Who Is Lying: Bu Seung-chan or Cho Hee-dae?

• Bu Seung-chan (Democratic Party lawmaker) is specific in his claim: Cho Hee-dae (Chief Justice of the Supreme Court) met with Han Duck-soo (then-Prime Minister) shortly before the presidential election and said the Supreme Court would “handle Lee Jae-myung’s (then-Democratic Party candidate) trial on its own.”
• If true, this would be an extremely inappropriate meeting and unavoidably fuel speculation that the Supreme Court’s guilty verdict reversal—a month before the election—had political motives.
• Cho Hee-dae held a press conference to deny it, stating, “There was absolutely no discussion with Han Duck-soo or anyone else outside the court,” and “no conversation or meeting ever took place.”
• According to Bu, the Cho Hee-dae–Han Duck-soo meeting occurred over lunch and was relayed to Yoon Suk-yeol (then-president).
• One of the two is clearly distorting the facts.

What Matters Now.

“Clarify Your Position.”.

• The Democratic Party continues to pressure Cho Hee-dae. Park Soo-hyun (Democratic Party spokesperson) pointed out, “He has already lost the qualifications to be Chief Justice.”
• There are also calls for caution. Kim Nam-hee (Democratic Party lawmaker) noted, “It can be dangerous to think political power and majority rule can always provide or solve the correct answers to every problem.”
• Kim Sun-deok (Dong-A Ilbo columnist) observed, “The first formula by which a healthy democracy descends into dictatorship is the capture of the judiciary.”
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Cho Hee-dae-Han Duck-soo Meeting Allegations: Original Source Is Yeoreum Gonggam TV.

• Seo Young-kyo (Democratic Party lawmaker) received the claim, which was introduced as “still just an allegation” by a May intelligence source.
• It lay dormant until Kim Seung-won (Democratic Party lawmaker) and Kim Ki-pyo (Democratic Party lawmaker) revived it on Kim Eo-jun’s News Factory, where Kim Eo-jun (News Factory host) remarked, “If they met, that alone is inappropriate,” reigniting the controversy.
• Then Bu Seung-chan escalated it again.
• Jeong Cheong-rae (Democratic Party leader) asked, “What should we do if it’s true?” and Kim Min-seok (Prime Minister) said, “It would be shocking if true.”
• The Korea Daily analyzed, “No new evidence has been presented to prove the claim,” adding, “Criticism arises that they attempted to damage the judiciary’s credibility based on anonymous allegations difficult to verify.”
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“Have You Even Read the Constitution?”.

• Moon Hyung-bae (former acting Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court) made this remark amid the rebellion trial court controversy. “Our discussion must start with the Constitution,” he said. Chosun Ilbo interpreted it as an indirect critique.
• He also noted, “There has never been judicial reform without the judiciary’s participation.”
• Regarding Supreme Court justice expansion, he pointed out, “The National Assembly and the Supreme Court must not focus solely on increasing justices without first discussing the appellate system.”
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First US Rate Cut Under Trump 2.0.

• Trump’s second term has seen the first cut: 0.25 percentage points to 4.1%. South Korea remains at 2.5%.
• Jerome Powell (Federal Reserve Chair) stated, “Both labor supply and demand have fallen, signaling significant risks of worsening employment.”
• Trump has long insisted, “We need a much bigger rate cut.”
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China Bans Nvidia Chip Use.

• It eroded the effect of the rate cut from Beijing. Nvidia’s stock plummeted 2.6%, and New York’s three major indices closed flat.
• According to the Financial Times, the Chinese Cyberspace Administration (CAC) ordered tech firms including ByteDance and Alibaba to halt trials and orders of Nvidia’s RTX Pro 6000D. Analysts say the move aims to reduce reliance on the U.S. and boost domestic semiconductor production.
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Art for Favor: Kim Sang-min Detained.

• Kim Sang-min (former prosecutor at Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office) gifted a painting worth 140 million won to the brother of Kim Keon-hee (former first lady). Though disputed as a forgery, it is likely he purchased and presented it believing it to be genuine.
• Circumstantial evidence also confirms Kim Keon-hee instructed Myeong Tae-gyun (political broker), “Support Kim Sang-min so he can be elected.” After failing to secure the nomination, Kim Sang-min moved to a legal advisory role at the National Intelligence Service.
• The court issued the warrant, citing risk of evidence tampering.
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Han Hak-ja Emerges After Kwon Sung-dong’s Detention.

