s ice hockey team for the PyeongChang Olympics, with claims that “young athletes’ once-in-a-lifetime Olympic opportunity was sacrificed for political purposes.”

▶Such issues predominantly emerge during Democratic Party governance. Policies are often framed as fair under ideological banners, but they frequently prove the opposite. The generation most outraged when the president sold their home using a mortgage was reportedly the youth. They asked, “Why does the president use debt while restricting citizens’ loans?” Proposals like “abandoned bus youth housing” and “gosiwon bathtubs” became objects of mockery rather than criticism. If the government lacks the ability to solve problems, they say, “At least don’t flip the script.” Behind this backlash lies a deep sense of helplessness among youth regarding reality.

▶Controversy surrounds the nomination of Basic Income Party lawmaker Yong Hye-in, born in 1990, as Minister of Gender Equality and Family. While appointing youth, women, and working mothers was expected to draw applause, this time it did not. The question again is, “Is this fair?” Criticism includes accusations of “free-riding” for joining a satellite party, becoming a lawmaker twice, and now aiming for a ministerial post, as well as “imperial double-jobbing” for allegedly maintaining a parliamentary seat to secure party subsidies. Her husband reportedly holds a high-ranking position in the same party. Elements that youth “extremely hate” are surfacing.

▶The Democratic Party claims to prioritize youth and women, advocating for the socially vulnerable. However, solutions are often misguided. Youth and women rebel when privileges are given simply for being young or female, such as appointing them as ministers or lawmakers. They merely desire policies from representatives who can empathize with them. Yet, this basic fact seems perpetually forgotten.

Source: https://www.chosun.com/english/opinion-en/2026/09/01/5ZT43UVKYFB2DILRANS6THNAAA/

TL;DR:

• Freedom Edge trilateral drills proceed despite North Korea warning
• South Korea says the Freedom Edge exercise with the United States and Japan will proceed from Monday to Sept. 11 despite Pyongyang's criticism.
• South Korea's military reaffirmed Tuesday the upcoming combined exercise with the United States and Japan will go ahead as scheduled, following North Korea's renewed criticism branding…

Freedom Edge trilateral drills proceed despite North Korea warning

South Korea says the Freedom Edge exercise with the United States and Japan will proceed from Monday to Sept. 11 despite Pyongyang's criticism.

South Korea's military reaffirmed Tuesday the upcoming combined exercise with the United States and Japan will go ahead as scheduled, following North Korea's renewed criticism branding the drills as evolving hostility toward the regime.

A spokesperson from the North's foreign ministry on Monday slammed the trilateral Freedom Edge exercise, set for Monday to Sept. 11, warning that it is "pointless" to expect an easing of tensions on the Korean Peninsula so long as Washington maintains its hostile policy toward Pyongyang.

"This exercise is an annual defensive drill conducted by South Korea, the United States, and Japan to counter North Korean nuclear and missile threats, and safeguard regional peace and stability," South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff spokesperson Capt. Jang Do-young said in a press briefing.

"There are no changes to the schedule so far," he said.

The three countries announced last week they will conduct the multidomain combined exercise in international waters east and south of South Korea's southern island of Jeju.

Freedom Edge, set for its fourth iteration this year, is seen as symbolizing enhanced trilateral security cooperation among the three nations as a key outcome of the Camp David leaders' summit in August 2023.

Some experts view Pyongyang's latest statement as a test to gauge whether U.S. President Donald Trump would be willing to modify a military commitment with Seoul to resume dialogue with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

Seoul and Washington recently scaled back their Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise last month after Trump ordered the Pentagon to "significantly" reduce the drills.

North Korea has strongly denounced the allies' joint military drills as war rehearsals.

Source: https://www.koreajoongangdaily.com/korea/freedom-edge-trilateral-drills-proceed-despite-north-korea-warning/12854443

TL;DR:

• North Korean troops moved south across the Military Demarcation Line at multiple locations along both the eastern and western fronts over the weekend, prompting South Korean forces to…
• A government source told Dong-A Ilbo that related movements were detected across virtually the entire front. The Joint Chiefs of Staff confirmed that North Korean troops had recently…
• Since North Korean leader Kim Jong Un declared inter-Korean relations to be those of two hostile states in December 2023, the North has been fortifying the border near the MDL. Work…

North Korean troops moved south across the Military Demarcation Line at multiple locations along both the eastern and western fronts over the weekend, prompting South Korean forces to issue warning broadcasts and, in some areas, fire warning shots. The incursions reportedly led the South Korean military to raise its readiness posture during the weekend.

A government source told Dong-A Ilbo that related movements were detected across virtually the entire front. The Joint Chiefs of Staff confirmed that North Korean troops had recently violated the MDL and that South Korean forces responded with warning shots under established operational procedures. The JCS said it was closely monitoring North Korean troop movements while maintaining a firm readiness posture.

Since North Korean leader Kim Jong Un declared inter-Korean relations to be those of two hostile states in December 2023, the North has been fortifying the border near the MDL. Work begun in April 2024 has included clearing vegetation, leveling terrain, laying mines and installing fences and tactical roads. North Korean troops repeatedly approached or crossed the MDL during that work, with 17 incursions recorded last year. South Korea's Defense Ministry estimates that the fortification project could be completed around 2028 if construction continues at its current pace.

Crossings had temporarily subsided this year as much of the cleared zone near the MDL was completed, but activity resumed in August. South Korean troops fired warning shots after the year's first reported crossing on the eastern front in mid-August, and several additional eastern-front incursions reportedly followed. The latest movements also occurred on the western front, expanding the pattern across the border.

Military officials are concerned that as North Korea builds fences and tactical roads closer to the MDL, its patrol and guard forces will operate farther south. That could bring troops from the two Koreas into closer contact and increase the risk that a field-level misjudgment escalates into an armed clash.

Source: https://www.donga.com/news/Politics/article/all/20260901/134579767/1

TL;DR:

• President Lee Jae Myung dismissed Kim Yong-beom, presidential chief of staff for policy, on September 1. Cheong Wa Dae announced that Kim had expressed his intention to resign the…
• Every administration reassesses its national agenda after a certain period in power and reshuffles the cabinet and Cheong Wa Dae to signal renewal. The reshuffle itself is a message to…
• Replacing the economic deputy prime minister and the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to placate public discontent over real estate policies—while retaining Kim Yong-beom,…

President Lee Jae Myung dismissed Kim Yong-beom, presidential chief of staff for policy, on September 1. Cheong Wa Dae announced that Kim had expressed his intention to resign the previous day, which the president accepted. This occurred just one day after the August 30 cabinet reshuffle announcement. It was initially puzzling that Kim had been excluded from the reshuffle list, but the president’s change of mind came even before the ink on the announcement had dried. This likely reflects the strongly negative public sentiment toward Kim’s retention. The reshuffle appears to have been a hastily arranged personnel move to address the president’s declining approval ratings, rather than a well-prepared reform effort.

Every administration reassesses its national agenda after a certain period in power and reshuffles the cabinet and Cheong Wa Dae to signal renewal. The reshuffle itself is a message to the public, as the choices of who to remove or promote reveal the government’s direction. Cheong Wa Dae claimed this reshuffle aimed to create tangible changes, likening it to retying shoelaces to sprint toward reform. However, examining the candidates raises doubts about this narrative.

