Prosecutors Resign Over Government’s Drop of Daejang-dong Appeal.

• Park Jae-eok (Suwon District Prosecutors’ Office Chief) and Song Kang (Gwangju High Prosecutors’ Office Chief) have submitted their resignations.
• They are two of the 18 prosecutors who publicly demanded explanations from the Ministry of Justice over its decision to abandon the appeal.
• The ministry is reportedly considering reassigning all named prosecutors as junior prosecutors.
• Kong Bong-suk (Seoul High Prosecutors’ Office trial prosecutor) criticized, “When public officials raise reasonable questions about situations that seem illegal or unjust in their duties, they are threatened with disciplinary action, criminal punishment, or demotion—simply for not blindly following orders.” She called this “completely unrealistic.”
• Another senior prosecutor warned, “This is an unlawful personnel measure disguised as a principled stance.”
• “Though discussions are still in early stages, actual implementation would spark significant backlash.”
• Related Link.

“Not Disobedience, Just Delivering Opinions—Seems No Ill Intent.”.

• These were the words of Jung Sung-ho (Minister of Justice). “However, collective action is not appropriate in the eyes of the public,” he added.
• When asked if prosecutors would face disciplinary action, he deflected, “The president has left the country.”
• Related Link.

Do Prosecutors Have the Credibility to Speak of ‘Muzzling’?

• Criticism has even reached the point of calling it “muzzling.”
• The Korea Herald editorial noted, “To the public, the current government and ruling party’s aggressive stance is not significantly different from the Yoon Suk-yeol administration’s approach of wielding personnel authority and mobilizing prosecutors and auditors against those who disobeyed the regime.”
• There are also uncomfortable gazes pointing out the prosecutors’ hypocrisy.
• Kim Hee-won (Korea Herald News Standards Director) pointed out, “They should reflect on whether they’ve spoken out against not only external pressure but also internal injustices within the prosecution.”
• “What did the prosecutors resist? What did they protect?”
• Related Link.
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Jeong Cheong-rae and Kim Byung-ki Remain Silent.

• The Democratic Party is keeping its distance for now. Kyunghyang Shinmun analyzed, “The intent is to make the president’s time appear more impactful.”
• Kim Byung-ki (Democratic Party floor leader) said, “Whenever the president travels abroad, strange remarks from our party overshadow achievements—we aim to eliminate that.”
• Park Ji-won (Democratic Party lawmaker) suggested, “The more we explain the Daejang-dong issue, the more the People Power Party’s narrative expands,” adding, “Let’s not get drawn in.”

What Matters Now.

Exit Strategy for the Appeal Abandonment Controversy.

• Whether prosecutors’ backlash constitutes insubordination can be judged after verifying the facts.
• First, the Ministry of Justice must address allegations of external pressure.
• Second, while at it, they should also confirm suspicions of fabricated recordings involving Jeong Young-hak.
• Only then can the right and wrong of the selective prosecution crisis and accountability be determined, Kyunghyang Shinmun suggests.
• Related Link.

Controversy Over Constitutional Violations in Civil Servant Phone Forensics.

• The government is investigating public officials suspected of participating in an illegal martial law declaration. Under the guise of a “Constitution-Respecting Government Innovation Task Force,” it is pressuring officials to voluntarily submit their mobile phones, and if they refuse, it plans to consider removing them from their posts and requesting investigations.
• The approach has drawn criticism for mirroring methods the Democratic Party previously condemned as unconstitutional, compounded by allegations that the task force itself lacks legal basis.

Military Talks Proposed to North Korea.

• “We propose discussing the establishment of a Military Demarcation Line (MDL) baseline through inter-Korean military authority talks to prevent accidental clashes and ease military tensions.”
• The Ministry of National Defense issued a statement. The aim is to prevent accidental clashes that could arise as many of the military demarcation line markers installed during the 1953 armistice have been lost.
• Multiple attempts to contact via the UN Command channel have so far gone unanswered.

