Ukraine Can’t Join NATO.

• Donald Trump (U.S. President) said this. He pressured Volodymyr Zelensky (Ukraine President), stating, “You can’t get Crimea back, and NATO membership is off the table.”
• Ukraine interprets this as Trump effectively demanding surrender. The Financial Times remarked, “Zelensky has entered the lion’s den.”
• “Trump has succumbed to Putin’s allure. European leaders must steer Trump away from the dangerous path laid by Putin.”
• Zelensky drew a line, suggesting, “Let’s discuss sensitive issues like territory in a trilateral summit.”
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Coalition of the Willing.

• A gathering of the UK, France, and others to support Zelensky.
• It’s rare in diplomatic history for major leaders to adjust their schedules and mobilize within two days.
• Keir Starmer (UK Prime Minister), Emmanuel Macron (French President), Friedrich Merz (German Chancellor), Giorgia Meloni (Italian Prime Minister), Alexander Stubb (Finnish President), Ursula von der Leyen (European Commission President), and Mark Rutte (NATO Secretary General) convened.
• The New York Times analyzed, “Putin’s goal goes beyond occupying parts of Ukrainian territory; it aims to divide NATO and separate the U.S. from its European allies.”
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‘Coalition of the Willing’.

• The Wall Street Journal analyzed, “The best scenario the European Union hopes for is a so-called ‘Korean-style conclusion,’ where the current front line is fixed and European troops are dispatched to deter renewed conflict.”
• “It’s similar to the end of the Korean War in 1953. The Korean Peninsula was divided, but thanks to the U.S. military presence, South Korea could be protected. For Putin, such a Korean-style scenario could be recorded as a historical defeat.”
• There is also a second scenario where Ukraine loses its sovereignty and becomes a protectorate of Russia.
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The U.S. Ambassador is Kang Kyung-wha.

• According to Yonhap News. A government official stated, “Kang Kyung-wha (former Minister of Foreign Affairs) is being strongly considered for the U.S. ambassador position.” It’s noted that nothing is finalized yet.
• Cho Hyun (Minister of Foreign Affairs) was asked if there are any places undergoing the agrément (host country’s approval) process and replied, “There are some.”
• The ambassador to Japan has been designated as Lee Hyuk (former Ambassador to Vietnam).

What Matters Now.

“Too Many Lies”.

• This is what a special prosecutor investigating Kim Geon-hee said. “Every word was a lie,” they claim.
• She insists she doesn’t remember the stock manipulation details.
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Broadcasting and Grain Management Laws Rejected by Yoon Enacted.

• These are the bills that passed the 21st National Assembly but were vetoed by Yoon Seok-yeol (then President) and discarded.
• Yesterday, the Cabinet meeting approved the promulgation of 15 laws.
• With the amendment to the Broadcasting Act, the KBS board will be reconstituted within three months. A National Recommendation Committee for appointing the head of public broadcasting will also be established. It will consist of over 100 members representing gender, age, and regional distribution. If they recommend up to three candidates, the board will propose appointments.

Chung’s Pardon Fallout, Lee Jae-myung’s Approval at 51.1%.

• According to a Realmeter survey. Down 12.2 percentage points from two weeks ago.
• Notable drop in the capital region, centrists, and those in their 20s.
• The pardon of Cho Kuk (former leader of the Cho Kuk Innovation Party) was decisive. The Korea Times analyzed, “Jeong Cheong-rae’s (Democratic Party leader) harsh messages also had a negative impact.”
• Party support: Democratic Party at 39.9%, People Power Party at 36.7%. The gap has narrowed. Down 8.5 percentage points and up 6.4 percentage points, respectively.
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Steel Tariff Shock.

• America has decided to impose a 50% tariff on 407 items, including steel and aluminum. It’s being called a tariff bomb. Exports worth $11.9 billion will be affected.
• Steel companies, which traded at 0% tariffs since the launch of the Korea-US FTA, were already paying a mutual tariff of 15%, and now face an additional 50% on steel and aluminum.
• When exporting a machine worth 100 million won, the importer would pay 15 million won in mutual tariffs. If the steel and aluminum cost 10 million won, an extra 5 million won is added. The actual tariff becomes 18.5 million won, combining 50% of the 10 million won and 15% of the remaining 90 million won.
• There is a possibility that more items will be added.

Deep Dive.

Counterproposal on Yellow Envelope Law.

• The Korea Employers Federation (KEF) has proposed its final concession. They will accept limits on damages if the recognition of subcontractor workers’ bargaining rights is excluded. They also requested at least a one-year grace period. The Dong-A Ilbo editorial pointed out, “If the bill passes, conflicts may intensify between subcontract workers demanding negotiations and primary contractors unsure whether to comply until the court decides on ‘actual control relationships’.” Concerns about year-round labor negotiations and foreign companies avoiding the Korean market are exaggerated or overblown. If there’s no actual control relationship, there’s no obligation to negotiate. Ensuring collective bargaining before strikes could actually reduce strikes. There’s also hope that reckless outsourcing and subcontracting will decrease.
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Another Take.