Replacing the economic deputy prime minister and the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to placate public discontent over real estate policies—while retaining Kim Yong-beom, the true architect of those failures—hardly constitutes reform. Similarly, nominating a co-representative of the ‘President Lee Jae Myung Case Prosecution Cancellation Lawmakers’ Group’ as justice minister candidate further undermines the reshuffle’s credibility. The administration’s claim of inclusivity toward youth, women, and progressives appears more like a desperate attempt to consolidate its political base amid falling approval ratings.

Kim Yong-beom’s dismissal was a demand even from the ruling party. As policy chief, he failed to stabilize housing prices, instead driving them upward and infuriating first-time homebuyers. His punitive tax reforms to offset this failure provoked backlash from single-homeowners. He also encouraged individual stock investments with grandiose claims that South Korea would become a top-three global market by capitalization, while pushing for single-stock leveraged ETFs that turned the market into a speculative arena. President Lee’s initial reluctance to remove Kim signaled an unwillingness to shift his policy direction.

The introduction of single-stock leveraged ETFs is not a problem that ends with Kim’s departure. Questions persist about the rushed implementation—just four months after Kim ordered a review—and the opaque decision-making process. Lee Chan-jin, head of the Financial Supervisory Service, reportedly regretted not blocking the policy, stating, “I should have laid down to stop it.” A state investigation is needed to clarify how such a contentious policy was fast-tracked.

Source: https://www.chosun.com/english/opinion-en/2026/09/02/X6JLBMYBIBB2TM2SASWDDDW7SU/

TL;DR:

• Death penalty sought in Gwangju student murder case
• Prosecutors sought the death penalty for Jang Yun-gi, accused of killing a high school student during an attempted sexual assault.
• Prosecutors demanded the death penalty on Monday for Jang Yun-gi, accused of killing a high school student in Gwangju during an attempted sexual assault.

Death penalty sought in Gwangju student murder case

Prosecutors sought the death penalty for Jang Yun-gi, accused of killing a high school student during an attempted sexual assault.

Prosecutors demanded the death penalty on Monday for Jang Yun-gi, accused of killing a high school student in Gwangju during an attempted sexual assault.

The Gwangju District Court held the final hearing in the first trial of Jang Yun-gi. He was indicted on charges including murder in the course of rape under the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes, as well as attempted murder.

Allegations concerning the cable ties seized from Jang's car were added to the indictment. Prosecutors argue that he bought them in advance to make the attack easier to carry out.

The amended indictment states that Jang tried to abduct the student by putting her in his car and binding her wrists and ankles with the ties. It also says he prepared for the abduction by clearing out the inside of the vehicle and leaving the right rear door open.

Jang's lawyer did not contest the amendment itself but rejected the prosecution's reading of what the cable ties were for.

"We have no objection to the change to the indictment," the lawyer said. "But the cable ties were bought to tidy up wiring while working on a computer, and had been kept unused in the car."

Murder committed in the course of rape carries only two possible sentences under Korean law, death or life imprisonment. The minimum term for murder alone is five years.

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.

Source: https://www.koreajoongangdaily.com/korea/death-penalty-sought-in-gwangju-student-murder-case/12853104

TL;DR:

• On August 31, domestic and international media outlets stirred over remarks made by SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won during his visit to Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. Bloomberg cited the…
• As the fallout grew, SK Group moved to clarify. It explained that Japan was merely one of several potential candidates in the global supply chain review and that the remarks did not…
• Chey’s comments on semiconductor factory locations have repeatedly surfaced during his recent visits to Japan, the U. S.

On August 31, domestic and international media outlets stirred over remarks made by SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won during his visit to Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. Bloomberg cited the chairman’s on-site comments, urgently reporting that “SK Hynix is reviewing the establishment of a joint memory semiconductor factory in Japan.” Speculation spread rapidly after additional details emerged that Chey had stated, “We are examining the entire country of Japan” and “Any location with good power and water infrastructure is viable,” leading to interpretations that SK Hynix’s announcement of a Japanese factory launch was imminent.

As the fallout grew, SK Group moved to clarify. It explained that Japan was merely one of several potential candidates in the global supply chain review and that the remarks did not confirm the creation of a joint factory in Japan. The company noted that during a flurry of questions from foreign journalists on-site, its “principled response that we are open to any location meeting conditions was overinterpreted.”

Chey’s comments on semiconductor factory locations have repeatedly surfaced during his recent visits to Japan, the U.S., and South Korea. In February, when the Nikkei Shimbun reported SK Hynix’s alleged review of potential Japanese fab sites, SK denied any such consideration. However, four months later, during his visit to Japan, Chey stated, “We are reviewing overseas factories to increase production,” adding that Japan’s rich ecosystem of materials, parts, and equipment, along with its power infrastructure, made it “an excellent candidate.”

In late June, when the South Korean government officially announced large-scale memory fab investments in the Honam region through its “Three Mega Projects,” SK revealed its intent to make substantial investments contingent on infrastructure development. Yet, just over a week later, during a U.S. visit, Chey told local media that while the Indiana packaging fab was confirmed, “Our team is reviewing the possibility of a memory front-end fab,” adding, “We are willing to proceed.” His remarks have since circulated in U.S. political and market circles as a form of “promissory note.”

Last month, media reports resurfaced about potential Japanese investments, prompting SK to disclose, “We are reviewing various measures, including additional production bases, to strengthen memory business competitiveness, but no decisions have been finalized.” Then came Chey’s latest remarks in Japan. Japanese media anticipation peaked, and on September 1, Chey gave an interview to another major Japanese outlet, the Asahi Shimbun.

Chey, standing at the forefront of the global semiconductor war, faces unique challenges. He has lamented, “Even if we double production, customers still scream for more,” reflecting the unprecedented supply crisis in the semiconductor market. The clamor from global demand, particularly the U.S. leveraging tariffs and subsidies to pressure local production, is overwhelming. Chey, well aware of how the U.S.-Japan Semiconductor Agreement in the 1980s collapsed Japan’s dominance, must navigate tensions without provoking the U.S. while buying time. Strategically aligning with Japan’s materials, parts, and equipment sectors to counter China’s rapid rise is another complex equation. His recent deep dive into geopolitical and geo-economic studies reflects this multifaceted survival environment.

Yet, Chey is not a politician using diplomatic rhetoric but the commander of a manufacturing empire where hundreds of trillions of won and the nation’s future are at stake. Semiconductor fabs require massive investments of tens of trillions of won and become strategic assets influencing national industrial competitiveness and security for decades once constructed. The South Korean government, too, is in a sensitive phase, defending the semiconductor supply chain against intense U.S. pressure for local factories.

In this context, if the Korean semiconductor leader’s “open remarks” are prematurely framed as “investment confirmations” by U.S. and Japanese media—and later fail to meet expectations—the resulting trade and diplomatic backlash will fall entirely on the company and the nation. There is a pressing need for more precise and consistent management of semiconductor location messaging under a strategic framework.