Special Prosecutor for Gwanbong-gwon-Coupang Allegations Launched.

• This is the second permanent special prosecutor since the 2021 Sewol Ferry truth investigation.
• Lee Jae-myung (President) appointed Ahn Kwon-seop (Daryun Law Firm attorney). It consists of one special prosecutor, two deputy special prosecutors, and up to 30 public officials, operating for up to 90 days.

Fading Flames in Yeosu.

• Chosun Ilbo found that 222 of 520 stores in Yeosu’s Gyodong Jinnam Commercial District are vacant—a 43% vacancy rate. As the petrochemical industry, which accounts for 43% of Yeosu’s economy, collapses, the local economy has also fallen into recession. “There are fears it could become Korea’s Rust Belt,” one source said.
• Yeocheon NCC has accumulated losses of 974.8 billion won from 2022 to the third quarter of this year. Though it once surpassed Samsung Electronics for top-paying salaries, now it’s unclear when its idled factories—shut down to save maintenance costs—will restart.
• The petrochemical industry is a vertically integrated structure centered on conglomerates. The Yeocheon Industrial Complex hosts 137 large corporations, with direct and indirect employment reaching 21,900.
• Though petrochemical exports once exceeded those of automobiles, the sector has crumbled since 2020 as Chinese competitors expanded production and flooded markets with low-cost products.
• Yeosu’s local tax revenue dropped from 194 billion won in 2023 to 93.7 billion won last year.
• Related Link.

Deep Dive.

“Parliamentary Ratification of Trade Talks? Like Tying a Boxer’s Hands and Feet.”.

• Kim Jeong-gwan (Minister of Trade, Industry, and Energy) said: “There are parts that can be changed through additional negotiations, but if parliamentary ratification occurs, only Korea will be legally bound.”
• Koo Yoon-cheol (Minister of Economy and Finance) added, “Investment agreement MOUs are administrative agreements with no legal binding force,” and warned, “It could lead to a situation where the U.S. bears no significant obligations while Korea continues to bear them.”
• Kim Yang-hee (Professor at Daegu University) stated, “Parliament should monitor and check the process while ensuring it steers negotiations toward national interest, keeping them open to revision at any time.”

Yoon Suk-yeol Sedition Case Ruling in February.

• Kim Yong-hyun (former Minister of National Defense) and other co-conspirators in the sedition case will be sentenced in early next year, while Han Duck-soo (former Prime Minister) will receive his ruling by late January.
• Kim Keon-hee (Yoon Suk-yeol’s spouse) and Jeon Seong-bae (Geonjin Beopssa) could see their bribery case resolved sooner. If the sentencing hearing proceeds on December 3, a ruling in early January is likely.
• No Sang-won (former Intelligence Command Chief) has been scheduled for sentencing on December 15. The special prosecutor’s team has requested a three-year prison term.

Prosecutors to Return Assets Without Request for Seizure Recovery.

• Criticism arises as prosecutors abandon appeals, necessitating the return of assets previously seized from Nam Wook (owner of Cheonhwadongin No. 4) and others. While prosecutors sought 7.48 trillion won in recoveries from three key figures in the Daejang-dong case, the first trial court approved only 47.3 billion won against Kim Man-bae (major shareholder of Hwacheon Daeyu).
• The 2.07 trillion won in secured seizure funds remains, but the Korea Daily noted, “Releasing them without separate requests is the procedural norm.” Though final rulings could still emerge, the prosecution’s appeal abandonment leaves no possibility of increased recovery amounts.
• Related Link.

In Five Years, Semiconductors Will Fall Behind China Too.

• Red Memory’s blitzkrieg. SMIC, Yangtze Memory Technologies (YMTC), and Changxin Memory Technologies (CXMT) are closing the gap at breakneck speed.
• SMIC already holds 5% of the foundry market share—Samsung Electronics has 8%.
• YMTC is producing 3D NAND memory at the 270-layer level. The technological gap with Samsung Electronics or SK Hynix is not significant.
• CXMT is selling memory semiconductors at half the price. Some say it’s only a matter of time before even Micron Technology’s dominance in the memory big three collapses.
• Lee Jun (Industrial Research Institute researcher) emphasized, “We must redesign industrial structures to focus on high-value-added production and establish systems to secure high-skilled personnel.”
• Related Link.

