Over 300 Koreans Arrested at U.S. Hyundai Plant.

• They were accused of holding visas inconsistent with their stay purpose. On the 4th local time, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) raided the site with armored vehicles and helicopters.
• At the Georgia battery plant jointly operated by Hyundai Motor and LG Energy Solution, 450 people were arrested—over 300 of them Korean.
• It’s the largest operation under Trump’s second term and the biggest single-site raid in history.
• Donald Trump (U.S. President) said, “They are illegal immigrants, and ICE is just doing its job.”
• According to Axios, the detained Koreans were working on short-term business visas or ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization).
• The Washington Post noted, “Hyundai and LG are leading the $35 billion investment promised by the South Korean government—this raid raises concerns.”
• Major U.S. outlets heavily covered the incident, with apprehension that the Biden administration’s crackdown might strain investment negotiations with Seoul.
• The Georgia plant is part of Hyundai’s $26 billion U.S. investment package.
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Workers Sent to Work Labeled as Illegal Residents.

• ICE’s warrant listed four names of undocumented immigrants from Central and South America. Analysts suggest the raid may have specifically targeted Korean workers.
• Min Jung-hoon (professor at the National Diplomatic Academy) said, “I estimate they were tracked for a long time and resorted to extreme measures to achieve results.”
• The whistleblower is likely Tory Branum (U.S. Republican Party member). In an interview with Rolling Stone, he said, “I voted for Trump to deport illegal immigrants,” adding, “What I wanted is happening now.” A former Marine and firearms instructor, he is eyeing a Georgia state legislature seat next year.
• In an interview with Yonhap News, Branum claimed, “The U.S. government gave Korean companies $32 million in tax benefits, but they did not hire Georgia residents.”
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Grown Knowingly.

• Hankook Ilbo pointed out, “A visa risk cultivated knowingly.” The tone suggests Korean companies share responsibility for failing to secure work visas during the 6 trillion won project.
• A major conglomerate official said, “Building new production lines with only local workers is practically impossible,” adding, “Formal visas would not align with project timelines, leaving no choice but to rely on ESTA and similar programs.”
• Kyeongyang Shinmun interpreted this as “pressure to hire more Americans.”
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Subcontractors Left Without Visas.

• Structural issues also exist. Many of the detained Korean workers were employed by subcontractors.
• To work legally in the U.S., visas like E1 (managerial transferee), E2 (investor employee), or L1 (intracompany transferee) are required—but these are rarely granted to non-Hyundai or non-conglomerate affiliates.

“Money Can Come, But People Need Not.”.

• There are three reasons why Koreans went to build factories only to become undocumented residents.
• First, there was no one to work immediately. Semiconductor yields depend on skill levels. Skilled workers are hard to hire, and many skip work without notice—especially during events like the Super Bowl. A corporate official interviewed by Dong-A Ilbo said, “Unlike in Korea, loyalty to the company is relatively weak.” To fast-track initial setup, bringing skilled workers from Korea was the best option.
• Second, work visas were rarely approved. The U.S. government caps H-1B visas for skilled workers at 85,000 per year. A conglomerate official said, “Even for a single meeting, they demand a business visa—but rarely grant it.”
• Third, there may have been deliberate targeting. Trump insists that Korean companies hiring Americans is a condition for building U.S. factories.
• A union official said, “It’s problematic that unauthorized workers are taking our jobs.”
• A government official interviewed by Hankook Ilbo said, “It’s hard to rule out the possibility that Trump’s crackdown aimed to showcase deportation achievements.”
• Chosun Ilbo analyzed, “There’s also a political dimension—checking Biden-era investments and the EV industry.”
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South Korea Spent $5.5 Million on Lobbying Over a Decade.

• The South Korean government has long lobbied the U.S. government and Congress to secure a dedicated visa quota for Korean nationals. Over 10 years, it spent $5.5 million on lobbying groups.
• The workers now labeled as undocumented entered the U.S. on short-term visas like ESTA (90-day stay), B1 (business), or B2 (tourism), which allow stays of 3–6 months. This became standard practice after years without issue.
• Temporary work visas—H-1B (specialty occupations), H-2A (agricultural), H-2B (non-agricultural), and H-3 (training)—are rarely granted to Koreans, with H-1B approval rates below 10%.
• While Australia and Singapore, both U.S. FTA partners, secured separate quotas (15,500 and 5,400 visas respectively), South Korea has none.

