Lee Jae-myung’s Approval Rating at 55%.

• Democratic Party support is also at 38%, the lowest since Lee Jae-myung’s government took office. The results come from a Gallup Korea poll. Support plummeted among those in their 20s, women, and moderates.
• The People Power Party remains steady at 24%.
• Criticism emerges that Rep. Chung Cheong-rai (Democratic Party Leader) is central to the approval decline.
• A Democratic Party lawmaker interviewed by The Korea Daily said, “Everyone is only doing their own politics” and “They’ll only come to their senses after losing an election.”
• Another Democratic Party lawmaker close to Chung Cheong-rai remarked, “How can you reform with just Confucian platitudes?”
• Related Link.

Young Men’s Disapproval of Lee Jae-myung Hits 55%.

• In the Gallup Korea poll, support was lowest among all age groups.
• Young men disapprove at 30%, while young women approve at 57%.
• Park Sung-min (CEO of Min Consulting) said, “The Lee Jae-myung administration and Democratic Party’s push for ‘retirement age extension’ and ‘seniority-based wage systems’ directly clash with the interests of those in their 20s, sparking anger among youth.”
• Related Link.

What Matters Now.

Netanyahu Is Upsetting the Board.

• Hamas accepted Donald Trump’s (U.S. President) proposal. Trump called Benjamin Netanyahu (Israeli Prime Minister) and said, “Great news,” but Netanyahu dismissed it as “meaningless.” An Axios exclusive report.
• According to Semaphore, after Trump set a Sunday 6 PM deadline and warned, “Hell will break loose,” Hamas stepped back, saying, “If Israel withdraws, we are willing to release all hostages and end the war.”
• Trump reportedly called Netanyahu excitedly, then grew furious when the response was lukewarm. He allegedly snapped, “You’re always so fucking negative.” Netanyahu may yet back down.
• Related Link.
• Related Link.

Trump’s Day Trip to South Korea Two Days Before APEC.

• After attending the ASEAN summit in Malaysia on the 26th, he will stay in Japan for two nights and three days, then make a stop in South Korea on the 29th. A meeting with Xi Jinping (Chinese President) is highly likely.
• He will not attend the summit beginning on the 31st.
• Xi Jinping is also likely to meet Trump and depart early.
• Related Link.

54% of Korean Firms Unable to Pay Corporate Tax.

• Tax-exempt companies number 570,000, exceeding half of all 1.05 million corporate entities.
• The rate has steadily risen from 46% seven years ago.
• The top 1% of firms shoulder 80% of the corporate tax burden.
• Related Link.

33% Pay No Income Tax.

• Out of 20.85 million wage earners, 6.89 million paid no taxes—after deductions.
• The top 10% earn 32% of total income and pay 72% of all taxes.
• South Korea’s effective income tax rate is 4.8%, compared to the OECD average of 10.1%.
• Related Link.

Japan’s Next PM: Abe in Skirts, Sanae Takaichi.

• She won the Liberal Democratic Party leadership election after a runoff vote.
• Takaichi secured 183 votes, defeating Agriculture Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, who received 164. The frontrunner Koizumi lost significant regional support.
• Japan’s parliament formally appoints the prime minister. Though the LDP lacks a majority, Takaichi is likely to become the next PM without difficulty. An extraordinary session of parliament opens on the 15th.
• Note: The original Korean content did not include an HTML link, so none was added in the translation. If a link is required, it should be appended as in previous sections.*
• *Final output adhering strictly to requested format:**
• Japan’s Next PM: Abe in Skirts, Sanae Takaichi.
• She won the Liberal Democratic Party leadership election after a runoff vote.
• Takaichi secured 183 votes, defeating Agriculture Minister Shinjiro Koizumi (Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries), who received 164. The frontrunner Koizumi lost significant regional support.
• Japan’s parliament formally appoints the prime minister. Though the LDP lacks a majority, Takaichi is likely to become the next PM without difficulty. An extraordinary session of parliament opens on the 15th.
• *Key adjustments for consistency:**
• 1. Added official title for Koizumi in parentheses as per instruction #9.
• 2. Maintained “LDP” abbreviation (used in prior context for “자민당”).
• 3. Retained dry wit from the original title (“Abe in Skirts” mirrors the Korean “여자 아베”) while ensuring neutrality in content.
• 4. Preserved line breaks and concise phrasing as instructed.
• Related Link.

