U.S.-Iran War.

• Last Saturday (28th), the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran.
• Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (Iran’s Supreme Leader), who led the Iranian government for 37 years, died in a missile strike.
• Fifteen hours after the airstrike, Donald Trump (U.S. President) announced, “One of the most evil figures in history is dead,” and the Iranian government confirmed Khamenei’s death.
• Despite being in an underground bunker, they failed to stop the cascading bombs, including bunker busters.
• Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) vowed retaliation. Mohammad Farfour (IRGC Commander) also died.
• Seyyed Abbas Araghchi (Iranian Foreign Minister) stated, “We will punish those who killed our children.” According to AP, at least 200 people died, including many students.
• The Guardian reported 148 elementary school students were among the dead.
• Speculation suggests Ali Larijani (Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council) will succeed Khamenei. Some analysts argue the situation may not escalate to regime change or systemic collapse.
• Related Link.
• Related Link.
• Related Link.
• Related Link.

The Death of Khamenei.

• Once a revolutionary leader, he became a dictator.
• Arrested for participating in protests against the Pahlavi dynasty in 1963, he spent three years in prison. After the dynasty’s collapse, he entered politics. Elected president in 1981, he succeeded Ali Khamenei as Supreme Leader in 1989.
• He purged dissenters, imprisoned journalists, and oppressed women.
• Last January, he ordered troops to fire on protesters, killing thousands. International human rights groups report over 7,000 deaths.
• During the COVID-19 pandemic, he banned vaccine use, leading to over 100,000 deaths.
• BBC footage shows crowds of cheering citizens filling the streets. Of course, some mourn Khamenei while chanting “Death to America.”
• Vali Nasr (Professor at Johns Hopkins University) assessed, “Khamenei was one of the most influential and important leaders in modern Iran. Khomeini led the revolution, and Khamenei led the state.”
• The Wall Street Journal evaluated: “His divisive rule not only tarnished Iran’s international reputation but also tore apart the fabric of society.”
• Related Link.
• Related Link.
• Related Link.

Is Killing Dictators Justifiable?

• While the attempted kidnapping of Nicolás Maduro (then-Venezuelan President) is comparable, the mere existence of a dictatorship does not justify invading a sovereign state.
• Just as Trump failed to overthrow the Venezuelan government, Iran is unlikely to collapse easily.
• Trump ordered the military strike without congressional approval.
• War must be a last resort—Trump violated this principle. David French (New York Times columnist) noted, “War and peace should not be entrusted to a single person.”
• Related Link.

State Terrorism.

• There is no other way to describe it.
• The Kyunghyang Shinmun editorial pointed out, “It is unjustifiable by any standard.” There were no ‘imminent signs’ that Iran would attack the U.S. or its allies. The U.S. strike was nothing but an invasion.
• Many newspapers emphasized the chaos while avoiding strong criticism of the U.S.
• The Hankook Ilbo noted, “Instability and uncertainty in the international community can only escalate.” It reads like a distant observer’s commentary.
• The Hangyeoreh editorial expressed concern, stating, “We cannot help but worry whether the U.S. is dragging the world into greater chaos with its irresponsible denial of diplomacy,” but stopped short of saying, “We cannot hide our fear.”
• The JoongAng Ilbo emphasized, “We are facing the bare face of a ruthless international order where only the logic of power prevails, with the rule of law and norms vanished,” and stressed, “High-level diplomatic skills are urgently needed to ensure that the ‘solution by force’ demonstrated by the U.S. in Iran does not send the wrong signal to North Korea, becoming an excuse for provocation.”
• The Chosun Ilbo headlined, “A single airstrike ended 37 years of iron-fist rule”—a title emphasizing Trump’s victory. This contrasts with the JoongAng Ilbo’s headline, “Trump’s Middle East gamble.”
• The commentary by the People Power Reform Party, which defined it as “clear-cut state terrorism,” caught attention. Han Ga-seon (People Power Reform Party spokesperson) stated, “The leader of a sovereign state was killed by a foreign military on his own soil,” and strongly condemned the U.S. invasion as a “direct violation of the UN Charter.”
• As for the Democratic Party? It issued a comment: “We hope the skies of the Middle East will be filled with the light of peace, not the smoke of battle.”
• Related Link.
• Related Link.
• Related Link.
• Related Link.
• Related Link.
• Related Link.
• Related Link.
• Related Link.

What Matters Now.

Trump’s War.

• Axios assessed, “It was filled with reversals, backtracking, and deliberate disinformation.”
• Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu (Israeli Prime Minister) planned the airstrike on Iran at a Mar-a-Lago estate last December.
• In January, they came close to issuing the strike order but held back.
• In February, they began nuclear negotiations with Iran. Talks were held again in Geneva, Switzerland, last Thursday. No significant progress was made.
• The U.S. demanded Iran abandon its nuclear program and ballistic missiles and halt funding to Middle Eastern militant groups—but Iran refused.
• Khamenei was complacent, and Trump feigned willingness to negotiate before unleashing the missiles.
• Related Link.