“I No Longer Want to Work in Firefighting.”.

• These are the words of Kim, a rescue worker deployed to the Itaewon disaster site. A former special forces soldier, he prided himself on his mental strength, but he couldn’t overcome the memories of that day.
• “I can’t erase the memory of moving 80 to 90 bodies. It was incredibly tough.”
• He took a year-long leave, returned to work, then took another three-month leave before deciding to resign on his first day back.
• 1,316 firefighters deployed to the Itaewon disaster site received trauma treatment.
• 38% responded, “I have nightmares or try not to think about it, but the experience of that day comes back to me.”
• Kim Jong-su (Head of the Seoul Fire Department Union) said, “There’s a culture of not talking about trauma,” adding, “The disaster was so overwhelming that firefighters couldn’t talk about their pain, and beyond initial measures, there was no additional management from headquarters.”
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The Importance of the Anti-Discrimination Law.

• These are the words of Won Min-kyung (Minister of Gender Equality and Family nominee).
• This stance differs from Kim Min-seok (Prime Minister), who mentioned “there are desperate voices of opposition,” and Kang Sun-woo (former Minister of Gender Equality and Family nominee), who said “national consensus should come first.”
• She also supports the non-consensual rape law. She stated, “I understand it as a discussion to eliminate blind spots where victims exist but perpetrators cannot be punished, and to view the criteria for judging sexual violence from a fundamental rights perspective,” adding, “I will strive to create a forum for public discussion to find the best solution by discussing various opinions.”
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41% of Youths Giving Up Job Search Are College Graduates.

• Among 420,000 youths who ‘took a break,’ 170,000 are college graduates. This is the largest number ever recorded.
• The job vacancy ratio has decreased to 0.40. This means there are 0.4 jobs for every job seeker. Of the 140,000 job postings in the first half of this year, 82% were for experienced positions.
• According to the Korea Economic Research Institute, the economic cost of youths ‘taking a break’ over five years amounts to 45 trillion won.
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“End the War”: 10% of Israel’s Population Takes to the Streets.

• Last weekend, a million people took to the streets.
• Criticism is mounting that Benjamin Netanyahu (Israeli Prime Minister) is delaying the end of the war to extend his rule.
• Netanyahu estimates it will take at least four months to drive Hamas out of Gaza City and even longer to occupy the entire Gaza Strip. This means he won’t stop until then.

No Handshake Between Jeong Cheong-rae and Song Eon-seok.

• They met at the 16th memorial service for Kim Dae-jung (former President). Sat side by side, but no conversation. When Song Eon-seok (People Power Party Emergency Committee Chair) remarked, “The ruling party doesn’t recognize the opposition as a dialogue partner but as something to be eradicated,” and noted, “Kim Dae-jung’s politics of inclusion and tolerance are gaining attention,” a shout of “Just go get investigated” erupted.

The Fix.

Dignified Death: The Need for More Hospices.

• In the UK, there are 2,100 beds across 220 hospice-related institutions. They provide medical services to alleviate mental and physical suffering, such as pain management and medication administration.
• They are said to play a role in providing a “dignified death” that allows patients to live as themselves until the end.
• Annual users reach 310,000. It is entirely free, with operating costs covered by donations and charitable activities.
• The Dong-A Ilbo emphasized, “It’s important to know that there are various options for death through a culture of actively discussing what constitutes a ‘dignified death’ in advance.”
• Related Link.

In-Kind Welfare: 9.24 Million Won Per Household.

• The total amount of health insurance, free childcare, and free education is termed social in-kind transfers.
• In education and healthcare, the government supports 13% of household income.
• According to Statistics Korea, in-kind welfare reduces the relative poverty rate by 4.3 percentage points.

Health Insurance Reserves to Run Dry by 2030.

• It will turn into a deficit starting next year.
• Health insurance medical expenses increased from 87 trillion won in 2020 to 116 trillion won last year.
• In the long run, a premium hike is inevitable. The National Planning Committee recommended maintaining the government support ratio. Regulations allow for up to 20% support from the state treasury, but the actual support ratio is around 13-14%.
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Power Grid Woes: Wasting Electricity for 18 Million People.

• Renewable energy is being wasted. In the first half of this year, 72.3GWh of renewable energy was discarded due to output control.
• Solar and wind power are increasing, but the lack of transmission networks prevents their operation.

The Coolest Summer of Our Lives.