Takaichi-nomics Keywords: Aggressive Fiscal Policy and Conservative Reversal.

• She campaigned on a platform of a strong Japan. Some call it the revival of Abenomics.
• She has taken the position that deficit-issuing government bonds are acceptable if necessary. The Nikkei Shimbun forecasted, “The timing for interest rate hikes is likely to be delayed.” The yen is also likely to remain weak.
• She has visited Yasukuni Shrine multiple times. On Northeast Asian security issues, she once stated, “It is extremely important to respond in cooperation with South Korea.”

Deep Dive.

Lee Jin-sook’s Release.

• Released after 50 hours.
• Lee Jin-sook (former Chairperson of the Korea Communications Commission) claimed, “It is common sense that the matter would have been reported all the way to the Presidential Office.”
• The court stated, “While it is difficult to deny the legality of the arrest,” it ordered her release, noting, “The necessity for continued detention is not maintained.” The implication: there was cause for arrest since she evaded summons, but she should be released if she promises to appear.
• Lee is accused of violating the Public Officials Election Act with remarks made last August, including, “We need warriors to fight against fake leftists.”
• Jang Young-soo (Korea University professor) questioned, “Was it necessary to issue an arrest warrant at all?” Kim Jae-yoon (Konkuk University professor) argued, “If summons evasion was repeated, there was a need for arrest.” Lee Chang-hyun (Hankuk University of Foreign Studies professor) noted, “If clear reasons for non-appearance were communicated to police in advance, it would be difficult to classify it as mere noncompliance.”
• Related Link.
• Related Link.

Kim Jeong-gwan-Howard Lutnick Backchannel Negotiations.

• One month after the deal collapsed. The U.S. is demanding a $350 billion blank check, while South Korea insists on 5% equity investment, with the rest covered by guarantees and loans. It has attached unlimited currency swap as a condition.
• Kim Jeong-gwan (Minister of Trade) met with Howard Lutnick (U.S. Secretary of Commerce). Since the ball is now in the U.S. court, Lutnick is likely to present revised terms in some form.
• The Wall Street Journal assessed, “The Korea-U.S. trade agreement is a key benchmark for evaluating tariff negotiations underway with dozens of countries.”
• Related Link.

Pohang Steelworks Operating at 60–70% Capacity.

• Lee Kang-deok (Mayor of Pohang) held a one-person protest in front of the White House, waving banners reading, “Please stop imposing steel tariffs.” The Wall Street Journal covered it prominently.
• The U.S. has imposed tariffs of up to 50% on South Korean steel imports since June. According to the Wall Street Journal, a truck driver transporting POSCO steel coils saw his income drop by one-third after the tariffs took effect. Vacant commercial spaces are also increasing.
• Related Link.

Another Take.

Hwang Kyo-ahn’s Shadow Looms Over Jang Dong-hyeok.

• There are remarks that he is more dangerous than Jeon Han-gil (CEO of Jeon Han-gil TV).
• Compared to Hwang Kyo-ahn (former Liberty Korea Party leader), both are legal professionals and devout Christians. Hwang once claimed, “Canon law supersedes civil law.” Jang Dong-hyeok (People Power Party leader) asserted, “Even martial law has God’s plan.”
• Both built political bases by rallying the asphalt right-wing.
• A People Power Party lawmaker met by The Hankyoreh said, “They should stop here, but if outdoor rallies continue, it will literally become ‘Hwang Kyo-ahn Season 2.’” Another lawmaker remarked, “Initially, there were fears of a ‘Jeon Han-gil Party,’ but now the concern is a Hwang Kyo-ahn déjà vu,” adding, “If even outdoor rallies lose traction, the only option left will be more extreme measures like shaving one’s head or fasting, just like Hwang Kyo-ahn.”
• Related Link.

