Cho Kyu-ho Was Still Police Commissioner.

• The Constitutional Court unanimously dismissed Cho Kyu-ho (Police Commissioner) with all nine justices in agreement. A year has passed since the National Assembly passed the impeachment motion on December 12 last year.
• Cho restricted lawmakers’ access to the National Assembly under the orders of Yoon Suk-yeol (then-president). The court ruled the original directive was unconstitutional and illegal—and that following it constituted a serious violation of the constitution.

“If It Were Me, I Wouldn’t File for Industrial Accident Compensation,” Said the Coupang Franchise Owner.

• These were the words of a Coupang franchise owner to the bereaved family of Jeong Seol-gi (Coupang employee).
• “Filing for industrial accident compensation takes a long time, and there’s no guarantee it’ll be accepted,” he urged.
• Jeong Seol-gi left a message saying, “I’m running like a dog,” before passing away.
• Kim Joo-ho (Participatory Society for Economic Democracy Livelihood and Economy Team Leader) argued, “A hearing or state investigation must be held to uncover the truth.”

Can Coupang Face a Business Suspension?

• The Fair Trade Commission is showing enthusiasm, but many observers argue that suspending operations solely for a personal data leak would be difficult.
• Under the E-Commerce Act, they can issue corrective measures to first restore damages—and if fundamental prevention of harm is deemed impossible, order a business suspension of up to one year.
• The key question is whether the E-Commerce Act applies. If it’s a Fair Trade Act violation, the maximum penalty would be a fine of up to 6% of sales revenue.

What Matters Now.

The Supreme Court Preempts the Sedition Tribunal Debate.

• The Democratic Party’s proposed sedition tribunal is separate. The Supreme Court has created a regulation to establish a dedicated court for concentrated review of state-critical cases. It will immediately handle appeals in sedition cases.
• The Supreme Court’s proposed tribunal is nearly identical to the Democratic Party’s bill. While some call it overdue, it resolves concerns about judicial independence violations and constitutional issues.
• For now, the Democratic Party insists on separately passing its special sedition tribunal law in the National Assembly.
• The Korea Daily assessed, “The Democratic Party now faces pressure.” The Cho Kuk Reform Party stated it would not oppose the party if it pushes forward.
• Park Soo-hyun (Democratic Party Spokesperson) said, “The judiciary has contradicted its own previous stance,” adding, “An apology to the public is in order.”
• In an editorial, Chosun Ilbo argued, “The Democratic Party’s sedition tribunal bill lacks justification and should be withdrawn.”
• Related Link.
• Related Link.
• Related Link.

Nuclear-Powered Submarine Negotiations to Conclude Within Two Years.

• These were the words of Ahn Gyu-baek (Minister of National Defense) during a task report. Enriched uranium for military purposes requires a separate agreement.
• The wartime operational control authority transfer will complete its second-phase verification by November next year.

Punitive Damages for Media, Passes Legal Affairs Committee.

• The Democratic Party uses the term “multiple damages.” This is because compensation amounts have historically been too low.
• The revised Information and Communications Network Act, which imposes punitive damages of up to five times for false or manipulated information, will go to the plenary session on the 22nd.
• A clause assigning media the burden of proof was removed. If a lawsuit is deemed a strategic blocking tactic, an interlocutory judgment can be requested to dismiss the case.
• The People Power Party opposes the bill, arguing it could stifle freedom of expression.
• In an editorial, the Korea Daily criticized, “If they close their ears to criticism and force this through, they’ll have no response to accusations of repeating the previous administration’s ‘muzzle policy.’”
• Related Link.

Deep Dive.

Unified Daejeon-Chungnam Mayor to Be Elected in Next Year’s Polls.

• It marks the start of the 5-Region 3-Special Strategy.
• The People Power Party initially led the push, but the government has since taken the reins.
• Kim Tae-heum (Governor of South Chungcheong) and Lee Jang-woo (Mayor of Daejeon) had both hinted they might not run unless unification is guaranteed—but we’ll see.
• A unified Daejeon-Chungnam would become the third-largest metropolitan entity by population.
• In the Democratic Party, whispers suggest Kang Hoon-sik (Chief of Staff to the President) is gearing up to enter the ring.

Another Fatal Accident at a Railway Construction Site.