• It’s an era when bananas grow in Seoul without greenhouses. Farms cultivating subtropical crops like mangoes and papayas are increasing.
• Yellowtail, once caught in the South Sea, is now reaching Ulleungdo. Pollock and squid have vanished. Last month, a massive catch of bluefin tuna occurred off the coast of Yeongdeok, Gyeongbuk. The average surface temperature of the Gangwon coastal waters has risen by 1.1 degrees over 20 years.
• Last winter, 97% of farmed sea squirts in the South Sea perished. Suffocated, they burst and dissolved. In Yeonpyeongdo, the blue crab catch has dropped by 90%.
• Billions of honeybees die annually in Korea. While mites and malnutrition are causes, the root is climate change.
• There are predictions that apples will disappear from Korea by 2070. In Gangwon, highland cabbages are rotting, becoming unsellable. At this rate, cabbages will vanish by 2090.
• This spring, wildfires in Gyeongbuk and Gyeongnam erased forests equivalent to 80% of Seoul’s area. Wildfires are becoming more frequent and severe.
• Rainfall once in a century has been surpassed by once in two centuries. Heatwaves are breaking records since observations began. Greater disasters repeat.
• Electricity consumption breaks records annually. As of 2023, Korea’s renewable energy ratio is about 2.3%.
• Atmospheric CO2 levels have soared to 419 PPM this year. It’s the highest in 800,000 years of recorded history. The Earth is heating, glaciers are melting, and sea levels are rising.
• What is clear is that tomorrow will be much worse than today. The joke about “the coolest summer of our lives” no longer sounds funny in this terrifying summer.
• This is why we must care about the 2035 carbon reduction targets.
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Reviving the Climate Citizens’ Assembly.

• The Carbon Neutral Green Growth Commission will launch the Climate Citizens’ Assembly early next year. It was initially started as the Carbon Neutral Citizens’ Assembly under the Moon Jae-in administration but was dismantled by the Yoon Suk-yeol government.
• During the Moon administration, a project involving 500 citizens aged 15 and over was promoted, though it faced criticism as “citizen mobilization, not participation.”
• Yoon Se-jong (Plan 1.5 CEO) stated, “It will only be meaningful if transparency is increased through the disclosure of data used in setting greenhouse gas reduction targets, and if the representation of those involved in the assembly is ensured.”
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ICYMI.

882 Fan Letters for Yoon Seok-yeol.

• These are letters received over 23 days since his detention.
• During the same period, all 3,249 inmates at Seoul Detention Center received a total of 19,655 letters.
• There have also been numerous protest calls and faxes demanding an air conditioner be installed in Yoon’s solitary cell.
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K-Defense Industry’s 103 Trillion Won Backlog.

• Hanwha Aerospace, LIG Nex1, Hyundai Rotem, and Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) have secured work for over four years.
• The backlog more than doubled from 42 trillion won at the end of 2021.
• Global demand for weapons has increased, but precise delivery and cost-effectiveness are driving popularity.
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Electric Scooter Battery Caused Fire.

• Seoul’s Changcheon-dong fire may have been caused by a lithium-ion battery explosion.
• There have been 678 lithium-ion battery fires over five years, with 70% occurring during electric scooter charging.
• Some argue for banning indoor charging of electric two-wheeler batteries. It’s advised to charge only up to 50% for city rides for safety.
• Related Link.

AI’s Contribution to GDP: 1% Point.

• 64% responded they have “used it at least once,” while 52% said they “use it for work.”
• Work hours decreased by an average of 3.8%.
• The Bank of Korea estimated that 1.0 percentage point of Korea’s GDP growth rate since the launch of ChatGPT can be attributed to AI’s potential contribution.
• Related Link.

Worth Reading.

Fandom Politics Didn’t Ruin Politics.

• It’s the other way around. Park Sang-hoon (Political Scientist) believes, “Politics deteriorated, leading to the rise of fandom power.”
• Often misunderstood as ‘daughter fandom,’ the core of fandom politics is older men. 85% of comments on political articles are from men. Many People Power Party supporters are over 60, while Democratic Party supporters are often in their 50s.
• The analysis that “they act not out of preference but through methods of hatred” or “gain presence when they brand others like watermelons and impose fear” is intriguing.
• Park Sang-hoon predicts, “Korean politics and fandom politics are aging,” and sees “no future for fandom politics.”
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Boldly, Flexibly, Firmly.

• This is the advice from Lee Dae-geun (Kyunghyang Shinmun columnist) to Lee Jae-myung ahead of his meeting with Trump.
• First, boldly: Accept the reduction of US troops in Korea and reclaim wartime operational control.
• Second, flexibly: Embrace the modernization of the alliance with flexibility. If the US wants to redeploy troops, let them, but minimize security impacts.
• Third, firmly: Do not accept the US demand to make China a common enemy. We must not entrust our fate to the US.
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Our Nation Must Stand Taller.

• This is advice from Kim Hee-won (Director of News Standards at Hankook Ilbo).
• In Kim Hee-won’s view, Cho Kuk has never truly reflected. His apologies were more of a “sorry but not sorry” nature. In an interview with Hankyoreh, all he said was, “I cannot agree with the court’s factual judgment and legal principles, but I accept the verdict.”
• Kim Hee-won advises, “One cannot claim innocence through suffering,” and hopes that Cho will not remain a “victim slaughtered by the prosecution” if he aims for greater politics. To end controversy and division and return as a confident politician, he must “acknowledge without evasion the fabrication of his daughter’s internship certificate, the dubious scholarship, and the halting of misconduct inspections.” The courage to sincerely reflect will become a political asset, he advises.
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