Another Take.

Viewing East as North Reveals a Different World.

• This is the commander’s column posted by Xavier Brunson (USFK Commander) on the USFK website. It explains the value the U.S. places on its forces in Korea.
• Pyeongtaek, where Camp Humphreys is located, lies 255 km from Pyongyang, 985 km from Beijing, 1,155 km from Tokyo, and 1,425 km from Taiwan. From Beijing’s perspective, the USFK’s Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek is a nearby threat.
• From the U.S. standpoint, the strategic triangular network of Korea-Japan-Philippines is crucial in countering North Korea-China-Russia.
• First, the Korean Peninsula is not a vulnerable forward base but a powerful strategic asset.
• Second, Korea-Japan-Philippines must be viewed as a single connected network.
• Third, what is needed is not separate bilateral relationships but trilateral cooperation that leverages each party’s complementary capabilities.
• Related Link.

Viewing the Korean Peninsula as a Forward Base Against China.

• Xavier Brunson’s east-up map is not merely inverted—it reorients the entire perspective.
• The Hankyoreh highlighted this map in its lead headline, analyzing, “It appears intended to underscore the need for expanded strategic flexibility.” This framing positions the Korean Peninsula as a central axis for countering Chinese and Russian influence.

Tax Policy Too Easily Swayed by Politics.

• Spending needs have grown, yet the tax-cutting approach persists.
• First, the plan to tighten the major shareholder threshold for stock capital gains tax was abandoned after review. 200 billion won in tax revenue vanished.
• Second, the top marginal tax rate for separate taxation of dividend income will be lowered from 45% to 25%. 4.6 trillion won in tax revenue will disappear.
• Third, inheritance taxes will also be eased. The spouse deduction will rise from 500 million won to 1 billion won, and the lump-sum deduction from 500 million won to 800 million won.
• Kim Woo-chul (Professor at Seoul City University) assessed, “The scale of tax increases is insufficient, and the direction is problematic,” adding, “Tax policy is overly swayed by politics and has lost predictability.”
• Related Link.

National Heritage Agency: “Development Near Jongmyo Must Halt Until Heritage Impact Assessment.”.

• UNESCO has sent a formal opinion.
• Seoul City maintains that the site does not fall under the 100-meter historical and cultural preservation zone and that UNESCO’s recommendation lacks legal basis.
• Oh Se-hoon (Seoul Mayor) criticized, “The National Heritage Agency lacks understanding of urban planning and is overly sensitive.”
• Heo Min (Director of the National Heritage Agency) emphasized, “Jongmyo was recognized as a heritage site for its landscape respecting nature and the tranquility arising from its refined architecture.” He explained, “We are not opposing redevelopment—our stance is that development should coexist within the bounds of protecting World Heritage value.”
• Related Link.

“Blocking the Sky? It’s Oppressive.”.

• Kim Min-seok (Prime Minister) stated, “It results in suppressing the spirit,” while Choi Hwi-young (Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism) protested, “If no shadow is cast, then what’s the issue? But blocking the sky?”
• Eo Soo-woong (Chosun Ilbo Culture Editor) criticized, “The provincial aesthetic sensibilities and rigid stereotypes of this government’s bureaucrats are unsettling.”
• “Some find beauty in the repetition of rooftop tiles, others in the building skyline, and still others in a blend of both. Taste is subjective and free. But insisting only one’s own is right while denying others’ preferences is violence. The Hollywood producers of ‘K-pop Demon Hunters’ discovered Seoul’s unique charm: unlike New York or Tokyo, the Korean capital coexists with mountains, palaces, and skyscrapers. Foreign visitors marvel at the juxtaposition of Gyeongbokgung and skyscrapers, Seoul’s fortress walls and city nightscapes—all captured in a single frame.”
• Related Link.
• Related Link.
• Related Link.