• At the Yeouido Station construction site, a pile of rebar collapsed, killing a worker crushed under the steel structure.
• The contractor is POSCO E&C.
• A fatal accident also occurred at the Jamsil Bridge construction site: a crane toppled, crushing a worker to death.
• The contractor is Samhwan Enterprises.
• Related Link.
• Related Link.

Kim Moon-soo and Han Dong-hoon’s Love Shot Sparks Backlash from Lee Jun-seok.

• Han Dong-hoon (former People Power Party leader) vented frustration, saying, “If you want to crush me, go ahead,” but warned, “Don’t make a mockery of the party by punishing others.”
• This was in response to Jang Dong-hyeok (People Power Party leader) pushing to discipline Kim Jong-hyuk (former PPP Supreme Council member), a figure aligned with the pro-Yoon faction.
• Jang took issue with Kim’s radio interview remarks, including references to “a small group of ‘under-zhinyun’ individuals,” and is aggressively pursuing disciplinary action.
• Jang retaliated, stating, “One enemy within is more dangerous than 50 enemies outside.”
• Amid this, Han Dong-hoon’s shared photo of a “love shot” with Kim Moon-soo (former labor minister) was clearly calculated. Kim Moon-soo chimed in, asking, “Who is trying to cut down the party’s treasure?”
• The two had fiercely criticized each other during the last presidential election. Kim Moon-soo had denounced Han, saying, “Seeing how he treated Yoon Suk-yeol (former president), I wondered, ‘Is that even a human being?’ and seriously reconsidered basic human decency.” Han retorted, “I’m deeply disappointed—is he even a democrat?”
• Cho Gap-je (representative of Cho Gap-je.com) assessed, “If Kim Moon-soo and Han Dong-hoon unite, they could generate enough force to dismantle Jang Dong-hyeok’s system.”
• Lee Jun-seok (Reform Party leader) also weighed in, calling the Kim Moon-soo–Han Dong-hoon alliance “shocking” and questioning, “I wonder if Han Dong-hoon is embracing views on election fraud or martial law.”
• The JoongAng Ilbo analyzed, “As local elections approach, the struggle for hegemony is intensifying.”
• Related Link.
• Related Link.
• Related Link.
• Related Link.
• Related Link.

Another Take.

Oh Se-hoon’s Bold Move: 3 Trillion-Won Infrastructure Project Unveiled.

• The plan involves demolishing the elevated sections of the Inner Ring Road and Northern Radial Road and constructing an underground highway. A staggering 3.38 trillion won will be spent by 2037, yet no funding strategy exists.
• Oh Se-hoon (Mayor of Seoul) remarked, “Since the city’s annual budget exceeds 51 trillion won, spreading 300 billion won over ten years won’t be a heavy burden.”
• Related Link.

Baek Hae-ryong’s Controversy Must Be Resolved.

• Baek Hae-ryong (Superintendent, former head of Yeongdeungpo Police Station’s criminal investigation division) and Lim Eun-jung (Chief of Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors’ Office) continue their public clash.
• When Baek applied for a warrant to raid the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office, the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors’ Office rejected it, stating, “There is no objective evidence beyond vague speculation.”
• Critics argue that the disarray extends beyond mere coordination failures, signaling a collapse of investigative discipline. Kim Won-bae (JoongAng Ilbo columnist) remarked, “It is time for the president who appointed Baek to that position to resolve the issue.”
• Related Link.

“Rambling of a Deranged Elder,” Trump’s Speech Draws Scathing Criticism.

• Only 36% of respondents endorsed Donald Trump’s (U.S. President) economic management—a crisis-level figure.
• Trump claimed in a live broadcast, “I’m fixing the country ruined by Biden (former U.S. President),” but critics overwhelmingly dismissed this as tone-deaf and a distortion of core issues.
• USA Today assessed, “He sounded like an angry, unhinged old man.”
• Trump emphasized, “Next spring will be the biggest tax refund season in history.”
• The New York Times analyzed that Trump’s speech was riddled with falsehoods and exaggerations: inflation remains unchecked, investment commitments total $7 trillion—not $18 trillion—and most are non-binding pledges.
• Related Link.
• Related Link.

“Sleepy Biden” and “Divided Obama.”.

• These are brief assessments written beneath portraits of former U.S. presidents in the White House—handwritten by Trump himself.
• Biden hung a photo of an auto-pen (automatic signing device) instead of his portrait. Trump claims Biden’s cognitive decline forced him to replace his signature with an auto-pen.
• Related Link.

Trump’s Dam Breaks.