Voluntary Departure, Charter Flights Arranged.

• The Presidential Office announced a negotiated resolution.
• Kang Hoon-sik (Chief of Staff to the President) stated, “An agreement was reached for voluntary departure and return to Korea.” Administrative procedures remain pending.
• Plans are to deploy a charter flight as early as this week.
• Voluntary departure leaves no deportation record, avoiding penalties.
• There is no entry ban period, allowing re-entry to the U.S. at any time.
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Blindsided.

• Newspapers frame the story differently. Kyunghyang Shinmun headlined, “Investment lure followed by a backhand.”
• Chosun Ilbo’s front-page lead reads, “300 Chained and Arrested, Expelled from the U.S.”
• JoongAng Ilbo states, “300 Koreans Detained in U.S. Released.”
• In an editorial, The Hankyoreh noted, “Even if it was an unavoidable practice, this should be an opportunity to eliminate illegal elements.”
• “A solution should be prepared to allow temporary employment specifically for factory construction,” it argued.
• The Georgia incident is also tied to tariff negotiations. Details of the $350 billion investment deal remain unresolved, and executive orders on auto tariffs are unsigned.
• While the Korean government must resist proceeding with U.S. investments under these conditions, auto tariffs are an urgent priority.
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What Matters Now.

Japan’s Auto Tariff: 15%, South Korea’s: 25%.

• Japan has signed the agreement, while South Korea has not.
• South Korea can only receive the 15% rate after Trump’s approval and signature.
• Originally, South Korea had 0% and Japan 2.5%, but from April, both raised to 25% and 27.5%, respectively—with Japan lowering its rate first.
• Auto exports to the U.S. have already dropped 15% through July this year.
• Currently, Hyundai’s Avante—$200 cheaper than Toyota’s Corolla—would become $2,000 more expensive if the tariff rates invert.
• Analysts estimate that if tariff negotiations are delayed, Hyundai Motor and Kia would face an additional monthly burden of 500 billion won.
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Japan Got Rooked.

• In July’s tariff negotiations, Japan agreed to invest $550 billion in the U.S.—a vague verbal promise that’s now been formalized in writing. The terms are almost exactly as Trump demanded, leaving Japan at a severe disadvantage.
• The agreement includes a clause allowing the U.S. to reinstate tariffs if the investments aren’t fulfilled. Howard Lutnick (U.S. Secretary of Commerce) emphasized, “These funds will go toward energy infrastructure, semiconductor manufacturing, critical mineral extraction, and shipbuilding,” adding, “Trump will direct this money ‘literally’ for America’s benefit.”
• South Korea is likely facing similar pressure.
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Ishiba’s Premiership Ends.

• Shigeru Ishiba (Japanese Prime Minister) has resigned. His tenure lasted 11 months.
• The decision follows losses of majority in both the House of Representatives and House of Councillors elections, compounded by accountability for soaring rice prices and failed tariff negotiations.
• Kojima Shinjiro (Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries) and Takaichi Sanae (former Minister of Economic Security) are leading candidates to succeed him. Unlike Ishiba, who took moderate stances on historical issues, both are classified as hardline conservatives.
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Prosecutors’ Office Splits: Serious Crimes Unit to Interior.

• After 78 years, the Prosecutors’ Office will be dismantled. D-Day is September 1, 2025.
• The prosecution will lose all investigative authority.
• Conflicts over prosecution reform plans have been resolved: the presidential office, government, and Democratic Party agreed in a party-government consultation to split the prosecution into a Public Prosecution Office and a Serious Crimes Investigation Agency (SCIA), moving the SCIA under the Ministry of the Interior and Safety.
• Justice Minister Jeong Seong-ho insisted the SCIA should remain under the Justice Ministry, but the presidential office appears to have accepted the Democratic Party’s request.
• A mammoth Ministry of the Interior and Safety will emerge, overseeing the National Police Agency, National Intelligence Service, and SCIA.
• The National Investigation Committee has been excluded—for now.
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Ministry of Economy and Finance → Reorganized as Finance and Economy Ministry + Planning and Budget Office.