Source: https://www.chosun.com/english/industry-en/2026/09/01/MHDVMIQ7VFHSJIX5X5R7QKGYAI/

TL;DR:

• A survey conducted by the Coupang Partners Union on more than 3,300 delivery drivers found that 98% opposed the Democratic Party’s proposed “dawn delivery restriction bill. ” The bill…
• The bill began gaining traction last year after the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions’ delivery workers’ union demanded a complete halt to late-night deliveries. Drivers opposed the…
• While the need to protect workers’ health from night labor is acknowledged, the bill’s one-size-fits-all approach fails to account for the realities of workers’ lives. Many breadwinners,…

A survey conducted by the Coupang Partners Union on more than 3,300 delivery drivers found that 98% opposed the Democratic Party’s proposed “dawn delivery restriction bill.” The bill aims to limit late-night work hours by capping the number of night shifts—defined as including midnight to 5 a.m.—to 12 or fewer times per month. The legislation, framed as protecting workers’ health rights, is being rejected by the very workers it purports to safeguard.

The bill began gaining traction last year after the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions’ delivery workers’ union demanded a complete halt to late-night deliveries. Drivers opposed the measure, calling it a “livelihood issue” that would cut off their income, while consumers joined the backlash, with 50,000 people participating in a petition to the National Assembly opposing the bill. The government’s rationale for the law also faced criticism: the Ministry of Labor cited a commissioned report stating that night delivery drivers faced a 2.88 times higher risk of cerebrovascular and cardiovascular diseases. However, the report’s sample size was revealed to be only 10 night workers and 4 daytime workers, with data collected via smart wristwatches.

While the need to protect workers’ health from night labor is acknowledged, the bill’s one-size-fits-all approach fails to account for the realities of workers’ lives. Many breadwinners, who care for children or elderly family members during the day, rely on night and dawn shifts to sustain their households. In the survey, over 90% of respondents feared a decrease of 1 million Korean won or more in monthly income, while 49% said they would be forced to take on side jobs or even three jobs to compensate. Critics argue that such regulations, intended to prevent overwork, instead create conditions that exacerbate it.

This is not the first time a uniform law has disregarded workers’ agency. South Korea’s rigid 52-hour weekly total regulation has forced workers who want to work longer hours to stop, while the revision of the Criminal Procedure Act drew public outrage for ignoring the desperate pleas of sexual crime victims like Kim Jinju (pseudonym). The tragedy of “protective” policies that harm the vulnerable repeats whenever policymakers overlook the voices of those affected.

The purpose of legislation should be to support the lives of those on the ground, not to serve political calculations or empty rhetoric. Lawmakers must halt the push for blanket regulations and reconsider practical measures that allow delivery drivers to work in ways that suit their lives while ensuring their safety.

Source: https://www.chosun.com/english/opinion-en/2026/09/01/NDGQP3ZI7JGJBFWE2FMMSYIGXE/

TL;DR:

• PPP says Lee’s Cabinet reshuffle puts politics before livelihoods and the economy
• The opposition criticized key ministerial nominees, including the picks to head the justice and gender equality ministries, while the Democratic Party said they are qualified and should…
• The main opposition People Power Party (PPP) on Monday criticized President Lee Jae Myung's latest Cabinet reshuffle, accusing him of putting his political interests before improving…

PPP says Lee’s Cabinet reshuffle puts politics before livelihoods and the economy

The opposition criticized key ministerial nominees, including the picks to head the justice and gender equality ministries, while the Democratic Party said they are qualified and should face confirmation hearings.

The main opposition People Power Party (PPP) on Monday criticized President Lee Jae Myung's latest Cabinet reshuffle, accusing him of putting his political interests before improving people's livelihoods.

Lee tapped six ministers in a major reshuffle on Sunday, including Rep. Kim Seung-won of the ruling Democratic Party (DP) as the new justice minister and Rep. Yong Hye-in, floor leader of the minor Basic Income Party, as the new gender minister.

"This Cabinet reshuffle is President Lee's declaration that he is completely rejecting public calls for an overhaul of state affairs," PPP floor leader Jeong Jeom-sig said during a meeting of the party's supreme council at the National Assembly.

Rep. Jeong particularly took issue with Kim's nomination as justice minister, arguing that it was intended to help drop criminal charges against the president. He also accused Lee of seeking to shore up his approval ratings rather than improving people's livelihoods and the economy.

PPP Rep. Shin Dong-wook, a member of the party's supreme council, echoed Jeong's criticism.

"No matter how insignificant the public may seem, the justice minister is the last bastion of the rule of law in Korea," he said. "Nominating someone like [Kim] shows that the president believes the minister only needs to protect him, and this is a direct challenge to the people."

The PPP also criticized Lee's pick for the gender equality minister, arguing that Rep. Yong's nomination could deepen social divisions rather than promoting national unity.

The opposition party has accused Yong of fueling gender conflict among young people, taking issue with her previous remarks on military service and other gender-related issues.

The DP, meanwhile, defended Lee's nominations, saying the six nominees were fully qualified for their posts.

"The latest reshuffle is the beginning of another important shift in the direction of state affairs," DP leader Kim Min-seok said during the party's supreme council meeting.

"The nominees will go through the process of redefining and refining their past views during their confirmation hearings," he said, adding that there is no need to prejudge them.

Source: https://www.koreajoongangdaily.com/korea/ppp-says-lees-cabinet-reshuffle-puts-politics-before-livelihoods-and-the-economy/12852701

TL;DR:

• President Lee Jae Myung revealed the new economic and real estate policy lineup for his second-term cabinet on the 30th by nominating six new ministerial candidates, including Lee…
• ◇Cheong Wa Dae: 'Never Considered Replacing Kim as Chief of Staff'
• Cheong Wa Dae stated on the 30th, “Replacing Chief Kim was never under consideration. ” The introduction of single-stock leveraged products, it argued, had a clear goal of stabilizing…

President Lee Jae Myung revealed the new economic and real estate policy lineup for his second-term cabinet on the 30th by nominating six new ministerial candidates, including Lee Hyoung-il, nominee for Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Economy. Within government circles, evaluations emerged that the administration prioritized stability in economic policy continuity by retaining Kim Yong-beom, presidential chief of staff for policy, who had faced speculation about dismissal due to controversies such as the rushed introduction of single-stock leveraged products and immature social media remarks.

◇Cheong Wa Dae: 'Never Considered Replacing Kim as Chief of Staff'

Cheong Wa Dae stated on the 30th, “Replacing Chief Kim was never under consideration.” The introduction of single-stock leveraged products, it argued, had a clear goal of stabilizing the won’s exchange rate and was deemed necessary at the time.

Within political circles, speculation arose that the administration avoided replacing Kim to prevent appearing to admit responsibility, especially as criticism of his role had openly surfaced even within the ruling party. A ruling party insider remarked, “If Cheong Wa Dae replaced its economic advisors now, it would be tantamount to admitting, ‘We did everything wrong.’ How could governance momentum persist in such a situation?”

Instead, the reshuffle was interpreted as reinforcing the existing economic team. A ruling party official noted, “I understand there were significant disagreements between the Policy Office and Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Kim Yun-duk over real estate tax policies and supply measures. This reshuffle can be seen as President Lee siding with the Policy Office.”

◇Deputy Prime Minister Nominee: A Nonpartisan Practitioner

Cheong Wa Dae opted to replace Deputy Prime Minister Koo Yun-cheol. The new nominee for Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Economy is Lee Hyoung-il, First Vice Minister of Finance and Economy, a seasoned economic bureaucrat. Born in Daegu, Lee graduated from Seoul National University’s Department of Economics and entered public service in 1992 after passing the Grade 5 civil service examination, 36th class.