• Republican lawmakers are showing signs of defection. More Republicans have voted in favor of the Democratic bill extending Obamacare for three years, and some even supported nullifying Trump’s executive orders.
• Marjorie Taylor Greene (Republican House Representative) remarked, “The lame-duck season has begun.”
• “The 13 Republican lawmakers who overturned Trump’s executive order last week casually attended the White House Christmas party in tuxedos the same evening as the vote—a sign they no longer fear the president.”

The Fix.

Hydrogen Fuel Power Plants: Noise-Free, Carbon-Free.

• Lotte SK Energy Root is a joint venture between Lotte Chemical, SK Gas, and Air Liquide Korea.
• Following the launch of a 19.8MW hydrogen fuel power plant in Ulsan, the company plans to add four more units by November next year, expanding capacity to 80MW—enough to charge 10.64 million electric vehicles annually.
• Hydrogen fuel cells generate electricity through chemical reactions with hydrogen, emitting only water and heat. The water can be repurposed for industrial use, and the heat can be converted back into electricity.

Don’t Fear the 4.5-Day Workweek.

• Gyeonggi Province’s pilot project is receiving positive feedback. The province supports up to 260,000 won per worker monthly.
• Small- and medium-sized enterprises with fewer than 300 employees adopting a 4.5-day workweek are eligible. 107 companies are participating.
• Incis, a participant, operates from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM on weekdays and from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM on Fridays. Nam Hyun-sik (CEO of Incis) said, “The company atmosphere has improved as employees are happier,” adding, “There’s no need to fear it.”
• Related Link.

Are Apartments Without Bathrooms Acceptable?

• There is an obvious fact we’ve forgotten: Plutonium-239 in spent nuclear fuel has a half-life of 24,000 years. It takes 100,000 years for radioactivity to naturally dissipate.
• Kim Sung-hwan (Minister of Climate, Energy, and Environment) once described it as an “apartment without a bathroom” during his time as a lawmaker—precisely for this reason.
• There is a special law on high-level radioactive waste, quietly passed during the impeachment crisis. It allows temporary storage of spent nuclear fuel.
• Residents near power plants oppose it, fearing temporary storage will become permanent.
• Kim Hyun-woo (Director of the Institute for Degrowth and Alternatives) noted, “Lawmakers and media alike failed to recognize the significance of this 100,000-year law.”
• Related Link.

“150,000 Won Monthly: Joyful, but a Cry of Distress.”.

• Agricultural and fishing village basic income begins next year.
• Residents in seven pilot regions—Gyeonggi’s Yeoncheon, Gangwon’s Jeongseon, Chungnam’s Cheongyang, Jeonbuk’s Sunchang, Jeonnam’s Sinan, Gyeongbuk’s Yeongyang, and Gyeongnam’s Namhae—will receive 150,000 won in local currency monthly for two years.
• Only 40% of the budget is nationally funded; the remaining 60% is split equally between provincial and county governments. Of the 150,000 won, 60,000 is covered by the central government, with provinces and counties each contributing 45,000 won.
• “Central government takes credit, local governments bear the burden,” grumble local officials.
• Sunchang County, which must secure 4.86 billion won for the basic income budget, has cut funds from other projects: farmer allowances (1.03 billion won), child allowances (210 million won), and youth seed accounts (50 million won).

Population Rises Ahead of Basic Income Rollout.

• Namhae County’s population grew from 39,296 in September to 40,437 in November. The survey found many students who had moved their addresses to Changwon, Jinju, Sacheon, and other cities for studies had returned to their parents’ hometowns.
• Sinan County saw an increase in retirees relocating from Gwangju and Mokpo.
• Yeoncheon County’s Cheongsan Township, where Lee Jae-myung (President) launched a pilot project during his tenure as Gyeonggi Governor, experienced a temporary population spike that later declined.
• Kim Gi-heung (Kyunggi University Professor) noted, “Most rural areas facing population decline lack basic living infrastructure,” adding, “Without improving these conditions, the newly arrived population is likely to disappear within two years.”
• Related Link.

ICYMI.

“Work Hours for Lunch Only,” Year-End Party Misalignment.

• 2030s preferred meals during work hours.
• 4050s preferred post-work meals and drinks.
• Responses indicating year-end parties were necessary showed a significant gap: 48% of 20s, 51% of 30s, 67% of 40s, and 69% of 50s.
• While Incruit’s online survey shouldn’t be overinterpreted, some companies are indeed holding year-end parties at 4 PM and ending before work hours conclude.
• Related Link.

