“Cannot Be an Obstacle,” Kim Byung-ki Resigns.

• Kim Byung-ki (Democratic Party floor leader), who had held on, stepped down. Continuous revelations from former aides proved damaging, with a leaked call recording with Kang Sun-woo (Democratic Party lawmaker) being the final blow.
• Speculation about coordination with the Blue House existed, but the situation became untenable. Calls for a special prosecutor are also emerging.
• Lee Jae-myung (Democratic Party leader) ordered a fact-finding investigation.
• A by-election for floor leader is scheduled for January 11th.

This Won’t End with a Resignation.

• Questions remain: Did Kim Byung-ki (Democratic Party floor leader) suppress allegations that Kang Sun-woo (Democratic Party lawmaker) received 100 million won from Kim Kyung (then-Seoul City Council candidate)?
• There were also suspicions that Kim Byung-ki’s wife used the expense card of the acting chairperson of the Dongjak District Council.
• Accusations of hijacking aides’ Telegram accounts emerged too.
• Controversies included hotel accommodation vouchers, alleged job-finding favors for his son, and claims he ordered attacks on competitors.
• The scandals unfolded at a rate of “one per day.”
• From preferential treatment in protocol, medical care, and hiring—the entire family may face police investigation.

What Matters Now.

Who Received the 100 Million Won?

• What is clear is that Kim Kyung handed 100 million won to either Kang Sun-woo or her aide, and despite Kang reporting this to Kim Byung-ki, she still received the nomination.
• If the aide—not Kang—received and held the money, and Kang confirmed this and immediately returned it, she might avoid blame, but this remains unclear.
• Equally critical is how Kim Byung-ki acted after learning the facts.
• According to the Korea Daily, it is highly likely he did not inform other nomination committee members.
• Related Link.

The Democratic Party’s Moral Numbness.

• The Korea Daily analyzed, “Intra-party selfishness and opportunism exacerbated the crisis.” “The division between pro-Myung and pro-Cheong factions prioritized protecting their own.”
• Until suspicions against Kang Sun-woo emerged, Kim Byung-ki reportedly received thousands of text messages urging him to “hang in there.”
• Some lawmakers defended him, claiming, “If aides decide to expose private lives, few lawmakers would survive.”
• Related Link.

Will the Party Lean Toward Pro-Myung or Pro-Cheong?

• Kim Byung-ki (Democratic Party floor leader) had been mediating between Lee Jae-myung (President) and Jung Cheong-rae (Democratic Party leader), creating a delicate tension.
• Kim served as a de facto spokesperson for the Pro-Myung faction, acting as a counterweight to the Pro-Cheong faction.
• A Democratic Party lawmaker interviewed by JoongAng Ilbo said, “With so many pressing issues, it’s likely that hardliners led by Jung Cheong-rae will dominate decision-making.” “The ‘mismatched rhythms’ may disappear, but so could the balancing force.”
• Park Jeong (Democratic Party lawmaker), Baek Hye-ryeon (Democratic Party lawmaker), and Han Byung-do (Democratic Party lawmaker) have emerged as candidates for the next floor leader.
• Seo Young-kyo (Democratic Party lawmaker), Jo Seung-rae (Democratic Party secretary-general), and Lee Eun-ju (Democratic Party supreme council member) are also being mentioned.
• The successor’s term will last only four months.
• Related Link.

Did Coupang’s CEO Lie to the National Assembly?

• Harold Rogers (Coupang CEO) claimed, “The National Intelligence Service requested we contact the suspect.”
• The National Intelligence Service requested, “Please file a perjury charge against Harold Rogers.” They argued, “Before contacting Coupang, the suspect had already duplicated image copies,” and “There is no record of giving any instructions, orders, or permissions beyond requesting data.”
• Kim Young-bae (Democratic Party lawmaker) remarked, “The evidence is insufficient.”
• When asked to wear a simultaneous interpreter device, he refused, stating, “My interpreter is skilled” and “She has interpreted at the UN.”
• His controversial attitude included pointing at Choi Min-hee (Science and Technology Committee chairperson), tapping the desk, and shouting, “Enough!”—a brazen response to criticism.

Lee Hye-hoon’s Apology.