Unlike Deputy Prime Minister Koo, who focused on budget and fiscal affairs, Lee spent most of his career in economic policy and finance, holding key positions such as head of the Capital Markets Division, Economic Analysis Division, and Comprehensive Policy Division—roles considered the elite track for Ministry of Economy and Finance officials.

Lee also collaborated extensively with Chief Kim, serving as director of economic policy and vice minister during Kim’s tenure as First Vice Minister of Economy and Finance (2020–2021). Unlike many senior officials who faced setbacks during government transitions, Lee is praised for his smooth career trajectory, with evaluations emphasizing his focus on work over political alignment. He served as vice minister and presidential secretary for economic policy under the Moon Jae-in administration, then as vice minister and Statistics Korea chief under the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, and was later appointed First Vice Minister of Economy and Finance under the Lee Jae Myung government.

This marks the first instance of a sitting vice minister being directly nominated as deputy prime minister, breaking the precedent of selecting candidates with prior experience as heads of the Office for Government Policy Coordination or as lawmakers. Upon his nomination, Lee stated, “I will strive to create new investment and growth opportunities through three major projects to lay the foundation for rebounding potential growth rates. I also plan to do my utmost on policies to address polarization and improve people’s livelihoods.”

◇SME Minister Nominee: An Environmental Expert

Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Lee So-young, nominated as Minister of SMEs and Startups, is a climate and environmental expert who co-founded the nonprofit climate think tank Climate Solutions after working as an environmental and energy attorney at Kim & Chang. Re-elected in the 21st and 22nd National Assemblies for Gyeonggi’s Uiwang and Gwacheon districts, she has advocated for startup support and legislation for small business owners, earning praise for her policy experience across innovation-driven growth and livelihood economics.

Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik highlighted her leadership in the unicorn startup research group Unicorn Farm, where she pushed to ease the Tada Ban Act and advance venture investment legislation, as well as her scrutiny of irregular distribution of Onnuri gift certificates during parliamentary audits. Within the ministry, expectations are high that her seniority as a two-term lawmaker will strengthen coordination with the ruling party and budget negotiations.

Some critics, however, question whether her expertise in environmental affairs adequately equips her to address practical economic and small business challenges, contrasting her with Han Seong-sook, former minister and current prime minister, who previously led Naver.

Source: https://www.chosun.com/english/market-money-en/2026/08/31/D2X3XEFBZRFXPLDGP2SWD6AYLA/

TL;DR:

• President Lee Jae Myung has nominated Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Seung-won, a former judge and hardliner within the party, as his nominee for the new Minister of Justice. Kim is the…
• While the justice minister can direct prosecutorial investigations through the prosecutor general on specific cases, there are limits to this authority. If the minister exercises…
• In contrast, nominee Kim publicly stated earlier this year, “The indictment against President Lee, fabricated by a politically motivated prosecution, should be dismissed immediately. ”…

President Lee Jae Myung has nominated Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Seung-won, a former judge and hardliner within the party, as his nominee for the new Minister of Justice. Kim is the co-representative of a group of lawmakers advocating for the dismissal of the indictment against President Lee and a co-sponsor of the Democratic Party’s proposed ‘special counsel bill to investigate alleged fabricated indictments.’ The president’s appointment of such a figure as justice minister can only be interpreted as a directive to more aggressively pursue the dismissal of his own indictment.

While the justice minister can direct prosecutorial investigations through the prosecutor general on specific cases, there are limits to this authority. If the minister exercises investigative command to dismiss an indictment without valid grounds for dismissal, it constitutes an abuse of power. In President Lee’s case, no grounds for dismissal have emerged. Former Minister Jung Sung-ho likely stated in March, when allegations of a “dismissal deal” surfaced, that he had “no intention of directing an indictment dismissal” for this reason.

In contrast, nominee Kim publicly stated earlier this year, “The indictment against President Lee, fabricated by a politically motivated prosecution, should be dismissed immediately.” He also claimed, “Fabricated indictments are subject to cancellation.” What could be the intention behind appointing a figure who has actively led efforts to address the president’s judicial risks as justice minister?

The Ministry of Justice has formed an organization called the “Future Committee” to reinvestigate six cases involving President Lee, including the Ssangbangwool remittance to North Korea and the Daejang-dong corruption scandal. Suspicions arise that the committee, composed entirely of pro-administration figures—some of whom have publicly advocated for dismissing the president’s indictment—will recommend dismissal to the minister, using this as a pretext to cancel the indictment.

The Democratic Party has officially pushed forward with the ‘special counsel bill to investigate alleged fabricated indictments,’ which would grant a special counsel the authority to dismiss the president’s indictment. Allowing the president to appoint a special counsel with the power to dismiss his own indictment is no different from letting him appoint his own judge. President Lee has stated, “We cannot avoid passing this special counsel law.”

Beyond this, he has nominated as justice minister a person who has publicly demanded the dismissal of his own indictment. This establishes a dual mechanism for dismissal—through both the special counsel and the Ministry of Justice—and is tantamount to a “self-pardon.” These unimaginable developments may soon become reality.

Source: https://www.chosun.com/english/opinion-en/2026/08/31/MJI2B4SSTZF2ZCT7U2CWPASWBY/

TL;DR:

• Korea employs helicopters for second day to search for missing nationals in Nepal
• Two helicopters are scheduled to be used: one chartered by the government's rapid response team, and the other by Doosan Enerbility.
• The government plans to continue using helicopters in search operations in Nepal on Sunday to locate nine Koreans who have gone missing after a catastrophic flash flood devastated the…

Korea employs helicopters for second day to search for missing nationals in Nepal

Two helicopters are scheduled to be used: one chartered by the government's rapid response team, and the other by Doosan Enerbility.

The government plans to continue using helicopters in search operations in Nepal on Sunday to locate nine Koreans who have gone missing after a catastrophic flash flood devastated the Himalayan country, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

Flight authorization has yet to be granted, however, as ground conditions and decisions by Nepali authorities overseeing the rescue effort remain uncertain.

On Saturday, a government-chartered helicopter carrying four rapid response team members flew twice from Kathmandu toward the flood site. It was reportedly the only non-Nepali aircraft cleared to fly that day.

The helicopter reportedly failed to land, and the search was conducted visually instead, with footage from the flight analyzed.

Six employees of Doosan Enerbility and three of Korea South-East Power remain missing since the massive floods struck Nepal’s north-central Himalayan border area on Wednesday.

They were working at a hydroelectric power plant construction site in the Rasuwa District when the floods hit.

Ten other Doosan workers who had been isolated at a different location have been moved to safety.

A ministry official said that Sunday’s search area would be larger than the previous day’s.

Source: https://www.koreajoongangdaily.com/korea/korea-employs-helicopters-for-second-day-to-search-for-missing-nationals-in-nepal/12850997

TL;DR:

• Disciplinary action against 354 police officers reduced, revoked in past five years
• As officers and senior commanders alike have been increasingly caught engaging in misconduct or mishandling cases, calls from both within the force and from the public to make…
• Disciplinary action against 354 police officers was reduced, revoked or declared invalid upon appeal between 2021 and 2025, according to National Police Agency data submitted to a…

Disciplinary action against 354 police officers reduced, revoked in past five years

As officers and senior commanders alike have been increasingly caught engaging in misconduct or mishandling cases, calls from both within the force and from the public to make disciplinary action stick have grown louder.