The End of Scaling, the Era of Research Has Arrived.

• Words from Ilya Sutskever (OpenAI co-founder). The era of competing by scaling data and computational resources has ended.
• Park Cheol-wan (Seojeong University professor) pointed out, “AI remains vulnerable to stably connecting and interpreting fundamental concepts.” The suggestion is that AI must advance beyond mimicking human data to produce high-quality knowledge independently.
• “The end of scaling has pushed Korea into a strategic and selective dilemma. Sutskever’s warning is not a solution but a call to confront the dilemma: whether to prioritize scaling, world models, AGI, or ASI—and in what sequence and pace. The second year of the new government is the moment to design this choice.”
• Related Link.

Remember the CCTV from His Seongnam Mayor Days?

• Kang Yu-jeong (Presidential Office spokesperson) said this.
• “The first time the president chose to be monitored was the CCTV from his tenure as Seongnam mayor. A panopticon is the gaze of power, and the monitored are the weak. The strong are those who look down from above—they never become the show’s protagonist.”
• “The live-streamed work reports mean he is willing to be the subject of surveillance,” she explained.
• Joo Jin-woo (People Power Party lawmaker) retorted, “Flattery should have limits,” adding, “The prosecution confirmed the CCTV in the mayor’s office was a dummy and nonfunctional.”
• Joo’s claim misrepresents the facts. According to testimony from Seongnam City Hall staff, the CCTV was confirmed to be operational.
• Related Link.
• Related Link.

Coupang Victims’ 240,000-Person Lawsuit.

• Coupang’s stock price, listed on the NYSE, plummeted from $32.10 on November 4 to $22.70 on the 17th.
• 240,000 victims filed a lawsuit seeking 100,000 won in damages each.

Worth Reading.

Easing Golden Share Separation for SK: Are There Alternatives?

• SK Hynix urgently needs over 100 trillion won in cash, but holds only about 20 trillion won.
• A capital increase could be an option, but issuing new shares would destabilize the group’s control structure.
• SK’s request is to allow a subsidiary investment company to secure funds.
• Choi Dong-beom (Seoul National University professor) criticized, “The approach of prioritizing growth logic under the guise of ‘strategic industry’ while postponing governance issues evokes the logic of the past development era,” adding, “It seems misaligned with the narrative of capital market advancement.”
• Related Link.

What’s Good for Chaebols, Good for the Nation?

• “What’s good for Hyundai Motor, good for the nation?”
• Lee Bon-young (Senior Reporter, Hankyoreh) pointed out, “The tariff negotiations were settled with a $35 billion investment commitment, leaving no time to calmly assess the terms.”
• The same applies to the controversial exception for SK’s separation of financial and industrial capital. Lee Bon-young assessed, “We’ve entered an era where a few conglomerates monopolize not just production but also the nation’s expectations.”
• Related Link.

AI Optimists Around the President.

• Is the Lee Jae-myung government seeing only the rosy future AI promises?
• Son Je-min (Kyunghyang Shinmun social editor) pointed out, “Equating human intelligence with AI risks reducing humans to mere functional tools, trapped in an instrumentalist perspective.”
• Son emphasized, “The government should focus more on discussing the negative impacts new technologies may have on citizens and how to prepare for them.”
• Related Link.

A Nation Does Not Honor Its Massacres.

• Im Jae-sung (lawyer) views it as an attempt by New Right groups to “resurrect Park Jin-kyung (lieutenant colonel).” The narrative frames the Jeju 4.3 massacre as a rebellion by the South Korean Workers’ Party.
• The argument claiming Park as a scapegoat proceeds as follows:
• First, testimonies that Park ordered harsh civilian suppression are claims by his assassins.
• Second, fewer than 30 killings occurred during his tenure.
• Third, while thousands of civilians were detained, it was a civilian protection operation.
• Im Jae-sung’s rebuttal:
• First, multiple testimonies confirm Park stated that sacrificing 300,000 Jeju residents would be acceptable.
• Second, the U.S. military government assessed the operation as a sweep from west to east, leaving no survivors.
• Third, it was not civilian protection but a precursor to massacre. (Had he not been assassinated, the death toll might have been unimaginably higher.)
• “The nation that killed Jeju residents apologized amid poverty and hardship. That same nation cannot suddenly label a mass killer as a patriot. That is not a nation.”