Cho Hee-dae’s Confirmation Hearing Opens.

• Yesterday, the Judiciary Committee decided to summon four Supreme Court justices, including Cho Hee-dae (Chief Justice) and Oh Kyung-mi (Justice). Judge Ji Gwi-yeon (Seoul Central District Court) was also adopted as a witness.
• It is a hearing addressing allegations of election interference. Proposed by Park Gyun-taek (Democratic Party lawmaker), the Democratic Party passed it unilaterally.
• Na Kyung-won (People Power Party lawmaker) criticized, “The Democratic Party seems out of its mind,” adding, “The Democratic Party’s Judiciary Committee has degenerated into a personal law firm.”

“Will This Help Brother Yoon Suk-yeol?”.

• Choo Mi-ae (Democratic Party lawmaker, Judiciary Committee chair) said this to Na Kyung-won. Na protested, “Why is Yoon Suk-yeol’s name even coming up?”
• People Power Party lawmakers clashed over placards reading “Democratic Party: Political Sabotage Fake News Factory” attached to laptops. When National Assembly guards tried to remove them and faced resistance, they ordered the protesters ejected.
• Related Link.

Han Hak-ja’s Detention.

• Central to the collusion between religion and politics, the Unification Church scandal. Han Hak-ja (Unification Church leader) has been detained. The court ruled, “There is a risk of evidence destruction.”
• She faces allegations of funneling over 100 million won in cash to Yoon Suk-yeol via Yoon Young-ho (then Unification Church director) and Kwon Sung-dong (People Power Party lawmaker). She is also accused of using Jeon Seong-bae (Geonjin Beopsa) to gift necklaces, bags, and other items to Kim Keon-hee.
• Related Link.

What Matters Now.

Three-Phase Solution: Freeze, Reduce, Denuclearize North Korea.

• This is the approach introduced by Lee Jae-myung (President) in a BBC interview as “a feasible and realistic alternative.”
• “I believe North Korea would clearly benefit simply by halting nuclear and missile development,” he said.

Kim Jong-un: “I Have Good Memories of Trump.”.

• North Korea released Kim Jong-un (North Korean State Affairs Commissioner)’s address to the Supreme People’s Assembly.
• “If the U.S. discards its delusional obsession with denuclearization, acknowledges reality, and genuinely seeks peaceful coexistence with us, there is no reason we cannot face each other,” he said.
• The remarks likely reflect a calculated attempt to legitimize its status as a nuclear-armed state.
• Seemingly responding to Lee Jae-myung’s BBC interview, he added, “This is a copied script from the homework notebooks of predecessors who dreamed of our disarmament.” “Discussing unification with such a hostile nation is pure obsession.”

Lee Jae-myung’s 40-Day Diplomatic Golden Time.

• He will attend the UN General Assembly on the 22nd. Deliver a keynote speech on the 23rd and preside over an open debate as Security Council chair on the 24th.
• The APEC summit will be held in Gyeongju on October 31st.
• A Trump-Kim Jong-un “big event” could also unfold around the Gyeongju meeting.

Deep Dive.

350 Billion Dollar Investment Scenario Amid Currency Surge.

• While the dollar weakens globally, the won is falling alone.
• The effects of U.S. benchmark interest rate cuts are also at play. The won-dollar exchange rate is threatening 1,400 won.
• Korea’s economic fundamentals are also weakening.
• Kim Ji-hyun (Bank of Korea International Finance Research Team head) said, “If liquidity contracts due to global risk shocks, it means Korea will have to pay a higher price than other countries to borrow money.”

‘Run Jong-seop’ Scandal: Lee Jong-seop Speaks Out.

• Lee Jong-seop (then Minister of National Defense), who faced allegations of external pressure in the investigation of the September 2023 Corporal Chae case, suddenly left for Australia after being appointed ambassador—before even receiving agrément.
• Criticism erupted that he was being allowed to flee like a criminal, and he returned after just 11 days, citing a defense industry cooperation meeting.
• That same Lee Jong-seop appeared before the special prosecutor and stated, “Yoon Suk-yeol (then President) said he could send me as an ambassador or special envoy.”

‘Gaeddal’ Fracturing.

• “The Democratic Party is showing signs of splitting into ‘Gaeddal’ and the ‘Cheong Rae Party,’” Dong-A Ilbo’s analysis might just be wishful thinking from conservatives.
• A Democratic Party lawmaker said, “We get text bomb attacks with conflicting messages: some say, ‘Like Lee Jae-myung, let’s ally with opposition factions where we can,’ while others insist, ‘Like Jeong Cheong-rae, we must purge all rebellion forces.’” Another party official remarked, “Half of our hardcore supporters back Lee Jae-myung, the other half Jeong Cheong-rae.”
• A pro-Myung faction lawmaker noted, “These days, even Lee Jae-myung is being called a ‘watermelon.’” When Justice Minister Jeong Seong-ho argued that the “Serious Crime Investigation Agency should not be moved to the Ministry of Public Administration and Security,” the comment emerged: “Jeong Seong-ho’s a watermelon too.”
• Related Link.