Development Near Jongmyo: Plenty of Options Exist.

• High-rise redevelopment is not the only way to ensure profitability. Lower buildings with higher floor-area ratios are also possible. Architect Hwang Doo-jin pointed out, “Most buildings in Paris, France, are only 5–6 stories high, yet its average floor-area ratio is higher than Seoul’s.”
• Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon insists on high-rise, low-floor-area-ratio development. Creating a central green axis increases compensation costs, forcing taller structures to offset them. Hwang Doo-jin noted, “It could become a massive landmark, but there are concerns about disconnecting from historical context.”
• Moon So-young (JoongAng Ilbo columnist) suggested moving beyond the binary of “How dare you?” and “It must be done!” She argued, “Attacking opponents as either ‘reckless developers destroying sacred royal heritage’ or ‘obstinate traditionalists ignoring residents’ plight by turning Seun Sangga into a slum’ yields no solution.”
• Kim Jong-won (former director of Gyeongnam Provincial Museum of Art) stated, “It’s problematic when government bureaucrats approach Jongmyo’s sanctity and national spirit with mysticism.”
• “Tradition is constantly reimagined. If Jongmyo represents the pinnacle of Confucian aesthetics from the past, it’s crucial to connect it to the spirit of our time. Even Europe’s ancient cathedrals are now aesthetic experiences rather than purely religious ones—and Jongmyo should be no different. Seoul’s plan must be calmly evaluated for its aesthetic value, free from political logic or dogmatic ‘preservation at all costs.’”
• Related Link.

Why Even the New York Times Turned on Mandelblit.

• While the Wall Street Journal’s stance is understandable, even the New York Times disparaged Zoran Mandelblit (New York City mayor-elect), calling him “unfit for office.” Yet he ultimately won by a landslide.
• The Columbia Journalism Review criticized, “Mainstream US media pretends to be politically and socially liberal but hypocritically prioritizes protecting the establishment.” It likened their stance to “high-income commuters from affluent suburbs clutching their wallets in fear of pickpockets and trembling at the sight of homeless people on the notorious New York subway they only see in crime dramas.”
• “Within a 30-block radius of Manhattan, the city’s highest-paid professionals puzzle over what went wrong. Yet the 95% of voters living in the rest of New York City seem to grasp the situation more clearly.”
• Seo Soo-min (Sogang University professor) noted, “This reveals the structural limitations of major US media, which showcase a narrow ideological spectrum from center-right to liberal, ignoring fundamental change and advocating only incremental reforms—no matter how dire citizens’ lives become.”
• Related Link.
• Related Link.

The Fix.

There Is a Way to Change Early Morning Delivery.

• Coupang’s union proposes that early morning delivery can be maintained even with restrictions on deliveries between 0:00–5:00.
• First, essential items for early morning delivery could be designated, and discounts could be offered to consumers who opt for daytime delivery for non-urgent items, redirecting them to daytime delivery.
• Second, instead of eliminating overnight shifts, early-morning and afternoon shifts could be introduced to preserve jobs.
• Third, separating sorting tasks alone would significantly reduce workload. Coupang Logistics Services workers spend an average of 2.6 hours per day on sorting.
• Since 2020, 25 Coupang workers have died.

Over Three Fatal Industrial Accidents: Minimum 3 Billion Won Penalty.

• Kim Yoon (Democratic Party lawmaker) proposed an amendment to the Industrial Safety and Health Act, imposing fines up to 5% of operating profits, increasing to 10% for repeated violations.
• A bill mandating the public disclosure of accident investigation reports is also being prepared.

Japanese Rice Prices Shatter Record at ¥4,316 for 5kg.

• Over 40,000 Korean won. At the 5kg mark, Korean rice costs less than half that price.
• This year, South Korea has exported over 550 tons of milled rice to Japan.

Clashing Japan and China.

