Jan 29, 2026 PM EST - Hannah
Former First Lady Kim Keon-hee acquitted of stock manipulation and opinion rigging but sentenced to prison for accepting luxury gifts in a split verdict that has divided South Korean politics and raised questions about judicial fairness.
Jan 29, 2026 AM EST - Hannah
UN Command issues unprecedented warning against South Korea's proposed DMZ Act, calling it a violation of the Armistice Agreement and signaling deepening tensions between the Lee Jae-myung government and Washington over regional security and alliance commitments.
Jan 28, 2026 PM EST - Hannah
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung faces mounting pressure from Trump's 25% tariff threats and unprecedented defiance from his own officials, signaling an early "lame duck" crisis that threatens both his domestic authority and international standing.
Jan 28, 2026 PM EST - Hannah
U.S. legal figures demand DOJ investigation into South Korea's A-WEB and National Election Commission over allegations of facilitating global election fraud through exported voting systems to multiple nations including Iraq, Philippines, and Ecuador.
Jan 27, 2026 PM EST - Hannah
University student Lee Sa-ya confronts South Korean Deputy Prime Minister Kim Min-seok over government policy facilitating public access to North Korea's state newspaper Rodong Sinmun, sparking national debate about constitutional principles and whether such actions constitute "acts benefiting the enemy." The incident highlights growing concerns among young citizens about the Lee Jae-myung administration's adherence to South Korea's liberal democratic constitutional order and its approach to North Korean propaganda materials.
Jan 27, 2026 PM EST - Hannah
Trump administration threatens 15-25% tariffs on South Korean exports including automobiles and pharmaceuticals over delayed trade agreement ratification and alleged discrimination against U.S. company Coupang, escalating tensions between Washington and Seoul. The dispute encompasses broader concerns about South Korea's $350 billion investment commitment, religious freedom issues, and strategic alignment with U.S. foreign policy priorities.
Jan 26, 2026 PM EST - Hannah
Independent street surveys across South Korea show disapproval rates for President Lee Jae-myung ranging from 48% to 90% in various regions, contradicting official polls claiming 60% approval and raising allegations of systematic polling manipulation. Citizens cite economic failures including the Coupang controversy, currency instability, and small business collapse as key drivers of discontent, with activists pointing to phone-based polling methods as vulnerable to organized manipulation.
Jan 26, 2026 PM EST - Hannah
US tech leaders and investors, including Joe Lonsdale and David Sacks, have issued stern warnings to South Korean President Lee Jae-myung over his government's targeting of Coupang and imprisonment of Pastor Son Hyun-bo, with concerns that his policies favor Chinese competitors and threaten religious freedom. The escalating tensions could lead to trade sanctions and a major diplomatic rift between the US and South Korea as Trump administration officials view these issues as tests of Seoul's commitment to democratic values.
Jan 25, 2026 PM EST - Hannah
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung faces international condemnation after calling religious political participation "armed rebellion" and proposing Japan-style dissolution measures for churches, with Pastor Son Hyun-bo detained since September 2025 and President Trump confronting Lee over "vicious raids on churches" during their August 2025 White House meeting. The crackdown has drawn comparisons to Chinese Communist Party tactics, with former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and House Speaker Newt Gingrich warning the assault on religious liberty betrays South Korea's democratic principles.
Jan 25, 2026 PM EST - Hannah
South Korea's KOSPI index broke 5,000 for the first time in January 2026, driven by Samsung and SK Hynix's AI chip dominance, but critics argue President Lee's government overstates its role as the broader economy contracts and youth unemployment reaches record levels.
Nov 12, 2025 PM EST - Hannah
Chinese tourists marched through Seoul's Hangang Park in military-style camouflage uniforms in a coordinated display that shocked South Koreans and sparked intense backlash, with critics calling the October 31 incident inappropriate and disrespectful in another country's public space.
Oct 06, 2025 PM EDT - Jason
The governments of South Korea and the United States have reportedly reached a "rough" security agreement ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju, signaling a strengthened defense partnership. Still, pivotal terms of South Korea's massive, multi-billion-dollar investment pledge, especially the push for a ceiling on U.S. tariffs, have yet to be finalized. The overall economic alignment between the two nations is deeply shadowed by this drawn-out uncertainty.
Oct 03, 2025 PM EDT - Jason
Korea's benchmark KOSPI has climbed to fresh records this year, with gains approaching the high-40 percent range from January. The rally has been led by semiconductors and large-cap exporters that benefit from the AI hardware cycle and a still-supportive external backdrop. Turnover has widened beyond a handful of names, and the run has revived a long-running question in Seoul's markets: is the "Korea discount" finally fading
Oct 03, 2025 PM EDT - Jason
President Lee Jae-myung has instructed police and relevant ministries to take vigorous action against anti-Chinese and broader anti-foreigner rallies that cross legal lines, arguing that the scenes circulating online are beginning to harm Korea's international reputation. The order asks agencies to coordinate faster on-site responses where intimidation, harassment or incitement are alleged, and to publish clearer guidance so that both organizers and officers understand the thresholds that will trigger intervention. Tourism and culture authorities have been told
Oct 03, 2025 PM EDT - Jason
South Korea has blown past its landmark goal of hosting 300,000 international students, reaching 305,329 as of August 2025-two years earlier than planned, according to fresh counts from the Korea Immigration Service summarized by multiple industry monitors. Roughly 225,769 are enrolled in degree programs on D-2 visas, while about 79,500 are studying Korean on D-4-1 visas, with a small cohort on other training visas. The milestone effectively hits the Education Ministry's "Study Korea 300K" blueprint-220,000 degree students plus 80,000 in non-degree
Jan 28, 2026 PM EST - Hannah
Jan 27, 2026 PM EST - Hannah
Jan 25, 2026 PM EST - Hannah
Korea - Dec 31, 1969 PM EST - Hannah
K-WAVE - Dec 31, 1969 PM EST - Hannah
K-WAVE - Dec 31, 1969 PM EST - Hannah
K-WAVE - Dec 31, 1969 PM EST - Hannah