Another Take.

80 Billion Won APEC Banquet Hall Now Unusable.

• The venue is being built in the courtyard of the National Gyeongju Museum, with construction 95% complete.
• It was intended as the APEC banquet hall but deemed too small, lacking kitchen facilities and restrooms—prompting a last-minute change just a month before the event. The building was rushed: the design competition took only three weeks, and construction began two months later.
• The banquet hall for attendees including Trump and Xi Jinping (Chinese President) has been moved to the Grand Ballroom of the Lahan Select Hotel. A hotel official said, “We received no special instructions” and added, “Scheduled weddings will proceed as planned.”

National Spring Cleaning Initiative.

• Lee Jae-myung wrote on Facebook, “Let’s call it ‘South Korea Refresh Week’ and launch a nationwide clean-up campaign to welcome families and guests in a spotless country.”
• The Ministry of the Interior and Safety reported that 20,000 people participated in volunteer clean-ups on the first day.
• Jeong Woo-sang (Chosun Ilbo columnist) pointed out, “If a conservative government had proposed such a state-led campaign, civic groups would have protested, calling it anachronistic—but this time, there’s been silence.”
• Related Link.

Electricity Rates Frozen Again.

• This marks the 10th consecutive quarterly freeze. Korea Electric Power Corporation’s debt has ballooned to 206 trillion won.
• The burden will grow heavier next year. Costs for expanding renewable energy and transmission networks are set to rise.
• Yoo Seung-hoon (Professor, Seoul University of Science and Technology) stated, “Injecting government equity into KEPCO, which has significant private shares, is not straightforward,” adding, “Rate hikes are urgent to reduce interest costs, but given next year’s local elections, they might only come around autumn.”

“Let’s Stop Summoning Corporations.”.

• Will the practice of summoning chaebol leaders during National Assembly audits—only to line them up like screens—finally change?
• Jeong Cheong-rae (Democratic Party Leader) recently proposed, “Let’s move away from the reckless witness-summoning practices of the opposition era.” In 2022, the Environment and Labor Committee audit alone adopted 26 corporate leaders as witnesses.

Tylenol Causes Autism? No Evidence.

• Trump’s claim. “Pregnant women should not take Tylenol” yet he presented no medical evidence.
• Part of Trump’s “Make America Healthy Again (MAHA)” project.
• According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in 31 children aged 8 has autism. In 2000, it was 1 in 150. While hypotheses suggest environmental and lifestyle factors among Americans—beyond genetic causes—may be responsible, nothing has been conclusively proven.
• Related Link.
• Related Link.

The Fix.

Curbing Caregiving Bankruptcy: Personal Burden for Nursing Hospital Care Capped at 30%.

• Health insurance will apply starting the second half of next year.
• Currently, patients bear 100% of costs, amounting to roughly 10 trillion won annually. The government plans to invest 6.5 trillion won by 2030, targeting critically ill patients.
• As of end-2023, there are 1,391 nursing hospitals, approximately 210,000 patients, of whom around 80,000 are critically ill.
• Caregivers must manage no more than four patients in three rotating shifts. A nursing hospital director interviewed by JoongAng Ilbo remarked, “It won’t be easy for 200 nursing hospitals to secure enough staff for three shifts.”
• Related Link.

Health Insurance Funds to Deplete in Three Years.

• Health insurance turned to deficit this year and reserves will be exhausted by 2028.
• The Dong-A Ilbo editorial noted, “Even to cover caregiving costs, restructuring health insurance expenditures cannot be delayed.”
• Approximately 16% of nursing hospital patients do not require hospitalization. The argument is that reforming nursing hospitals to serve only critically ill patients should come first.
• Closing leaks—such as over-treatment and medical shopping—is key to preserving the health insurance fund.
• Related Link.

Can the Yongin Semiconductor Complex Handle 1.67 Million Tons of Water?

• Once completed, the Yongin industrial complex will consume over 10GW of power—one-fourth of the capital region’s total.
• The LNG plant currently under construction will cover 3GW, but the rest must be sourced from elsewhere. Already, residents along proposed transmission routes are fiercely protesting.
• Water is another concern: 1.67 million tons per day are needed—60% of Seoul’s daily usage. Even if 770,000 tons are diverted from Paldang Dam, it will fall far short.
• Calls to “fully reconsider the Yongin national industrial complex plan” are growing.
• Ha Seung-soo (Representative of Nongbon) criticized, “It’s time to stop concentrating core industries in the capital region while leaving crumbs and construction projects for other areas.”
• Related Link.

ICYMI.

“God’s Side Will Defeat Evil.”.