• The Ministry of Economy and Finance will be split into the Ministry of Finance and Economy and the Planning and Budget Office. The intent is to weaken its power by separating budgetary functions.
• It’s viewed that the ministry has long wielded overwhelming authority—over budget formulation, tax systems, and economic policy—effectively acting as the “king of ministries.”
• The Planning and Budget Office will be placed under the Office for Government Policy Coordination.
• January 2nd next year is the deadline.
• The ministry is in disarray. Questions arise: can it maintain its role as a control tower without budget authority?
• An anonymous official from the ministry, interviewed by The Korea Times, said, “Economic policies gain momentum when budgets, tax systems, and macroeconomic policies work in harmony. If the minister has handled this role until now, the Presidential Office will have to do so from now on.”
• Chosun Ilbo pointed out, “If the Presidential Office gains budgetary authority, national debt could skyrocket.”
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Financial Services Commission and Financial Supervisory Service: A Split in Oversight.

• The Financial Services Commission will be split, with financial industry policy transferred to the Ministry of Finance and Economy, leaving only financial supervision under a restructured Financial Supervisory Commission.
• The Financial Supervisory Service will retain only financial supervision enforcement, while financial consumer protection will be separated to establish the Financial Consumer Protection Agency.

KCC to Become BCMC, Lee Jin-sook Automatically Dismissed.

• The Korea Communications Commission (KCC) will be abolished and replaced by the Broadcasting, Media, and Communications Commission (BCMC). It will expand by absorbing the Ministry of Science and ICT’s broadcast promotion policies and IPTV-cable TV licensing duties.
• The number of standing commissioners will be reduced from five to three, with a total of seven members including four non-standing commissioners.
• Lee Jin-sook (KCC Chairperson) will be automatically dismissed once the agency is dissolved.
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Climate, Environment, and Energy Ministry.

• The Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy’s energy policies will be transferred to and expanded under the Ministry of Environment. Nuclear export and resource sectors will remain with the industry ministry.
• The Hankyoreh criticized this as “losing the big picture,” arguing that the move represents a retreat from the original intent to restructure and expand the environment ministry to establish integrated climate and energy policies.
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Deep Dive.

Kim Byung-ki’s Son Controversy.

• Kim Byung-ki (Democratic Party floor leader)’s wife sparked controversy when she allegedly called the State Security Institute’s Planning and Coordination Director to request employment for their eldest son. She protested that her son had been unfairly rejected twice, and he was indeed accepted after the call. This was reported by MBC.
• The Hankyoreh criticized MBC’s report for omitting context. Kim Byung-ki, a former head of the State Security Institute’s personnel office, was dismissed during the Lee Myung-bak administration but later won a wrongful termination lawsuit. He claimed his son’s rejection was due to his identity as Kim Byung-ki’s son.
• Now, suspicions have emerged that Kim personally approached a university president to request a transfer admission for his second son, with local council members and aides also intervening. This was reported by Newstapa.
• Ultimately, the second son successfully transferred via a university-industry cooperation program at a small business, where the company covered over half of tuition fees. There are indications he may not have actually worked there, as he resigned before graduation.
• Kim Byung-ki has stated he will hold Newstapa legally accountable.
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Did the President’s Couple Host a Party on a Naval Vessel?

• There are allegations that Yoon Suk-yeol (former president) and his wife hosted a party with acquaintances on a naval vessel in August 2023.
• According to KBS, seven ships were mobilized, including the VIP lounge (port command vessel) and transport vessels. Kim Keon-hee (Yoon’s wife) and her acquaintances toured areas around Geoje Island’s Jedo and Jinhae for one hour and 30 minutes aboard the VIP lounge, escorted by a navy transport vessel.
• The special prosecution team determined that Kim Seong-hoon (then deputy chief of the Presidential Security Service) had planned the event and applied charges of abuse of authority.
• Claims also surfaced that a staff member who adjusted shower and sink water pressure accompanied Yoon during overseas trips.
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1.35 Million Homes Over Five Years.

• The September 7 measures followed the June 27 mortgage regulations, with LH (Korea Land and Housing Corporation) stepping in to directly build and supply apartments.
• LH had previously profited by selling public land to private developers and using the revenue to fund rental housing—a cross-subsidization model now being abandoned. The new direction is to retain publicly developed land instead of selling it to private entities.
• The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport plans to start construction on 60,000 public rental homes by 2030.