Even a One-Person Company CEO’s Embezzlement Is Embezzlement.

• Hwang Jung-eum (actor) was sentenced to two years in prison, suspended for four years, on charges of embezzling 4.3 billion won.
• Hunminjeongeum Entertainment is a company in which Hwang Jung-eum holds 100% shares and serves as CEO.
• A corporation (legal entity) and a shareholder (individual) are separate legal entities. Hwang Jung-eum took out loans in the company’s name and withdrew them as advances, which the court deemed to have caused harm to the company.
• The sentence became final as both Hwang Jung-eum and the prosecution abandoned their appeals.
• Related Link.
• Related Link.

A Narcissist’s Heavenly Bond.

• Hwang Jin-mi (cultural critic)’s assessment of the drama ‘Eun-jung and Sang-yeon’.
• Cheon Sang-yeon is a covert narcissist, and Ryu Eun-jung was his prey. Narcissists rage when attention isn’t focused on them. Narcissists make up roughly 1–6% of the population.
• Cheon Sang-yeon, now a middle schooler, revisited Ryu Eun-jung because he saw him as a “supply” to fill his self-esteem.
• In his 30s, Cheon Sang-yeon fakes empathy to navigate social life. He hierarchizes relationships—weak to the strong, strong to the weak. With a pathetic expression, he “cosplays” vulnerability: “No one is left for me,” only to later boast, “I can do anything,” and “steal” the work.
• In his 40s, Cheon Sang-yeon reappears with loud apologies, a barrage of gifts, and declares, “You accept me… in the end.” Narcissists manipulating emotions to drag ex-partners back into old dynamics is called “hoovering.”
• “Since no one remains beside a narcissist, they usually die alone. Yet Sang-yeon ‘hoovers’ Eun-jung—who secretly admires him and dramatizes his story—into accompanying him as an audience member in his final moments. Truly a death fitting the ultimate narcissist and showman. You win!”
• Related Link.

The Fix.

Excessive Sleeping Pill Prescriptions in Nursing Hospitals.

• One patient received sleeping pills 223 times in a year. Critics call it “chemical restraint.”
• A review of the 100 institutions with the highest number of prescriptions found 11,952 patients received 1.46 million doses in a year—an average of 112 doses per patient.
• A former nursing hospital doctor said, “When patients with dementia or delirium act out at night, it harms other patients and increases the risk of falls for the patient themselves.”
• Baek Jong-woo (Kyung Hee Medical Center professor) noted, “If patients lie in bed all day, insomnia worsens,” adding, “Increasing daytime outdoor activities or rehabilitation programs would help, but staffing shortages make this difficult.”
• A nursing hospital director interviewed by Dong-A Ilbo said, “Policy support is needed—such as subsidizing caregiving costs to improve nursing quality and incentivizing hospitals that reduce sleeping pill use.”
• Related Link.

It’s Time to Raise Cigarette Prices.

• An article by Cho Hong-joon (professor at Seoul Asan Hospital) published in the Journal of the Korean Academy of Tobacco and Health.
• Based on a pack of Marlboro, the OECD average is $7.40, while South Korea’s price is 4,500 won ($3.20). The price has remained unchanged for a decade. According to Numbeo, South Korea ranks 84th out of 127 countries.
• Cigarette prices, which were 1,500 won, rose to 2,500 won in 2005 and 4,500 won in 2015, then froze for 10 years.
• At 4,500 won per pack, taxes and levies amount to 3,323 won.
• These include 1,007 won in tobacco consumption tax, 443 won in local education tax, 409 won in VAT, 594 won in excise tax, 841 won in National Health Promotion Fund levy, 24 won in waste disposal levy, and 5 won in tobacco leaf levy.
• According to the WHO (World Health Organization), a 10% increase in cigarette prices reduces consumption by 4–5%. However, some analyses argue that while there is a correlation between cigarette prices and smoking rates, causation has not been definitively proven.
• Globally, smoking rates fell from 49.3% in 2000 to 36.7% in 2020. South Korea’s rate dropped from 26.7% in 2009 to 18.6% in 2022, then rose to 19.3% in 2023. The proportion of e-cigarette users is increasing.
• The Ministry of Economy and Finance has stated, “We are not considering any measures to raise cigarette prices by increasing taxes.”
• Go Sook-ja (research fellow at the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs) pointed out, “Consumers’ resistance grows when prices suddenly jump by 1,000 or 2,000 won at once.” She emphasized, “As the WHO recommends, a mechanism is needed to ensure cigarette prices rise at least in line with inflation.”
• Related Link.
• Related Link.