• Donald Trump (U.S. President) spoke these words at the memorial for Charlie Kirk (conservative activist). In Trump’s framing, “God’s side” refers to conservatives, while “evil” denotes the left.
• The event had a revivalist tone. Marco Rubio (U.S. Secretary of State) declared, “We were created by the hand of God, who came to Earth in human form and rose again on the third day,” while J.D. Vance (U.S. Vice President) remarked, “Kirk, who sought to understand men and women made in God’s image, exemplified the importance of the Christian father figure.”
• South Korea was also invoked: Trump claimed, “In Seoul, crowds shouted support for Kirk while waving American flags.”

Specialty Visa Fee: $100,000, $14 Billion Burden on U.S. Firms.

• Last year, 140,000 H-1B visas were issued.
• It’s money companies will bear anyway. As of 2023, two-thirds of specialty visas were held by IT professionals.

From 40,000 to 110,000: Samsung’s Stock Surge.

• Samsung Electronics is leading the KOSPI rally, rising to 83,500 won. Market cap: 494 trillion won.
• Mirae Asset Securities raised Samsung’s 12-month target price to 110,000 won.
• Morgan Stanley—which triggered a stock plunge last September with its “Winter Is Coming” report—now says “It Will Be a Warm Winter.” It upgraded the Korean semiconductor sector outlook from “Neutral” to “Attractive.”

Korean Stock Market 51% Undervalued vs. Developed Peers.

• Goldman Sachs’ analysis. If dividend payout ratios rise to developed market levels, shares could gain another 35%, they forecast.
• “70% of all listed stocks remain undervalued,” the analysis concluded.

“Postponing Graduation to Prepare for Employment,” Up 59% From Three Years Ago.

• A survey of nine regional national universities and six major private universities in Seoul found 9,857 such students—59% more than the 6,215 recorded three years ago.
• By applying for degree postponement, students can maintain their student status without paying tuition, only covering facility fees and similar charges.

Worth Reading.

“AI Foundations Require an Inclusive Society.”.

• “Politicians must understand the pain created by crises. They must act upon unseen deaths.”
• Chi Ji-ho (Democratic Party lawmaker) stated, “Leaving broken systems and extreme polarization unaddressed is like knowing the exam question but refusing to solve it.”
• The argument is that as the AI transition era arrives, national efforts must focus on designing an inclusive society and overcoming inequality.
• Related Link.

Kim Yong-cheol in 1988 and Cho Hee-dae in 2025.

• Kim Yong-cheol (then-Chief Justice), appointed by Chun Doo-hwan (former president), was reappointed by Roh Tae-woo (then-president) but resigned due to judges’ demands.
• Kwon Tae-ho (editorial director of The Hankyoreh) pointed out, “Wouldn’t the public doubt if a Chief Justice appointed by Chun Doo-hwan and Roh Tae-woo handled their trials?”
• Cho Hee-dae is no different. Even if Yoon Suk-yeol’s appointment is understandable, his actions since the December 3 martial law declaration have strayed far from judicial independence.
• Who benefits most from the controversy over Cho Hee-dae’s alleged meeting with Han Duck-soo? Cho Hee-dae himself. It gave the People Power Party a counterattack opportunity and amplified a debate that diverts from the core issue.
• The core issue isn’t whether Cho Hee-dae met Han Duck-soo. The focus should be on suspicions that the Chief Justice compromised judicial neutrality during an election period.
• Related Link.

Robert Kennedy in 1968 and Trump in 2025.

• Upon hearing of Martin Luther King Jr. (pastor)’s assassination, Robert Kennedy (then-Democratic presidential candidate) said:
• “We must find a way to live together, blacks and whites, in America. Dr. King lived for love, understanding, and peace. If we are to honor him, we must act in the way he believed—not with hatred and revenge.”
• “Where has that atmosphere of human empathy and restraint gone?” Kim Jae-cheon (Sogang University professor) analyzed, “Extreme polarization in American society has given rise to a new phenomenon: the ‘collapse of empathy.’”
• Related Link.

Where the People Power Party Should Go, According to JoongAng Ilbo.

• “Even if the government and ruling party’s unilateralism is displeasing, the sentiment that ‘they’re better than the opposition that ruined the country’ is widespread. Rushing to their stronghold at Dongdaegu Station to spew harsh rhetoric doesn’t seem likely to change much.”
• Seo Seung-wook (JoongAng Ilbo digital director) emphasized, “The place People Power Party lawmakers should go is not Dongdaegu Station but the public forum to discuss constitutional revision.”
• The People Power Party, immediately after Yoon Suk-yeol’s impeachment, claimed, “The first step to creating the ‘real Korea’ is constitutional revision,” but has since backed away after Lee Jae-myung’s government designated it as the top national task. Seo Seung-wook advised, “By leading the historic effort to dismantle Korea’s political absurdities and outdated structures, they might seize a chance to reverse their reputation as the ‘rebellion party’ and ‘burden on the people.’”
• Related Link.