Can LH Handle This Alone?

• Hankook Ilbo noted, “Even for contracted private-sector participation projects, construction costs must rise to attract top-tier builders,” adding, “Cutting costs would only draw smaller firms, compromising housing quality.”
• Lee Eun-hyung (research fellow at the Korea Construction Policy Research Institute) remarked, “LH is effectively implementing the entire third-phase new town project directly,” and while praising the new approach, added, “Mass-producing affordable yet high-end apartments will be challenging.”
• Lee Chang-mu (professor at Hanyang University) warned, “LH lacks accumulated expertise in independent project execution, which could delay housing supply instead.”
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Tightening the Loan Screws.

• Gangnam’s three districts and Yongsan will lower the LTV (loan-to-value ratio) from 50% to 40%. Critics note that since the capital region’s collateral loan limit is 600 million won, apartments priced over 1.5 billion won won’t be affected.
• Single-homeowner jeonse loans will be capped at 200 million won.
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Another Take.

Rising Tenure, Shrinking New Hires.

• Barriers to entering large corporate regular positions have risen.
• Average tenure increased from 10.4 years in 2004 to 12.1 years last year.
• New hiring rates dropped from 9.6% to 6.5%.
• Large corporate regular workers account for 12% of all wage earners.
• Lim Young-tae (Head of the Korea Enterprises Federation’s Employment and Social Policy Division) noted, “The Korean labor market is divided into 12% of large corporate regular workers with strong protections and 88% of SME and non-regular workers with weaker safeguards,” adding, “Flexibility should be increased for large corporate regular workers while significantly strengthening social safety nets for SME and non-regular workers.”
• Lee Jae-myung (President) also once stated during a meeting with the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions and the Federation of Korean Trade Unions, “Let’s openly discuss labor market flexibility.”
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Women Earned 3.007 Million Won Less Annually.

• Results from comparing wages at 2,980 publicly reported companies. Last year, men earned 97.8 million won while women earned only 67.73 million won—a 31% gap.
• Korea has ranked first in the OECD for gender wage gaps for 28 consecutive years.
• While disparities between large corporations and SMEs are significant, so too are those between regular and non-regular workers. Large corporate regular male workers and SME non-regular female workers show a difference of over threefold.

Punitive Damages? Multiple Compensation.

• No Jong-myeon (Democratic Party lawmaker) urged precise terminology: it is not punitive but a bill to raise excessively low compensation amounts.
• The Democratic Party proposed an amendment to the Press Arbitration Act to penalize media outlets for false and fabricated reporting. If intent or gross negligence is confirmed, damages can be multiplied up to ten times the actual loss.
• Kang Jae-won (Dongguk University professor) noted, “Even simple errors could be deemed gross negligence and subject to liability.” Park Seong-woo (Woosong University professor) warned, “Power reporting will be severely stifled.”
• Choi Min-hee (Democratic Party lawmaker) argued, “In the U.S., over 90 billion won in punitive damages was awarded for false/fabricated reporting. That is truly punitive—what we’re introducing is closer to multiple compensation.”
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Media Criticizing Kim Eo-jun While Imitating Him.

• Weekly Kyunghyang deliberately analyzed the Kim Eo-jun phenomenon.
• Park Young-heum (Professor at Sungshin Women’s University) noted, “While mainstream media was not as partisan as Kim Eo-jun, it had significant partisan aspects,” adding, “Kim Eo-jun is the one who amplified and evolved this tendency.”
• Kim Eo-jun (host of News Factory) said:
• “Until proven otherwise, all inferences are essentially conspiracy theories, and in that sense, I am a conspiracy theorist. (Omitted) Especially when dealing with power, there is often no way to reach the substantive truth except through active inference. I believe journalism has a duty to actively infer.”
• Jeon Sang-jin (Professor at Sogang University) pointed out, “There are parts where the concerns and questions of socially marginalized groups are not resolved at a public level, and conspiracy theories fill that gap,” adding, “Conspiracy theories are more of a symptom.”
• Sim Seok-tae (Professor at Semyung University Graduate School of Journalism) countered:
• “When media infers, they establish a hypothesis for reporting and gather facts through investigation. Once facts reach a substantial and credible level, they report. However, Kim Eo-jun’s inferences already construct an entire worldview and produce conclusions.”
• Jeon Sang-jin remarked, “I don’t know the conditions for a good sociologist, but I know those of a bad one,” adding, “It’s someone who clearly frames the opposing side as the sole cause of all problems.” The same applies to journalism.
• Sim Seok-tae criticized mainstream media for “responding by imitating Kim Eo-jun and basking in his reflected glory,” noting, “This way, they can neither surpass Kim Eo-jun nor have any grounds to criticize him.”
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Kim Eo-jun: Beyond Reproach.