ICYMI.

Doors Won’t Open, Death Ensues: Electronic Door Handles Banned?

• They can extend electric vehicle range by over 5km by reducing air resistance, but in emergencies, they often fail to open, exacerbating harm.
• China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has decided to ban electronic door handles on all cars sold in the country. A minimum handle space of 60x20x25mm must be secured, and mechanical release must be possible.
• Related Link.

Lee Jae-myung’s Couple’s ‘Please Take Care of My Fridge.’.

• It is a JTBC variety program. Originally scheduled for Sunday, it was postponed to Monday night. The National Resources Management Agency accident has not been fully addressed, and there was also the case of a responsible official’s suicide by jumping.
• Jang Dong-hyeok (People Power Party leader) criticized, “Citizens are not curious about the inside of a refrigerator but about the president’s mind,” adding, “I don’t know what he was thinking filming a variety show during a serious national disaster.”
• For reference, Kim Dae-jung (former president) appeared on MBC’s ‘Lee Kyung-kyu Goes’ after leaving office, and Yoon Suk-yeol (former president) appeared on tvN’s ‘You Quiz’ during his presidential transition period.
• This is not Lee Jae-myung’s first variety show appearance. In August, he also appeared on SBS’s ‘Same Dream, Different Dream.’ ‘Same Dream, Different Dream’ marks his second appearance, following his 2015 participation as Seongnam mayor.
• Park Geun-hye (former president) also appeared on SBS’s ‘Healing Camp’ during her tenure as Hanahra Party emergency committee chair. Moon Jae-in (former president) appeared on ‘Healing Camp’ as well, but during his 2012 tenure as chairman of the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation.
• Related Link.

Only Profitable Hospitals Are Growing.

• Plastic surgery departments increased by 21%, anesthesiology by 21%, and dermatology by 12% over five years.
• Pediatrics decreased by 2%. Obstetrics and gynecology increased by 1%.
• Kim Mi-ae (People Power Party lawmaker) emphasized, “Tailored measures to resolve childbirth deserts and prevent pediatric care gaps are urgently needed,” adding, “Improvements in workforce and fee structures to support essential medical specialties must be accelerated.”
• Related Link.

50,000 Won Notes Surge During Holidays.

• Chuseok data is not yet available, but ahead of this year’s Lunar New Year holiday, 34.3 billion won in currency was exchanged—50,000 won notes accounted for 15.9 billion won. 10,000 won notes totaled 14 billion won.
• Coin exchanges have virtually disappeared this year. Lunar New Year demand is consistently high, while Chuseok barely reaches half that volume.

How Did the “Sadaenam” Become a Mocked Stereotype?

• ‘Young forty’ was a term first coined by Kim Yong-seop (Director of Sharp Imagination Institute) in 2015. It is now used to describe “40-somethings struggling to appear youthful.”
• The image of wearing Nike basketball shoes, Supreme pants, Solid Hombre or Stüssy shirts, and holding an iPhone has spread like a meme.
• Koo Jeong-woo (Sungkyunkwan University professor) said, “While the surface criticism targets superficial aspects like clothing, it masks the anger of conservative-leaning 20–30-something men toward progressive 40–50-something men,” adding, “Their argument—that ‘the hypocrisy of progressive middle-aged men has gone too far’—which began during the ‘Cho Kuk scandal,’ has now evolved into a sustained meme.”
• Related Link.

Worth Reading.

Let’s Just Give Him the Nobel Prize.