• Japan refuses to retract Prime Minister Sanae Takai’s remarks, which soured relations with Beijing by suggesting Self-Defense Forces could be sent to Taiwan.
• China dispatched Coast Guard vessels to patrol the Senkaku Islands (Diaoyu Islands). Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara responded, “This violates international law. We have lodged a strong protest through diplomatic channels and demanded their immediate withdrawal from our territorial waters.”

ICYMI.

Constitution Day to Become a Public Holiday Again.

• It has been 18 years. It commemorates the day the Constitution was enacted and promulgated.
• Among national commemorative days—so-called “jols”—it was the only one not designated a public holiday.
• Yesterday, the National Assembly’s Administrative Safety Committee passed an amendment to the Public Holidays Act by bipartisan agreement.

China’s Seoul Syndrome.

• It’s a buzzword describing the difficulty of adjusting to daily life after returning from Seoul, missing Korea so much.
• Last year, 4.6 million Chinese tourists visited Korea. This year, 4.24 million have visited through September.
• For reference, Japanese tourists numbered 3.22 million last year and 2.67 million this year.
• The Segye Ilbo analyzed, “Younger Chinese generations prioritize experiences over consumption,” adding, “Seoul’s K-pop performances, local-vibe cafes, Han River picnics, and convenient subway/urban mobility act as an ‘experience package rarely attainable in daily life’ for them.”
• Related Link.
• Related Link.

Tokyo Tops Wealthiest Cities, Seoul Places Fifth.

• CEO World rankings. Tokyo’s regional GDP: $2.6 trillion, New York+New Jersey (US): $2.5 trillion, Los Angeles+Long Beach+Anaheim (US): $1.6 trillion, London (UK): $1.5 trillion, Seoul (South Korea): $1.4 trillion.
• Seoul and Shanghai were highlighted as Asia’s “rising stars.”
• Busan+Gyeongnam ranked 45th with $0.7 trillion.
• Related Link.

Chinese Firms Dominate Top 8 Electric Vehicle Rankings.

• BYD sold 2.96 million units, Geely 1.52 million, ranking first and second. SAIC Motor, Changan, and Chery followed with 860,000, 660,000, and 470,000 units, placing fifth, sixth, and eighth.
• Tesla ranked third with 1.22 million units, while Hyundai-Kia placed seventh with 480,000.
• BYD and Geely held market shares of 20% and 10%, respectively. As Chinese automakers expanded their share, other global manufacturers saw declines.

Worth Reading.

Lee Jae-myung Doesn’t Need to Be Perfect.

• Lee Dae-geun (Woosuk University professor) emphasized, “We must consider whether attempting to resolve Lee Jae-myung’s post-retirement trials is worth trading for successful governance.” It would require employing every conceivable irregularity, deviation, and shortcut—and preparing to pay the steep price of exhausting conflict, confrontation, governmental dysfunction, and loss of public trust.
• The public chose Lee Jae-myung not because he embodies flawless morality but because he was assessed for leadership qualities. Lee Dae-geun warned, “The more we try to mold him into an infallible figure, the more perilous it becomes for both the government and him.”
• “Having power does not mean one can control everything. A wise person does not waste energy trying to control the uncontrollable.”
• Theologian Reinhold Niebuhr once said, “Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to distinguish the one from the other.”
• Related Link.

A Truly Dangerous Signal.

• The Justice Ministry had explicitly urged “careful review.” What if Noh Man-seok (then acting prosecutor general) had acknowledged, “This involves the president, so backlash is inevitable,” and added, “If dropping the appeal is deemed correct, the minister can simply exercise prosecutorial command authority”?
• Kang Hoon-sik (presidential chief of staff) had warned, “Do not drag the president into political strife”—yet this unfolded just four days later. It was an incident that rebranded an efficient president as “defendant Lee Jae-myung.”
• Kim Tae-gyu (Hankyoreh society editor) cautioned, “Even after a major blunder, no one’s responsibility is clear,” adding, “That is the more dangerous signal.”
• Related Link.