• According to Weekly Kyunghyang, 119 lawmakers appeared on Kim Eo-jun’s News Factory over the past year. Park Eun-jung (lawmaker of the Cho Kuk Reform Party) appeared most frequently, with 58 episodes. Out of 166 Democratic Party lawmakers, only 65 did not appear on the show. No People Power Party lawmakers appeared at all.
• Kim Min-ha (political commentator) pointed out, “The Democratic Party privately expresses concerns about Kim Eo-jun’s program but finds it difficult to publicly raise issues.”
• Weekly Kyunghyang analyzed that the Democratic Party has effectively handed over its leadership to Kim Eo-jun.
• One Democratic Party lawmaker criticized, “As the party has come to rely on Kim Eo-jun for messaging and agenda-setting, it has lost the ability to generate its own issues and instead follows his narrative flow.”
• Related Link.
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Cho Kuk Reform Party Leadership Resigns En Masse.

• Kim Sun-min (acting representative of the Cho Kuk Reform Party), Hwang Hyun-sun (secretary-general), Lee Kyu-won (vice secretary-general), Hwang Myung-pil (supreme council member), Lee Hae-min (supreme council member), and Cha Gyu-geun (supreme council member) all resigned. This followed the party’s inadequate response to a sexual misconduct scandal exposed by Kang Mi-jeong (Cho Kuk Reform Party spokesperson).
• Responsibility questions have also reached Cho Kuk (former party representative), who has drawn a line. On Facebook, he wrote, “As a non-party member, there was nothing I could do.” In a YouTube broadcast, he added, “When the scandal broke, wasn’t I still in prison? I was in no position to interfere in party affairs.”
• The JoongAng Ilbo called it “the biggest crisis three weeks after his release.” The Hankook Ilbo pointed out, “The structural limitation of a one-man party—where nothing functions without Cho Kuk—proved decisive.”
• The Hankyoreh framed the leadership resignations as “damage control for Cho Kuk,” criticizing the party for “promising moderate victim recovery while focusing on protecting Cho Kuk.”
• Cho Kang-wook (Democratic Party education director), who sparked controversy by dismissing the issue as “a petty squabble,” also resigned. He left a post saying, “I can only apologize repeatedly” and “I will reflect and remain silent.”
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The Fix.

Health Insurance Premium Hike: Just a Preview?

• Premiums rose slightly, but remain insufficient. At this rate, the National Health Insurance reserve fund will be depleted by 2033.
• The system has structural flaws. Doctors earn more by seeing more patients, so they maximize caseloads. South Korea’s healthcare accessibility is world-class—but so is overdiagnosis, with private insurance exacerbating the problem.
• Private insurance holders have more outpatient visits and longer hospital stays, driving up public health spending.
• Lee Wang-gu (Head of Social Policy at Hankook Ilbo) argues the 1989 health insurance framework needs overhaul. Balancing accessibility, cost, and quality may prove impossible. The hybrid system of public and private insurance also requires reform.
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Building Underground Reservoir Dams.

• Sometimes called underground water basins. Unlike surface dams, they cause no flooding and minimal environmental damage. The key is identifying aquifers where groundwater streams converge and creating structures to store it.
• Local governments have long shown little interest. It’s not a visible project with immediate effects to showcase.
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1.1 Million Jobs for Seniors.