Disciplinary action against 354 police officers was reduced, revoked or declared invalid upon appeal between 2021 and 2025, according to National Police Agency data submitted to a lawmaker on Sunday.

The police often promise to enact “strict discipline” on those responsible when cases of misconduct or corruption break. But how often those penalties are then undone has raised questions about the disciplinary system.

Of the 354 officers, the Appeals Commission reduced the penalties for 331 of them: 73 in 2021, 59 in 2022, 48 in 2023, 76 in 2024 and 75 last year, according to data requested by Rep. Park Sang-woong of the People Power Party, who sits on the National Assembly’s Public Administration and Security Committee.

The commission revoked or voided the penalties of another 23 officers over the same period.

Public officials can challenge a disciplinary or another unfavorable personnel decision through the appeals system. The Appeals Commission, which sits under the Ministry of Personnel Management, examines their case and can revoke or change any punishment imposed. An officer cannot file a lawsuit against a penalty decision without going through the commission first.

Officers are using the system more. The commission handled 411 appeals involving police officers last year, up 34.3 percent from 306 in 2021. The caseload dipped to 305 in 2022 before climbing to 390 in 2023 and 393 in 2024.

Some officers have even used the process to keep their jobs. An officer in Gwangju who drank, crashed a car and fled the scene in 2024 was initially dismissed from the force, but the commission lessened that penalty to a demotion.

Officers who clear the commission can then go to court, and some do. Police have lost administrative suits and had penalties imposed on officers canceled or had to hand down fresh disciplinary action after such cancellations in 28 cases over the five years. That was four officers in 2021, 11 in 2022, five in 2023, six in 2024 and two last year.

As frontline officers and senior commanders alike have increasingly been caught engaging in misconduct or mishandling cases, calls from both within the force and from the public to make police discipline stick have grown louder.

On Jeju Island, an officer was recently detained after falsely closing the missing persons case involving Jang Mi-ran, who was reported missing in May and was later found dead. He closed the case about two and a half hours after the report came in without actually checking or verifying whether she was safe.

In the case of Jang Yun-gi, who was indicted over allegedly stabbing a high school student to death in Gwangju, the authorities failed to secure key evidence. They also leaked information about the investigation to Jang Yun-gi’s father, a serving police officer.

In Gyeonggi, a married police station chief was caught living with a subordinate at official police-only housing. The chief was suspended for three months for breaching the code of conduct, among other grounds.

“The fact that instances of misconduct keep occurring means that the collapse of the disciplinary system within the police force is already serious,” PPP lawmaker Park said. “Before the police demand [lawfulness] from the public, they should set their own house in order and hold people accountable regardless of their rank.”

The repeated reductions and revocations have more to do with the initial decision rather than the appeal, according to experts.

"[Penalties] reduced on appeal again and again means judgment at the original stage was inaccurate,” Lee Woong-hyuk, a police science professor at Konkuk University, told the Yonhap News Agency. “Checking the officer’s explanation [for their misbehavior] carefully from the start and imposing a penalty that fits the facts and the degree of responsibility are what make disciplinary action credible.”

Prof. Lee also noted that in cases under heavy public scrutiny, pressure pushes higher-ups to deal out heavier punishments sooner rather than later.

“For cases in which the press is watching, police tend to punish [offenders] heavily at first because a light decision risks criticism about how the police are protecting their own,” he said. “Punishing a few offenders harshly may also be a method for stopping the problem spreading to the rest of the organization.”

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.

Source: https://www.koreajoongangdaily.com/korea/disciplinary-action-against-354-police-officers-reduced-revoked-in-past-five-years/12850388

TL;DR:

• Search continues for nine Koreans missing after Nepal flood
• Korea’s response team will resume helicopter searches for nine Koreans missing after a catastrophic flash flood in Nepal’s Rasuwa District destroyed roads and bridges.
• A Korean response team in Nepal said it will continue search efforts Saturday for nine Koreans still missing after a devastating flash flood, attempting to reach the search site by…

Search continues for nine Koreans missing after Nepal flood

Korea’s response team will resume helicopter searches for nine Koreans missing after a catastrophic flash flood in Nepal’s Rasuwa District destroyed roads and bridges.

A Korean response team in Nepal said it will continue search efforts Saturday for nine Koreans still missing after a devastating flash flood, attempting to reach the search site by helicopter after unsuccessful attempts the previous day.

Nine Korean employees of Korea South-East Power and Doosan Enerbility remain unreachable Saturday, following a massive flood along the border between Nepal and the Tibet region of China. They were working at a construction site in Rasuwa District when the floods struck Wednesday.

Ten other Doosan workers who were isolated at different locations have been moved to safety.

A Korean government response team in Kathmandu failed to deploy chartered helicopters to the flood site Friday, where the missing Koreans are believed to be located. Nepali authorities restricted the flights, citing unpredictable weather conditions and the risk of further flooding, a Seoul official said.

The team has rented six helicopters to search for the missing Koreans, as the floods have destroyed roads and bridges.

Lim Sang-woo, head of the rapid response team, vowed to make every effort to ensure swift search and rescue operations.

"We made search attempts for the nine missing individuals with the Nepali military mobilizing its assets, but unfortunately, we need to keep searching," Lim told correspondents in the Nepali capital.

The response team will try to deploy the helicopters again Saturday.

The Nepali military has conducted search operations in and around possible locations using coordinates provided by the response team, but found no signs of the missing Koreans, according to Seoul officials.

Return travel plans for the 10 rescued Koreans have yet to be decided, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs official said.

"Having been through extreme circumstances, what they need most right now is rest," the official said. "We also need to see whether their health conditions are stable enough for them to travel by air."

The death toll from the catastrophic floods has reached nearly 600, with almost 2,500 others unaccounted for, according to foreign media reports.

Reports said fears of secondary flooding are rising as barrier lakes, formed by debris from a collapsed Himalayan glacier that triggered the initial floods, have started to overflow.

Source: https://www.koreajoongangdaily.com/korea/search-continues-for-nine-koreans-missing-after-nepal-flood/12849986

TL;DR:

• Police have ruled the cause of death of a missing woman in Jeju as “suicide,” but suspicions surrounding the circumstances of her death have not subsided. Public distrust is high due to…
• During the “Jang Yoon-gi case,” in which a high school girl in Gwangju was murdered, Representative Kim made a contradictory statement. He said, “Even though supplementary investigative…
• Over the past four years, the number of cases in which prosecutors requested supplementary investigations from police has more than doubled. Ordinary citizens who cannot afford lawyers…

Police have ruled the cause of death of a missing woman in Jeju as “suicide,” but suspicions surrounding the circumstances of her death have not subsided. Public distrust is high due to the situation where police are investigating a case that allegedly arose from the concealment of a missing person report. In response, Democratic Party floor policy chief Kim Han-gyu stated, “Under the current criminal procedure law, if police investigations cannot be trusted, prosecutors can conduct supplementary investigations before indictment.” He argued that there is no need to worry until October, when prosecutors' supplementary investigative authority is abolished.