• “Sedition is an act that must never occur in constitutional history” and “an illegal act that destroys democracy,” she said.
• Positions change convictions. Lee Hye-hoon (nominee for Minister of Planning and Budget) stated, “While engaged in party politics, I became entrenched in partisanship and lost sight of the essence of the issue and the true nature of the crisis facing the national community,” adding, “I will make no excuses.” The apology was clean.
• When asked about her view on the Lee Jae-myung administration’s expansionary fiscal policy, she remarked, “I very much want to discuss this” but withheld further comment, saying, “I will arrange a separate occasion.”

Mixing the Rainbow Yields Black.

• Lee Jae-myung (President) said this: “If the ruling faction enjoys everything and excludes the rest, it becomes not politics but war”—a remark directed at Lee Hye-hoon.
• He stated, “The extreme act of purging groups and individuals with differing views to monopolize everything was sedition.”
• “Do not mix the rainbow; preserve each color, but when choosing blue, do not lose sight of the expectations, principles, and values we must uphold. The goal is not to create a mishmash but to build a harmonious rainbow centered on blue.”

Han Dong-hoon’s Family Did Write the Posts.

• The People Power Party’s Audit Committee confirmed it.
• The accounts in question were created by five members of Han Dong-hoon’s (former People Power Party leader) family. They posted 1,428 articles using five IDs.
• Han Dong-hoon stated, “I later learned that my family members anonymously posted editorials and columns critical of President Yoon Suk-yeol and his wife,” adding, “If this warrants criticism, direct it at me.” He acknowledged the facts but did not apologize.

Such Writings Were Posted.

• “Gun-hee should be muzzled and locked up. If left alone, he’ll end up on the guillotine.”
• “Has there ever been such a mad First Lady in conservative government history? I don’t even want to call her First Lady. She’s just a shamans. Insane.”
• “Yoon Suk-yeol is too stupid to control his wife. Even as a prosecutor, all investigations were handled by Han Dong-hoon. Yoon just drank.”
• “Yongsan views party members as dried pollack roe.”

Lee Jae-myung to Meet Xi Jinping in China.

• Lee Jae-myung (President) will visit China on a state visit from January 4–7.
• It marks the first such trip in six years, following Moon Jae-in (former president) in 2019.
• Key issues include South Korea’s nuclear submarine acquisition, Chinese installations in the Yellow Sea, and cross-strait relations.

KOSPI Surges 75.6%.

• Closed at 4,214.
• This year’s gain rate ranks first among major economies. Last year saw a -9.6% decline.
• Market cap ballooned from 481 trillion won to 1,256 trillion won.
• Two rounds of Commercial Act revisions had significant impact.
• PBR (price-to-book ratio) rose from 0.84x to 1.35x.
• Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix hit 120,000 won and 65,000 won per share respectively.

Won-Dollar Exchange Rate Closes at 1,422 Won.

• The annual average exchange rate was 1,422.16 won—the highest since 1998’s 1,398.88 won.
• This year’s exchange rate traced a V-shaped curve. It hit 1,484 won in April but fell to 1,350 won in June before rebounding.
• With declining potential growth rates and rising overseas investment, next year’s outlook is also grim.

Deep Dive.

South Korea Faces Shortage of 5,704–11,000 Doctors by 2040.

• The Physician Workforce Estimation Committee’s conclusion.
• It estimates the number of active physicians in 2040 at 138,137–138,984.
• The required number of physicians is 144,688–149,273.
• The results factor in variables such as AI adoption and reduced working hours.
• Medical school quotas increased temporarily from 3,058 to 4,567 in 2025 before reverting.
• Reflecting the estimates, an increase of less than 500 is likely.

Yoon Suk-yeol + Kim Keon-hee Trials: 8 + 3 Cases.

• First half of next year is the time for judgment.
• The rebellion leadership case will have its first trial verdict in February.
• The arrest obstruction case is scheduled for sentencing on January 16.
• The general espionage (drone infiltration) case has its first trial on January 12.
• The Han Duck-soo trial perjury case has a pre-trial hearing on January 13, and the pressure on investigation of Corporal Chae case has a pre-trial hearing on February 3.
• The Myeong Tae-gyun free polling (Violation of Political Funds Act) and the false disclosure of Geonjin Law Affairs (Violation of Election Law) cases have not been scheduled yet. The claim that “there was no meeting with Geonjin Law Affairs” was proven false.
• Kim Keon-hee’s stock price manipulation case is scheduled for sentencing on January 28.
• The Unification Church mass membership case has a pre-trial hearing on January 14.
• Kim Keon-hee’s solicitation bribery case has not been scheduled yet.