• Han Hak-ja (Unification Church President) is an accomplice of Kwon Sung-dong (People Power Party lawmaker). After failing to appear for three summonses, he voluntarily appeared for questioning the day after Kwon’s detention.
• There is a possibility that Han Hak-ja and Yoon Suk-yeol are connected through Kwon Sung-dong and Yoon Young-ho (former Unification Church director). Only 100 million won has surfaced—what else might emerge remains unknown.

Trump Confirmed to Attend APEC.

• Joseph Yun (Chargé d’Affaires, U.S. Embassy Seoul) said, “We will meet Donald Trump (U.S. President) at the Gyeongju APEC.”
• Cho Chung-rae (Foreign Minister), who met Wang Yi (Chinese Foreign Minister) in Beijing, said, “Xi Jinping (Chinese President) has confirmed in principle his intention to attend.” Trump’s attendance is confirmed, while Xi’s remains highly probable.
• Kim Jong-un (North Korean State Affairs Commissioner) is unlikely to attend. Seo Wook-seok (National Security Director) said, “It is difficult to see North Korea having strong reasons to engage in dialogue in the short term.”
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Semiconductors and Pharmaceuticals Face Tariff Bombs.

• Trump said, “It could be higher than 25%.” He has previously mentioned 100% for semiconductors and 150–200% for pharmaceuticals.
• Semiconductors are different from automobiles. Raising tariffs on Korean cars would benefit U.S. automakers, but tariffs on semiconductors would also harm American companies like Nvidia.

Deep Dive.

Buying Drinks for Lee Hwa-young: Seduction Confirmed.

• During the Suwon District Prosecutors’ Office investigation into the Ssangbangwool North Korea remittance case, suspicions that investigators bought alcohol and salmon sushi for Lee Hwa-young (former Gyeonggi Province Vice Governor) were confirmed. This occurred in May 2023.
• Lee Hwa-young claimed this happened, and while prosecutors denied it, the Ministry of Justice confirmed, “The Suwon District Prosecutors’ Office’s statement was inconsistent with facts,” and launched a fact-finding investigation.
• There is a possibility that the intent was to pressure Lee Hwa-young to implicate Lee Jae-myung (then Democratic Party leader).
• Park Sang-yong (Suwon District Prosecutors’ Office prosecutor) is protesting, calling it “an attempt to unduly influence the trial.”
• In an editorial, Chosun Ilbo noted, “While merely confirming alcohol was brought in does not prove coercion through false testimony,” they added, “If seduction via drinking is proven, the credibility of Lee Hwa-young’s initial testimony—that he reported to Lee Jae-myung—could weaken.”
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“JTSPS Four Are Prepared.”.

• This memo was found on the smartphone of Yeo In-hyeong (former CIC commander) a month before the emergency martial law.
• ‘JTSPS’ likely refers to the Ground Operations Command, Special Warfare Command, Defense Security Command, and ROKJGSC—abbreviated.
• Yoon Suk-yeol (then-president) hosted a meal with the four commanders at Samcheong-dong’s annex in June last year.
• The special prosecution confirmed that Kang Ho-pil (former Ground Operations Command chief) submitted a retirement request in opposition to martial law.
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Another Take.

“I Don’t Know.”.

• Trump’s response when asked about Israel’s bombing of Gaza City.
• On the second day of Israel’s ground offensive, one-third of Gaza City residents have fled. Some children walk barefoot for nine hours.
• Volker Türk (UN High Commissioner for Human Rights) criticized, “The massacre must stop,” adding, “Everyone wants an end, yet it’s spiraling into an unacceptable escalation.”

KT Small-Payment Fraud Suspect Caught.

• A suspect is accused of stealing 170 million won using 278 smartphones while transporting small base station equipment in a vehicle.
• Circumstantial evidence shows user authentication via ARS, raising critical questions about how far victims’ personal data was leaked.
• KT detected anomalies but ignored them for over a month. There are also suspicions that the femtocell equipment used in the crime may have been originally leaked from KT itself.
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“It’s Okay, It’s Okay,” How Firefighters Endure Trauma.