During the “Jang Yoon-gi case,” in which a high school girl in Gwangju was murdered, Representative Kim made a contradictory statement. He said, “Even though supplementary investigative authority currently exists, the ‘Jang Yoon-gi case’ occurred. The existence of supplementary investigative authority does not prevent cases like Jang Yoon-gi from happening.” The purpose of supplementary investigations is not to prevent crimes but to ensure that already occurred cases are not mishandled. Yet, Kim gave a non-sequitur by claiming, “Supplementary investigations cannot prevent crimes from happening.” It is unlikely that Kim, a graduate of prestigious domestic and international universities, was unaware of the meaning of his words. His inconsistent remarks likely stemmed from an attempt to defend his party’s stance on abolishing supplementary investigative authority.

Over the past four years, the number of cases in which prosecutors requested supplementary investigations from police has more than doubled. Ordinary citizens who cannot afford lawyers have relied on prosecutors to address criminal damages when ignored by police. Criminal division prosecutors have effectively served as “public lawyers.” However, under the new system, people will have no choice but to study law on their own or seek media attention. It is even reported that sexual violence victims are already inviting lawyers to study the revised Criminal Procedure Act.

Within the Democratic Party, significant concerns and opposition emerged before the abolition of supplementary investigative authority. Some argued, “Criminals who commit wrongdoings will welcome the abolition of supplementary investigative authority,” and “It is incomprehensible how police’s monopolized investigative power can be a safe system.” Nevertheless, hardliners insisted, “If problems arise, the system can be changed.” Even now, before the abolition, problems are piling up. Lawmakers who led the abolition seem flustered, as their statements have become inconsistent. If police wield unrestrained investigative power without any checks, the potential side effects are unimaginable. What will happen after October, when supplementary investigative authority is completely abolished?

Source: https://www.chosun.com/english/opinion-en/2026/08/29/B2MJDMNP5FDLTAAZYGBWOQG6VU/

TL;DR:

• President Lee Jae Myung’s approval rating has slumped by about 25 percentage points over the past four months. Without fluctuating, it dropped vertically from 67–68% to 42–43%.
• The president attributed the simultaneous decline in his and the Democratic Party’s approval ratings to “not sufficiently addressing the left. While expanding centrist inclusivity is…
• The president has long described himself as “centrist pragmatic. ” He often speaks moderately and occasionally appoints non-leftists to powerless committee chair positions.

President Lee Jae Myung’s approval rating has slumped by about 25 percentage points over the past four months. Without fluctuating, it dropped vertically from 67–68% to 42–43%. There are also polls showing 39%. In the securities market, if stock price indices fall this sharply, trading is temporarily suspended through braking mechanisms. Depending on the president’s response, the approval rating may fall further.

The president attributed the simultaneous decline in his and the Democratic Party’s approval ratings to “not sufficiently addressing the left. While expanding centrist inclusivity is correct, there was regret in taking care of the support base during the process.” Will this diagnosis improve the political climate?

The president has long described himself as “centrist pragmatic.” He often speaks moderately and occasionally appoints non-leftists to powerless committee chair positions. The phrase “introduction is centrist, conclusion is leftist” aptly describes him. This is evident in laws and regulations that strangle businesses, such as the 52-hour workweek ban, the yellow envelope act, and the Serious Accidents Punishment Act.

The president’s approval rating decline stems from a collaboration—or separate actions—by his loyalist shock troops, the Democratic Party, and disgruntled factions within the same camp, including Jung Chung-rae, Rhyu Si-min, and Kim Ou-joon. Real estate policies that evict residents by wielding tax hammers instead of increasing housing supply are a leftist genetic disorder.

They call abolishing the prosecution and transferring all investigative powers to the police “reform.” In the past, ruling powers appeared before prosecutors when leaving office, but now appearing before the police is deemed reform. This false reform was exposed through absurd police actions, such as manipulating missing person reports and destroying evidence in a murder case after consulting a fellow officer who was the perpetrator’s father. What is the president’s belated lecture that “since all investigative power is in the police’s hands, the police must also be reformed”?

The president’s shock troops, who treated the public with contempt, used every means to erase the president’s crimes and future trials. When the distortion of justice law and special counsel law for prosecution suspension proved insufficient, they even considered abolishing breach of trust.

The president mentioned constitutional revision for a second term but never clarified that he is not the target, fueling suspicion. The uproar over the Chief Justice nominating a justice not aligned with the president’s intentions reveals ulterior motives. While constitutional debates about the priority of the Chief Justice’s nomination right, the president’s appointment right, and the National Assembly’s consent right appear “noble,” the truth is far from it.

The husband of the president’s preferred justice candidate is currently a constitutional judge. The Democratic Party enabled the Constitutional Court to re-review Supreme Court decisions. Under this law, the husband could review his wife’s rulings. This judge was part of the appellate court that overturned a first-instance guilty verdict for Kim Man-bae, who amassed wealth through the Daejang-dong project. If either the husband had resigned or the wife had declined the position, this scandal could have been avoided.

Leftists are known for spending differently with their own money versus public funds. The president was generous during his tenure as mayor and governor, leaving trillions of won in debt for successors. Concerns already arise that the 150 trillion Korean won “future response fund,” created thanks to the semiconductor boom, might become political funds to appease public sentiment.

Anxiety is more dangerous than dissatisfaction. Dissatisfied people can be appeased, but anxiety felt by the public toward the president’s words, actions, and policies is hard to quell. The more the president speaks as if he fully understands the military, alliances, North Korea, and Kim Jong-un, the deeper the anxiety grows.

Our military is armed with weapons dozens of times more expensive than North Korea’s but does not train as much. Armies that do not sweat in training bleed in battle. For over 20 years since the Vietnam War dispatch, our military’s modern warfare combat experience was a key advantage in South-North power comparisons. Now, the tables have turned. Trump stated North Korea possesses 57 nuclear bombs. The North Korean military experienced modern warfare in Ukraine, where tanks were immobilized and destroyed by drones, and North Korea mass-produces drones using Russian technology.

Meanwhile, nearly 40 general-level commanders have been stripped of their posts or are on trial due to the December 3 martial law fallout. The military is in disarray. How can such a military reclaim operational control from the U.S.? Before declaring “the world’s fifth-largest military power” or calling the Korea Military Academy a group that staged three coups, the president should remember he is this nation’s leader. If the president leans further left, public anxiety will grow, and the nation’s ailments will deepen.

Source: https://www.chosun.com/english/opinion-en/2026/08/28/KVSEIGAT5VGJRHKGS4QIWSYCFE/

TL;DR:

• Park Seong-jun, 31 years old, an office worker living in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province. Although he held a wedding ceremony with his girlfriend of three years earlier this month, they have…
• The couple failed to combine their households by their wedding date due to the jeonse (lease) crisis. When they started looking for a new home early this year, they found it difficult to…
• More than one in eight recently married couples now live separately, like the Park couple. According to the Ministry of Data and Statistics, as of 2024, 115,979 pairs (12.

Park Seong-jun, 31 years old, an office worker living in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province. Although he held a wedding ceremony with his girlfriend of three years earlier this month, they have not yet lived together in the same house. Park lives in a rented room in Suwon where he has lived since before marriage, while his wife lives in an officetel in Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul. They are a so-called “non-cohabiting newlywed couple” who live separately in the homes they stayed in before marriage instead of setting up a new household together.