What Is Jang Dong-hyeok Doing?

• Chosun Ilbo’s coverage drips with frustration. Jang Dong-hyeok (People Power Party leader) was criticized for “repeating slogans about unity without presenting a vision.”
• Since Lee Hye-hoon’s defection, conservative media’s anxiety has grown. Comments like “the Democratic Party is looting the empty center” have emerged.
• A People Power Party lawmaker said, “Jang Dong-hyeok’s current actions are effectively tying the party to Yoon Suk-yeol and Kim Keon-hee’s shared fate—like a mutual suicide pact.” Another lawmaker remarked, “It seems he’s trying to turn our party into a regional conservative faction centered on Yeongnam.”
• Related Link.

Another Take.

KT Hacking Fallout: Liability Waived, Penalties Refunded.

• Until January 13. If penalties were already paid, they can be reclaimed.
• KT agreed to provide an additional 100GB of data for February–July.
• SK Telecom offered a 50% monthly fee discount for a month, but KT has no fee discounts.

Saewul Nuclear Reactor Unit 3 to Begin Operation in August 2025.

• Construction began in 2019, and it received operational approval after nine years. It is the 29th large-scale nuclear reactor, with a design lifespan of 60 years and a capacity of 1.4GW.
• Kim Sung-hwan (Minister of Climate and Energy Environment) stated, “A complete energy transition—phasing out coal and gas plants while combining carbon-free renewable energy and nuclear power—is unavoidable.”
• Chosun Ilbo headlined on its front page: “The Lee Jae-myung administration’s stance on nuclear power was ambiguous, but this approval has strengthened confidence that reactors under construction or planned will proceed as scheduled,” citing an anonymous nuclear industry insider.
• Related Link.

Punitive Fines for Abusive Businesses: What About Coupang?

• Monopoly fines will triple, rising to 20% of relevant sales (currently 6%).
• The direction under Lee Jae-myung (President) is to ease criminal penalties while strengthening economic sanctions.
• Coupang, with less than 50% market share, is not subject to this.
• Cartel penalties will rise from 20% to 30% of sales, unfair trade practices from 4% to 10%.

The Fix.

2030 Labor Hours: 1,700 Hours Annually.

• Last year’s Korean average was 1,859 hours.
• The Ministry of Employment and Labor is revising the comprehensive wage system. The principle is that excluding overtime and holiday work from counting—under the guise of comprehensive wages—should be permitted only exceptionally for certain occupations.

Half-Day Leave: 30 Minutes Early Departure Instead of Lunch.

• Four-hour workdays are also being legislated.
• When using half-day leave, the 30-minute break can be used freely, allowing for a 30-minute early departure.
• A “no-KakaoTalk” law, prohibiting post-work-hour contact, is also being legislated.

Summer Gained 25 Days, Winter Lost 22.

• Results comparing the average of the 30 years before 100 years ago to the recent 30 years.
• Summer increased from 98 days to 123 days, while winter decreased from 109 days to 87 days.
• The number of heatwave days rose from an average of 7.7 days in the 1910s to 16.9 days in the 2020s. Cold wave days dropped from 3.7 days to 1.1 days.

Ending Overseas Adoptions After 76 Years.

• It began in 1953, when four mixed-race children were sent to the U.S.
• The Holt Children’s Services was established in 1956.
• In 1985, 8,837 children were sent abroad.
• A proxy adoption system was introduced, allowing children to be taken without coming to Korea.
• Over 76 years, 170,000 children were sent overseas.
• The government will phase out overseas adoptions, with a full halt by 2029.
• Related Link.

ICYMI.

NewJeans Agency Sues Daniel and Hyejin Min for ₩43.1 Billion.

• ADOR, the agency of girl group NewJeans, filed a damages lawsuit against NewJeans member Daniel and Hyejin Min (former ADOR CEO).
• ADOR claims Daniel led the rebellion within NewJeans. While ADOR accepted the return of Haerin, Hyein, and Hanni, Daniel’s contract was terminated. No decision has been made regarding Minji yet.
• Related Link.

New Year’s Day at -16°C.

• Today’s low is -12°C.
• The cold will persist all week.

Worth Reading.

Can Lee Jae-myung and Lee Hye-hoon Click?