• 7% of firefighters suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder. There was a case where a firefighter on leave took his own life the day before his scheduled return to work.
• Post-trauma is more critical than the trauma itself. Cho Sung-hoon (pseudonym, lieutenant) said, “A balloon that slowly inflates eventually bursts with just a light touch,” adding, “It’s a cumulative effect, so the trigger incident alone isn’t the sole issue.”
• Lee Chang-seok (chairman of the Firefighters’ Union, Public Officials’ Union) said, “If new trauma occurs before the previous one is resolved, it becomes complex trauma,” noting, “They grow accustomed to avoidance, believing time will heal it, and miss the golden window for intervention.”
• The Korea Times summarized firefighters’ demands into three key points.
• First, they need a dedicated counselor like a primary physician.
• Second, mandatory treatment should be enforced.
• Third, appropriate compensation is essential. Eight firefighters deployed to the Itaewon disaster site applied for official medical leave, but only five were approved.
• Among 54 who applied for official medical leave due to mental illness since last year, 21 were denied. The deceased firefighter was among them.
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The Fix.

Can Holdbacks Save Korean Cinema?

• Bong Joon-ho (director)’s ‘Mickey17’ hit streaming services just one month after its release.
• Calls are growing to legislate a six-month holdback period before films appear on Netflix and others.
• Several European countries already enforce holdback regulations.
• Rho Chul-hwan (Inha University professor) argues, “Appropriate holdback rules could create a fair competitive environment and become a driving force for the film industry’s resurgence.”
• Yang Sung-hee (JoongAng Ilbo columnist) points out, “The revenue structure’s absolute dependence on theater sales must be fundamentally overhauled.”
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When Climate and Energy Collide.

• Germany merged industry, energy, and climate into an economic climate protection ministry—then split it again. The UK also combined industry, energy, and carbon neutrality under one department before separating them. France reverted to the original structure within a year.
• Kang Chan-ho (JoongAng Ilbo columnist) noted, “Countries that link energy to ideology or politics end up paying a steep price.”
• As the launch of the Climate and Energy Ministry approaches, Democratic Party lawmakers on the industry committee have voiced opposition.
• Lee Eun-ju (Democratic Party lawmaker) also criticized, “Transferring energy—the core of industrial competitiveness—to the regulatory Environment Ministry is an unrealistic approach.”
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Will TikTok Sale Halt the US-China Tariff War?

• China has agreed to sell TikTok’s US operations to American buyers—a gift from Beijing to Trump.
• The US enacted a TikTok ban last April but has repeatedly delayed its enforcement.
• A likely structure would involve a separate US entity with majority ownership by American investors. Oracle is the leading acquisition candidate.
• Tariff negotiations remain unresolved. The US and China still impose 145% and 125% tariffs on each other’s goods. After a May agreement to temporarily reduce these by 115 percentage points, the extension has been repeatedly renewed.

“We Have Regressed.”.

• X (Twitter) has become a breeding ground for division. Before Trump, accounts were blocked and suspended, but now hate and discriminatory speech are left unchecked under the guise of free expression.
• Facebook promised to hire 10,000 safety team members but halted its fact-checking program during Trump’s second term.
• A video of Charlie Kirk’s assassination has amassed millions of views. Nikita Bier (X Product Lead) stated, “The two days following Charlie Kirk’s assassination saw the highest viewership in our history.”
• “We have regressed,” said Graham Brookie (Senior Director, Atlantic Council Digital Forensic Lab). “Content exists collectively across platforms. If one allows harmful content, it spreads like a virus to others.”
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A Comma in Daily Life, Yet a Commute?

• Service halted on opening day due to heavy rain.
• Journalists received cancellation notices only after boarding the press bus.
• The Hankyoreh criticized, “If it only runs on good-weather days, it’s just a theme park parade.”
• “Citizens must commute rain or snow, and children go to school even with umbrellas. Public transit should support such lives—but the Han River bus failed to become the people’s feet.”
• It operates 14 daily trips, expanding to 48 by late October.
• The slogan “a comma in daily life” reflects Seoul’s awareness of its slowness: the 28.9km route (Magok–Mapo–Yeouido–Oksu–Apgujeong–Ttukseom–Jamsil) takes 82 minutes express or 127 minutes local. Fare: ₩3,000.
• Park Jin-young (Seoul Future Han River Headquarters Director) explained, “The Han River’s shallow depth limits speed. Safety over speed was prioritized, and increased vessels by December may better accommodate commuters.”
• Annual operating costs: ₩20 billion. Expected ridership revenue: ₩5 billion. Taxpayers will cover the ₩15 billion deficit.
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ICYMI.