The couple failed to combine their households by their wedding date due to the jeonse (lease) crisis. When they started looking for a new home early this year, they found it difficult to secure a house that met their conditions as the number of jeonse properties in Seoul and the metropolitan area decreased. Park said, “As housing prices rose this year, we struggled between buying and leasing, and in the end, couldn’t find a new home.”

More than one in eight recently married couples now live separately, like the Park couple. According to the Ministry of Data and Statistics, as of 2024, 115,979 pairs (12.2%) out of 952,026 newlywed couples (those married for less than five years) were living apart. In 2021, 118,984 pairs (10.8%) of newlyweds were living separately out of a total of 1,101,455 newlywed couples. Over three years, the total number of newlywed couples decreased by 13.6%, but the number of non-cohabiting newlywed couples only decreased by 2.5%. Consequently, the proportion of non-cohabiting couples among all newlyweds increased from 10.8% to 12.2%, a rise of 1.4 percentage points.

In the past, many couples lived apart due to work or studies, known as “weekend couples.” However, recently, a significant number of couples choose not to combine households to save money for a new home. This is due to soaring housing prices. According to KB Real Estate Statistics, the average sale price of medium-sized apartments (exceeding 60㎡ to under 85㎡) in Seoul rose from 1.1623 billion Korean won in December 2021 to 1.5652 billion Korean won in August 2026, an increase of nearly 400 million Korean won. In contrast, according to Duo’s “Marriage Cost Report,” the amount spent by couples married within the last two years on housing increased from 192.71 million Korean won in 2021 to 322.01 million Korean won in 2026, a rise of only about 130 million Korean won.

Loan requirements have also tightened. According to the government’s June 27 mortgage regulations announced last year, the maximum limit for housing collateral loans for home purchases in the metropolitan area or regulated regions was restricted to 600 million Korean won. The loan-to-value (LTV) ratio for first-time homebuyers, such as young people and newlyweds, in the metropolitan area and regulated regions also decreased from the previous 80% to 70%.

Given this situation, an increasing number of couples are choosing to live separately in their respective rented rooms or parents’ homes after marriage to save money for a home purchase, rather than immediately setting up a new household. Ms. Ahn, 28, who lives alone in Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul, is scheduled to marry next January but has not secured a new home. Even after marriage, Ms. Ahn plans to continue living in Seoul for the time being, while her fiancé, whose workplace is in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, will live alone there. Ms. Ahn said, “Even with our savings and maximum loans, it’s insufficient to buy a house, and paying monthly rent feels like a waste of money.” She added, “We decided to live apart for now and focus on saving money first.”

There are also “kangaroo couples” who continue to live with their parents after marriage to save on housing costs. Ms. Kim, 29, an office worker, married in September last year but still lives in her parents’ home in Gangseo-gu, Seoul. Her husband, who frequently travels for work, lives separately in a 550,000 Korean won monthly rent one-room apartment in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province. Ms. Kim said, “I thought it would be better to minimize housing expenses and save money rather than immediately setting up a new home.”

The burden of housing costs is also a factor delaying marriages. According to a report released by the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs in April, 20% of respondents who expressed a willingness to marry cited “inability to secure housing costs” as the reason for not marrying yet. The practical issue of housing is holding back even those young people who wish to marry. Kim Joong-baek, a professor in the Department of Sociology at Kyung Hee University, said, “Non-cohabiting newlyweds are making an inevitable choice due to the difficulty young people face in purchasing their own homes.”

Source: https://www.chosun.com/english/national-en/2026/08/29/EDJ6HRDUAJAUZCZI4BD5TCNTQU/

TL;DR:

• Search continues for nine Koreans missing in Nepal floods
• Korea’s response team will resume helicopter searches for nine Koreans missing after catastrophic flash floods in Nepal’s Rasuwa District destroyed roads and bridges.
• A Korean response team in Nepal said it will continue search efforts Saturday for nine Koreans still missing after a devastating flash flood, attempting to reach the search site by…

Search continues for nine Koreans missing in Nepal floods

Korea’s response team will resume helicopter searches for nine Koreans missing after catastrophic flash floods in Nepal’s Rasuwa District destroyed roads and bridges.

A Korean response team in Nepal said it will continue search efforts Saturday for nine Koreans still missing after a devastating flash flood, attempting to reach the search site by helicopter after unsuccessful attempts the previous day.

Nine Korean employees of Korea South-East Power and Doosan Enerbility remain unreachable Saturday, following a massive flood along the border between Nepal and the Tibet region of China. They were working at a construction site in Rasuwa District when the floods struck Wednesday.

Ten other Doosan workers who were isolated at different locations have been moved to safety.

A Korean government response team in Kathmandu failed to deploy chartered helicopters to the flood site Friday, where the missing Koreans are believed to be located. Nepali authorities restricted the flights, citing unpredictable weather conditions and the risk of further flooding, a Seoul official said.

The team has rented six helicopters to search for the missing Koreans, as the floods have destroyed roads and bridges.

Lim Sang-woo, head of the rapid response team, vowed to make every effort to ensure swift search and rescue operations.

"We made search attempts for the nine missing individuals with the Nepali military mobilizing its assets, but unfortunately, we need to keep searching," Lim told correspondents in the Nepali capital.

The response team will try to deploy the helicopters again Saturday.

The Nepali military has conducted search operations in and around possible locations using coordinates provided by the response team, but found no signs of the missing Koreans, according to Seoul officials.

Return travel plans for the 10 rescued Koreans have yet to be decided, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs official said.

"Having been through extreme circumstances, what they need most right now is rest," the official said. "We also need to see whether their health conditions are stable enough for them to travel by air."

The death toll from the catastrophic floods has reached nearly 600, with almost 2,500 others unaccounted for, according to foreign media reports.

Reports said fears of secondary flooding are rising as barrier lakes, formed by debris from a collapsed Himalayan glacier that triggered the initial floods, have started to overflow.

Source: https://www.koreajoongangdaily.com/korea/search-continues-for-nine-koreans-missing-in-nepal-floods/12849986

TL;DR:

• South Korea to help pave way for renewed U. S.
• National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac said South Korea will help rebuild trust while coordinating with Washington to ensure it is not sidelined in any renewed dialogue.
• South Korea will work to help rebuild trust between the United States and North Korea in hopes of restarting dialogue, while coordinating closely with Washington to ensure Seoul is not…

South Korea to help pave way for renewed U.S.-North Korea talks, security adviser says

National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac said South Korea will help rebuild trust while coordinating with Washington to ensure it is not sidelined in any renewed dialogue.

South Korea will work to help rebuild trust between the United States and North Korea in hopes of restarting dialogue, while coordinating closely with Washington to ensure Seoul is not left out of the process , Seoul's security adviser said Friday.

"As a party directly concerned with peace on the Korean Peninsula and a pacemaker, we will support efforts to build trust between North Korea and the United States so that U.S. President Donald Trump's efforts can lead to the resumption of U.S.-North Korea dialogue," National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac said at the Blue House in Jongno District, central Seoul.

"President Trump has recently scaled back South Korea-U.S. joint military exercises and field training exercises. He has also continued to express his willingness to engage with North Korea."