• Go Jeong-ae (Central Sunday Editor-in-Chief) believes it won’t work.
• During the Moon Jae-in administration, Kim Dong-yeon (then Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, now Gyeonggi Governor) was sidelined after diverging from the Blue House’s stance.
• Lee Hye-hoon’s direction differs far more sharply than Kim’s. Her grip is so strong that Kim Yong-bum (former Blue House Policy Chief) seems like a pale shadow of a deputy prime minister. The presence of fiscal expert Ryu Deok-hyun (Senior Fiscal Planning Advisor) is also formidable.
• “Will Lee Hye-hoon truly present ‘different ideas’? One can only hope she’s not just a symbol of ‘conservative female politician.’”
• Related Link.

Chafed by the Term “Old-School Media”?

• “They say these days it’s ‘old-school media,’ but there was a time when people only saw what certain media outlets chose to screen. Back then, so-called gatekeeping filtered information—delivering only what was deemed necessary, subtly distorting it when needed. Since the public saw nothing else, they were easily swayed. Now, isn’t everything real-time? Even this very moment, as I speak, hundreds of thousands will watch it directly.”
• These were the words of Yu Si-min (former chairman of the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation).
• Lee Joo-young (editor-in-chief of Weekly Kyunghyang) pointed out, “The danger of the term ‘old-school media’ lies in its effect of lumping countless media outlets together and disparaging them.” He added, “Cynicism and hatred toward the media as a whole blur the focus of criticism and ultimately weaken citizens’ ability to judge.”
• “In this polarized era, what we need is not new platforms but good journalism. Only when media fulfill their core role—verifying facts and holding power accountable—can we confront an undistorted world. The influence of media should be measured not by views or subscribers, but by the information they leave in society.”
• Related Link.
• Related Link.

Why Old-School Media Must Step Up.

• “There is no benevolent power in the world—only dangerous power and more dangerous power. Power, by nature, craves more strength and risks spiraling out of control. Civil society and media are the checks on such power.”
• Kim Joon-il (political commentator) noted, “The blind support of new media can sometimes benefit a faction, but their items often lack objectivity from the start.”
• “This isn’t about superiority or morality—it’s a matter of preference. Now is the heyday of new media. If new media aspires to be a bidet, shouldn’t old-school media at least fulfill its role?”
• Related Link.

Lee Soo-il Was More Pathetic Than Kim Joong-bae.

• Seon Woo-jung (Chosun Ilbo Senior Columnist)’s column lays bare the conservative camp’s tangled feelings toward Lee Hye-hoon (Minister of Planning and Finance)’s defection.
• “Did Kim Joong-bae’s diamond ring tempt you that much?” was Song Un-seok (People Power Party Floor Leader)’s remark.
• Though the analogy to the novel Jang Han Mong is outdated, if Lee Hye-hoon is Sim Soon-ae who betrayed her lover for a diamond ring, then Lee Soo-il is the People Power Party left heartbroken.
• “What kind of unity breaks political ethics? I only sense lowly scheming—tearing at weak links to split the PPP, treating public office as a tool to toy with opponents like pawns.”
• Seon Woo-jung pointed, “The real issue is the PPP being taken advantage of,” asking, “How weak must they be to deserve this?”
• Related Link.

Because It’s Still Possible in Korea.

• In the 2017 iPhone battery gate scandal, Apple paid $550 million in settlements to U.S. consumers, but Korean consumers received only 70,000 won each—shared by seven individuals. Korea lacks class-action lawsuits.
• Lee Yong-woo (former Democratic Party lawmaker) emphasized, “Giant platform companies amass vast wealth through connections, but when they neglect the fundamentals of data protection, they must bear responsibility as heavy as their power.”
• This could change by introducing a Korean-style discovery (evidence disclosure) system, expanding consumer class-action lawsuits, and strengthening the effectiveness of shareholder representative lawsuits.
• Related Link.

If It Doesn’t Work Out, You Can Always Quit.

• This is the advice of Ha Ji-hyun (professor at Konkuk University). Simply holding the mindset that you can quit makes a difference.
• Boreout differs from burnout. When apathy becomes chronic, each day feels tedious and predictable. Stress accumulates, and negative emotions grow.
• The thought, “I could always quit,” acts like the expansion zipper on a travel trunk. A job is not your identity. Nothing in the world is absolutely impossible. Hang in there, Manager Kim.
• Related Link.