• Europe, where pensions suffice for living, has no such system. Studies show senior jobs reduce relative poverty rates by 10.2 percentage points.
• South Korea’s senior poverty rate was 38% in 2023—OECD’s highest.
• This year’s budget for senior jobs is 2.1847 trillion won.
• Senior jobs are categorized as public, social service, or private. Public jobs (3 hours/day) resemble part-time work+welfare, while social service jobs (over 60 hours/month) follow minimum wage and require health insurance contributions as regular employees.
• Public jobs account for 690,000 positions, social service jobs for 170,000.
• Park Kyung-ha (Head of Research and Survey at the Korea Senior Human Resources Development Institute) noted, “Two tasks must proceed in parallel: expanding public jobs to alleviate poverty and creating higher-quality employment opportunities.”

95% Approval: Jung Won-o’s Leadership of Listening.

• “Before majority rule, we must respect and listen to even those on the opposing side as members of the community, striving to reach the best possible consensus. Politics that seeks to understand even those who attack you is desperately needed.”
• These were the words of Jung Won-o (Seoul Seongdong District Mayor) in a Chosun Ilbo interview.
• A Seoul mayoral candidate responded, “I’m taking it as a well-wish.” Sensing his high popularity, Jung remarked, “I’m in the 7th or 8th inning—maybe around the 9th, I’ll start thinking about the next game.”
• The red-brick building support ordinance originated from Lee Chun-hee (fashion designer). It offers incentives for facades made of red brick.
• An anti-gentrification ordinance was also enacted: large corporations and franchise stores must undergo mandatory review for entry.
• Topping his achievements was the demolition of the Sampyo Cement factory. Through dialogue and compromise, he persuaded the company to relocate the dust-emitting plant from the heart of Seoul Forest.
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ICYMI.

Why Jung Joon-hui Called Kim Eo-jun a ‘Problematic Figure’.

• Jung Joon-hui (Chung-Ang University Professor) has taken over News Factory’s new program ‘Jung Joon-hui’s Perspective’.
• Jung defined a “problematic figure” as someone whose very existence and actions reveal contradictions by clashing with the existing social order, and as a person who makes us reflect on the origins of our chaos, the flaws of established systems, and the struggles and practices needed to transition to a new order. He argued that viewing such figures through a binary lens of good vs. evil or hero vs. villain is itself trapped within the limitations of the existing order.
• Kim Eo-jun stated, “All inferences are essentially conspiracy theories until proven otherwise,” and added, “In that sense, I am indeed a conspiracy theorist.”
• While acknowledging that “as a journalism scholar, the principle of journalism is to avoid inference,” he criticized mainstream journalism for “actively making inferences but hiding them, presenting them as if already proven,” calling it “far more cowardly.”
• Responding to accusations of being a conspiracy theorist, Kim said, “Regarding the Sewol Ferry, we must never stop asking, ‘Can we conclude based on what has been disclosed so far?’” On election fraud conspiracy theories, he argued, “It’s a statistical question—we must constantly ask whether the system is complete and how to make it more so,” adding, “If labeling someone a ‘fraud theorist’ immediately stifles such questions, no system can improve.”
• Kim also remarked, “I see Jung Joon-hui as the successor to Son Seok-hee (former JTBC president),” and said, “I wanted to create a program that conveys the perception that Jung is the next Son Seok-hee.”
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Japan’s Green Tea Exports 20 Times Korea’s.

• Japan grinds green tea into powdered matcha, which is consumed as a beverage. The key lies in shading the leaves from sunlight 2–3 weeks before harvest—reducing bitterness and enhancing umami.
• Last year, Japan’s matcha exports reached 36.4 billion yen (342 billion won). Some analyses predict the global matcha market will grow from $4.3 billion in 2023 to $7.4 billion by 2030.
• Korea’s green tea exports last year amounted to just $1.44 million (20 billion won). Korea regulates even the slope of green tea cultivation sites. Advertising is also prohibited. Though protected by a 513% tariff on imported green tea, excessive protection is criticized for eroding competitiveness.
• Kim Jeong-tae (The Korean Economic Daily columnist) noted, “Trapped behind a double fence of protection and regulation, Korea’s green tea—stuck in small-scale farming—remains stagnant.”
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Apartment Price Ratio Between Top and Bottom Quintiles Hits 12x.