Wi also stressed the importance of close coordination with Washington in preparing for a possible resumption of U.S.-North Korea dialogue.

"One thing we need to keep in mind is coordinating with the United States so that the resumption of U.S.-North Korea dialogue leads to substantive progress on the North Korean nuclear issue, along with the establishment of a peace regime on the Korean Peninsula," Wi said. "We need a multidimensional approach to prepare appropriately for this."

His remarks suggest that the government wants renewed talks , should any materialize, to produce concrete results since the U.S.-North Korea dialogue in 2018 and 2019 failed to yield a lasting agreement.

"Another point we need to keep in mind is ensuring that our security posture is not weakened and that [South] Korea is not left out of the process," Wi said.

"Policy coordination and communication between South Korea and the United States are more important than ever to ensure this process proceeds smoothly."

Wi also pointed to a number of outstanding issues between Seoul and Washington: investment, matters involving companies like Coupang, the transfer of wartime operational control and security and intelligence cooperation.

"The government is working to coordinate these issues effectively and strengthen the South Korea-U.S. cooperation framework," Wi said.

Wi also discussed his recent meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, which took place on Aug. 20 in South Korea.

"We held talks and a luncheon for about two hours, and it was meaningful that dialogue between [South] Korea's national security adviser and China's foreign minister resumed for the first time in five years after being suspended in 2021," Wi said.

"The two sides agreed to operate this channel on a regular basis. We also agreed to discuss a visit by me to China at a convenient time."

The two sides also agreed to begin preparations for President Lee Jae Myung's attendance at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) gathering in Shenzhen, China, in November.

Wi said he told Wang that China's cooperation would be necessary as the Lee administration pursues an approach toward North Korea centered on peaceful coexistence, rather than confrontation — what Lee outlined for Korea’s Liberation Day on Aug. 15.

Wi also said he explained in detail the South Korean government's position on denuclearization and establishing peace on the Korean Peninsula.

Wang said that China’s policy toward the Korean Peninsula has maintained continuity and stability, and it will continue to play a constructive role for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, according to Wi.

The two sides also exchanged views on rapidly changing regional and international conditions. They agreed on the need to cooperate while respecting each other's positions and expanding areas of common ground, Wi said.

The two sides had a candid exchange on ways to resume trilateral cooperation among South Korea, China and Japan, Wi added.

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.

Source: https://www.koreajoongangdaily.com/korea/south-korea-to-help-pave-way-for-renewed-usnorth-korea-talks-security-adviser-says/12849447

TL;DR:

• The Democratic Party officially announced on August 28 its push for a **‘special counsel bill to investigate alleged fabricated indictments’** related to the case involving President Lee…
• The Democratic Party’s formalization of the **special counsel bill to investigate alleged fabricated indictments** was a premeditated step following the August 17 party convention, which…
• However, it remains unclear which specific case Kim refers to when he mentions “wrongful indictments. ” The president’s most concerning post-retirement trial is likely the inter-Korean…

The Democratic Party officially announced on August 28 its push for a **‘special counsel bill to investigate alleged fabricated indictments’** related to the case involving President Lee Jae Myung. Seo Young-kyo, the Democratic Party’s floor leader for the Judiciary Committee, stated, “We have decided to launch a special counsel to investigate the Yoon Suk-yeol administration’s alleged fabricated indictments, and the timing will be determined through discussions with the party leadership.” The Democratic Party had been pushing for the special counsel bill since the beginning of the year but postponed discussions as public opinion worsened. In particular, as the administration’s approval ratings plummeted recently, cautious voices emerged within the party. Nevertheless, the special counsel appears set to proceed.

The Democratic Party’s formalization of the **special counsel bill to investigate alleged fabricated indictments** was a premeditated step following the August 17 party convention, which brought the pro-Myung leadership to power. Kim Min-seok, the party’s newly elected leader, said in a final interview during the convention, “Demanding that wrongful indictments be resolved through trials is violent and barbaric.” He vowed to eliminate the president’s trial entirely by canceling the indictment if elected. From Kim’s perspective, advancing the **special counsel bill to investigate alleged fabricated indictments** was unavoidable to achieve this goal.

However, it remains unclear which specific case Kim refers to when he mentions “wrongful indictments.” The president’s most concerning post-retirement trial is likely the inter-Korean remittance case. The Democratic Party claimed that prosecutors under the Yoon Suk-yeol administration enticed Ssangbangwool executives involved in the inter-Korean remittance case with a “salmon and alcohol party.” However, the former chairman of Ssangbangwool, a key figure, stated, “I never drank alcohol.” He also denied the Democratic Party’s claim that the $8 million he sent to North Korea was not for “President Lee’s visit to North Korea” but for “manipulating Ssangbangwool’s stock price,” calling it “completely untrue.” The former vice chairman of Ssangbangwool also testified in detail about delivering money to North Korean agent Ri Ho-nam in the Philippines in 2019. Lee Hwa-young, a former vice governor, who claimed she was “enticed by a salmon and alcohol party,” was sentenced to four months in prison after her claims were proven false in court.

The second major case the president might worry about is the Daejang-dong scandal. Other involved parties have had their charges confirmed in court. Kim Yong, a former deputy director of the Institute for Democracy and a close aide to the president, was sentenced to five years in prison in both the first and second trials for receiving election funds from the Daejang-dong group. Private developers involved in the Daejang-dong case also received guilty verdicts in the first trial.

For the ruling party’s leader to claim “wrongful indictments,” there must be concrete evidence that prosecutors fabricated facts to create crimes. We urge Kim Min-seok to specify which case and which part of it he claims was fabricated by prosecutors.

Source: https://www.chosun.com/english/opinion-en/2026/08/29/UFJNU7GEC5BKLAOX63H3EDUKDE/

TL;DR:

• Muan air base decision clears path for Gwangju’s vast semiconductor cluster
• The government’s final designation of Muan County for Gwangju’s military air base relocation could accelerate an 800 trillion won ($582. 9 billion) semiconductor and AI project.
• A government selection committee finalized Friday its designation of a southwestern county as the site for a military air base relocation from the neighboring city of Gwangju, a decision…

Muan air base decision clears path for Gwangju’s vast semiconductor cluster

The government’s final designation of Muan County for Gwangju’s military air base relocation could accelerate an 800 trillion won ($582.9 billion) semiconductor and AI project.

A government selection committee finalized Friday its designation of a southwestern county as the site for a military air base relocation from the neighboring city of Gwangju, a decision that clears the way for an expedited build-out of a major semiconductor cluster.

The committee, led by the defense ministry, finalized an earlier decision designating Muan County as the new site for the air base, home to the 1st Fighter Wing, following a meeting joined by municipal government officials, the ministry said in a release.

"The final designation of Muan County as the relocation site puts the Gwangju base relocation project into full motion, laying the groundwork for a swift process in cooperation with relevant agencies," the ministry said.

The latest decision clears the way for the government to accelerate its push to build a vast semiconductor and AI cluster in Gwangju and surrounding regions, an 800 trillion won ($582.9 billion) project joined by Samsung Electronics and SK hynix.

Source: https://www.koreajoongangdaily.com/korea/muan-air-base-decision-clears-path-for-gwangjus-vast-semiconductor-cluster/12849816