Why Naver Webtoon’s Stock Is Finally Rising.

• Its shares plummeted immediately after its June 2022 Nasdaq listing, as earnings fell short of expectations.
• The US subsidiary of Naver Webtoon is named Webtoon Entertainment—a term coined in Korea and used as a proper noun.
• In Korea, the ratio of paying to free users is about 2:1, but overseas, free users still dominate. If paid subscriptions grow as rapidly as in Korea, markets like Japan and the US could expand by tens or hundreds of times. It’s a matter of timing.
• Shares surged 39% in a single day after it announced a content partnership with The Walt Disney Company.
• Disney plans to acquire a minority stake and co-develop a platform, likely adapting Marvel Comics for mobile and integrating them as add-ons for Disney+.
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There Exists an Apartment Where Soldiers Pay Fines to Stay.

• Dongbinggo-dong military apartments are particularly popular among military housing. When reassigned, soldiers must vacate, but cases of paying fines to delay moving out are increasing. Critics argue the system is being abused as a form of “gwan-tech” (military housing + real estate investment).
• The delay fee—effectively a fine—is 50,000 won per 3.3 square meters for up to six months, rising to 75,000 won from the seventh month, making it cheaper than monthly rent. The Ministry of National Defense has belatedly revised its directive to raise the delayed management fee.
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Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye Meet After 12 Years.

• They appeared at the JoongAng Ilbo’s 60th-anniversary ceremony. Park Geun-hye (former president) traveled by car for four hours from her private residence in Dalseong-gun, Daegu.
• Park greeted Kang Hoon-sik (Chief of Staff to the President) and remarked, “Everyone has had eventful lives.”
• Related Link.

Worth Reading.

Can’t Find a Grave for Chun Doo-hwan? Bury Him in the Yard?

• Shin Seung-geun (Hankyoreh News Director) insists, “Permission must not be granted.”
• The dictator Chun Doo-hwan died of natural causes in 2021 at the age of 90. A national cemetery is out of the question, and with no grave found, he may end up buried in his home’s yard. Shin opposes this for three reasons.
• First, establishing a grave in a residential area is illegal.
• Second, the Seongbuk-dong house is subject to confiscation for the 86.7 billion won in unpaid fines.
• Third, he should not be granted a peaceful resting place. His legacy must remain a historical lesson.
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KOSPI 5000 Must Not Become a Matter of Faith.

• “Policies expressed as numbers have their pros and cons. They can powerfully convey policy goals and achievements to the public, but they also carry heavy responsibility.”
• Oh Chang-ik (The Kyunghyang Shinmun columnist) pointed out, “A KOSPI 5000 without improved corporate earnings or industrial restructuring is a castle in the air.”
• “The problem is that it also creates the misconception that the government is responsible for stock prices,” he added.
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Talking to Conspiracy Theorists.

• Research showed that when AI conversed with conspiracy theorists, their belief in conspiracies decreased by 20%. The analysis: “Even conspiratorial beliefs can change when confronted with persuasive evidence.”
• The Hankook Ilbo surveyed teenagers aged 16–18, finding 44% agreed that “election fraud is likely.” On the statement “Yoon Suk-yeol’s martial law was desirable,” 68% of males and 70% of females opposed it.
• Yoo Dae-geun (Hankook Ilbo reporter) analyzed, “Students seem to find amusement in conspiracy theories with mysterious narrative structures but haven’t hardened them into beliefs.”
• “When encountering someone immersed in conspiracy theories, instead of sighing or heatedly asking, ‘Does that even make sense?’ what if we listened seriously and calmly tried to persuade them? We might not have tried hard enough on such a critical issue.”
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“Reform Is Harder Than Revolution.”.

• “The public knows full well what issues Cho Hee-dae has. But calls for resignation go too far.”
• Seong Han-yong (Senior Reporter, Hankyoreh) suggested, “Rather than demand resignation, pushing for impeachment proceedings would be better.” Impeachment requires a simple majority of lawmakers.
• Seong Han-yong summarized the lessons of the Uri Party’s four major reform bills from the 2004 impeachment National Assembly:
• First, never declare war first. To avoid provoking vested interests, reforms must proceed quietly.
• Second, piecemeal reform is more effective than simultaneous reforms.
• Third, internal persuasion must come first.
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