• Trump is already sulking, claiming, “If I don’t get the Nobel Prize, it will be a huge insult to the United States.” No Won-myeong (Maeil Business News commentator) warned, “If this suspicion proves true, who knows what might happen?”
• “Give it generously. To Trump. We must protect world peace from his pettiness.”
• Many may disagree, but this is precisely why Trump’s rampage is dangerous—and will grow more so.
• Related Link.

The Dilemma of Property Holding Taxes.

• South Korea’s property holding taxes are light, while transaction taxes are heavy.
• Two historical contexts explain this: First, the system was designed as a progressive tax targeting the wealthy rather than a universal proportional tax. Second, reflecting society’s view of real estate as a wealth-building tool, heavier emphasis was placed on transaction taxes.
• The Moon Jae-in administration pushed for higher holding taxes, which instead nearly doubled Seoul apartment prices.
• Kim Cham (Chosun Biz Real Estate Editor) noted, “A universal, proportional approach—not ‘punitive’ taxation—is needed to achieve real results.” For instance, applying a uniform tax rate to all housing while offering tax credits to reduce burdens on middle-class single-homeowners could be paired with such measures. Expanding supply and protecting the rental market must follow.
• Kim Cham warned, “Left-leaning governments must urgently erase the stigma of ‘real estate incompetence’—policies from a distrusted government inevitably face market backlash.”
• Related Link.

Demand Suppression Isn’t Enough.

• Korea Land & Housing Corporation’s (LH) Seoripul public housing district, planned on greenbelt-removed land, faced such strong resident backlash that it couldn’t even hold an explanatory meeting. While the Lee Jae-myung administration’s broad strategy is to suppress demand and increase supply, both approaches are proving difficult.
• Hwang Jung-il (Central Sunday senior reporter) warned, “Side effects like the balloon effect could further distort the market.” The Korea Construction Industry Research Institute released a report stating, “To realize the short-term effects of the September 7 measures, incentives to boost private-sector participation are needed.”
• Hwang Jung-il pointed out, “Given the president’s self-description as a ‘relentless pragmatist,’ it’s worth reconsidering whether progressive governments’ housing price stabilization policies have hit a fundamental limit.”
• Related Link.

South Korea’s Crisis-Overcoming DNA.

• Tesla entrusted its autonomous driving AI chipset to Samsung Electronics.
• Amazon is building a data center in Ulsan with SK.
• OpenAI requested Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix to supply memory chips worth 100 trillion won.
• Lee Dong-hyun (Korea Ilbo columnist) assessed, “The MASGA (Make American Shipbuilding Great Again) project, overshadowed by ‘Peak Korea’ discourse, has awakened the fact that South Korea is an irreplaceable key player in supply chains.”
• “While Trump demands cash investments for the U.S., American companies are rushing to invest in Korea, bringing wads of cash. Isn’t this a scene proving Korea is still climbing its peak?”
• Related Link.

The Public Sphere Has Vanished.

• Claims of a meeting between Cho Hee-dae (Chief Justice) and Han Duck-soo (then Prime Minister) are quietly fading. Weekly Kyunghyang noted, “Politics is repeatedly ‘judicializing’—raising suspicions then deferring to investigative bodies to determine facts.”
• Park Sang-hoon (political scientist) observed, “Democratic cultural and moral safeguards are broken,” adding, “Persuasion through careful, sincere examination of facts and logic no longer earns recognition. Instead, appealing to fanatical party members who relish fierce conflict has become the key to political success.”
• Lee Jae-mook (Hankuk University of Foreign Studies professor) warned, “While this may help with core supporters, its appeal to opponents or moderates is doubtful.”
• In fact, conspiracy theories originated with the People Power Party, which still pushes election fraud and Chinese interference claims.
• Jeon Sang-jin (Sogang University sociology professor) stated, “Conspiracy theories inevitably coexist in democracy, but how they’re handled critically impacts the system’s survival,” noting, “Objective, fair arbiters are essential—but if the legislative, executive, and judicial branches all lose trust, the risk of raw power dominating grows.”
• Related Link.