• The average price of apartments in the top 20% by value is 1.4114 billion won. Those in the bottom 20% average 115.35 million won.
• The quintile ratio reached 12.1—the widest gap since statistics began in 2008. The Korea Economic Daily analyzed, “While demand for ‘solid single properties’ persists, driving up prices in Seoul’s prime areas, regional housing prices have actually declined.”
• The cheapest apartment is a 82㎡ unit in Sinhan Yang Apartment, Bugok-dong, Gimcheon, North Gyeongsang Province. It was recorded at 30 million won in April.
• The most expensive 84㎡ apartment is in One Verily, Banpo-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul. It surged to 7.2 billion won.
• Related Link.

Worth Reading.

How the MOFIA Shakes the Budget.

• “It’s not simply a lack of resources. We must correct the reality of being subjugated to cartels’ interests without changing a fiscal structure trapped in development-era frameworks.”
• These are the words of Jeong Chang-soo (Director of the Korea Public Finance Research Institute). The Ministry of Economy and Finance claims to have restructured 4–5 trillion won in expenditures but has refused to disclose the list.
• Jeong emphasized, “In a reality where even politicians struggle to grasp the budget’s complexity, bureaucrats’ inertia and authority hinder innovation.” He explained, “It’s not that bureaucrats are bad—they simply tend to protect their domains out of institutional inertia.”
• The government’s budget process unfolds as follows: By late April, the Ministry of Economy and Finance drafts guidelines; by late May, ministries submit requests, solidifying the framework. By September, when hundreds of thousands of pages are passed to the National Assembly, it’s already too late.
• Jeong stressed, “Unless it’s a national security issue, everything should be made public and debated from the start.” His proposal: “If citizens understand the information and voice opinions, public officials can avoid being trapped in existing frameworks and establish a structure for jointly discussing future directions.”
• Related Link.

North Korea and China’s Divergent Calculations.

• Trump started the fight, but the balance is tilting toward Xi Jinping (Chinese President). Since the Chinese People’s Liberation Army anniversary, strong gravitational pull toward anti-U.S. solidarity centered on Beijing has been at work.
• Lee Ha-kyung (Central Daily senior columnist) believes Beijing will not recognize North Korea as a nuclear state. While using Pyongyang as leverage, there is no reason to be lumped with a rogue state if the goal is securing global leadership.
• From North Korea’s perspective, excessive reliance on Beijing is also risky. The 11-year delay in opening the completed Sinuiju-Yantai Bridge reflects lingering distrust of Beijing. Pyongyang once called Beijing a “thousand-year enemy” over its participation in sanctions.
• Lee Ha-kyung sees the U.S. role as critical and South Korea as a potential pacemaker. “While Beijing’s role is limited, U.S.-North Korea diplomatic relations could be the decisive blow,” and “the only solution is transforming the ‘rogue state’ into a normal one and escaping nuclear threats.”
• Related Link.

Create a Korean-Exclusive Visa Category.

• The bill proposing the creation of an E-4 visa for Korean professionals has been introduced in the U.S. Congress annually but has never passed.
• Kim Hyun-seok (The Korea Economic Daily New York correspondent) noted, “This incident could spark interest in Korean investments.” The implication: now is the time to commit billions of dollars.
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The Sovereign People Must Decide the State of Exception.

• 12.3 Emergency Martial Law must be understood in its historical context.
• Kang Sung-hyun (Professor at Sungkonghoe University) pointed out in his recent book, “Martial Law, Insurrection, and Democracy,” that “in Korea, martial law was not a legal mechanism but a historical product of state violence.” Since the founding of the Republic of Korea, emergency martial law has been declared 13 times—17 times if including security martial law—all of which were illegal.
• Oh Dong-seok (Professor at Ajou University) assessed, “Emergency martial law was a pretext for mass killings, a tool for suppressing democratic movements through state violence, and a violent mediator for seizing, maintaining, or strengthening power.”
• Lee Joon-young (Researcher at the Historical Issues Research Institute) emphasized, “It showed that democratic control over power is not automatically realized by a ruler’s declaration or constitutional provisions.”
• Kim Dae-geun (Research Fellow at the Korean Criminal and Legal Policy Research Institute) stressed, “The sovereign is the one who decides the state of exception.” Even the president has no authority to unilaterally declare a state of exception and suspend the law.
• Choi Sung-yong (Lecturer at Sungkonghoe University) emphasized, “We must not forget that the fierce tenderness of the marginalized and minorities—who have long defended themselves against hatred and violence while loving one another—has been the force that overcame the darkest moments in Korean society and protected us.”
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