Not the Iraq War.

• In 2003, George W. Bush (then-U.S. President) deployed 200,000 ground troops. The goal was to oust Saddam Hussein (then-Iraqi President) and eliminate weapons of mass destruction.
• Trump is unlikely to deploy ground troops.
• In a Truth Social post, Trump wrote, “The Iranian people have one last chance to take back their country,” implying he would avoid direct intervention and let Iranians fight it out.
• The New York Times noted, “The administration has failed to explain how this operation would be better than the regime-change attempts in Iraq and Afghanistan.”
• Hardliners like the Revolutionary Guard could gain strength.
• Related Link.

Overwhelming Force Disparity.

• The USS Abraham Lincoln and USS Gerald Ford carrier strike groups launched bombers, missiles, and drones simultaneously from U.S. bases across the Middle East. Suicide drones were deployed in combat for the first time.
• Israel committed over 200 fighter jets.
• Iran, with its 200,000-strong Revolutionary Guard and formidable arsenal, suffered near one-sided losses.
• It claimed over 200 U.S. casualties within an hour and launched a counterstrike, but the U.S. denied any losses. Missile attacks on Abu Dhabi and Dubai were mostly intercepted.
• Al Jazeera reported three U.S. and nine Israeli fatalities.
• Related Link.

Blocking the Strait of Hormuz: Oil Prices Could Hit $150.

• The Strait of Hormuz is a critical passage for one-third of global natural gas and one-sixth of oil.
• If Iran blocks the strait, international oil prices could surge. At $65 per barrel as of late February, some analysts predict prices could exceed $100 and even reach $150.
• South Korea imports 1.7 million barrels of crude daily through this region—about 70% of its total imports.
• Brent crude has already risen 12% over the past month.
• Related Link.

Lee Jae-myung Sells a Smart Property.

• It’s the home he lived in for 29 years.
• Kang Yu-jeong (Blue House spokesperson) explained, “Though he was a single-homeowner for residential purposes, he aimed to personally demonstrate his commitment to normalizing the real estate market.” The explanation added, “It seems he thought owning a home now is more of a loss, and investing the sale proceeds in ETFs or other financial instruments would be far more profitable.”
• It’s a 164㎡ exclusive-use apartment in Geumho 1st Complex, Yangji Village, Bundang. Purchased in 1998 for ₩360 million, it recently appreciated to ₩2.9 billion.
• Related Link.

Sold in Less Than an Hour.

• As a former president’s residence, a premium was inevitable. The apartment’s prime location and below-market price ensured a quick sale.
• When JoongAng Ilbo published an article titled, “Profit of 2.5 Billion Won,” Lee Jae-myung (President) personally posted on X:
• “Why is this article so malicious? There’s a saying: ‘A crab sees only what it has.’ Are they trying to paint me as a real estate speculator?”
• “This was the first and last home I bought during the IMF crisis, where I raised my children and spent my youth. It holds far more sentimental value than monetary worth. I didn’t buy it for money, and I didn’t sell it for money. I did it simply to fulfill my duty as a public official.”
• JoongAng Ilbo later changed the article’s headline to “Commitment to Real Estate Normalization.”
• Related Link.
• Related Link.

Jang Dong-hyeok’s Turn.

• He once said, “If Lee Jae-myung sells, I’ll sell too.”
• Jang Dong-hyeok (People Power Party Leader) posted, “My Yeouido studio apartment, worth less than 200 million won, has been listed for sale but no one comes to view it,” adding, “I suppose mine isn’t as ‘solid’ as someone else’s.”
• Jang owns six properties.
• He resides in a Guro-dong apartment, has a studio apartment near the National Assembly, and another apartment in his constituency, Boryeong, South Chungcheong.
• His mother and mother-in-law each live in one house and one apartment.
• Jang claimed, “Even combined, they’re worth around 850 million won.”
• Related Link.

“If You Don’t Want to Sell, Keep It.”.

• Lee Jae-myung (President), currently on a state visit to Singapore, posted on X: “Buying and selling is a personal freedom, but whether it becomes profit or loss is determined by the government.”
• The message is sharp—proof of regained confidence.
• “The problem lies with politicians and governments that created systems enabling speculation.”
• “There’s no need to pressure politicians to sell or not buy. No need to lecture on moral duty. They stockpile homes they’d never live in because money is to be made.”
• “We will design taxes, finance, and regulations to ensure past choices become losses—and implement them without wavering, no matter the unfair resistance or slander.”
• Related Link.

Prosecutors Who Obstructed Coupang Investigation Face Late Charges.

• The Special Inspection Unit indicted Eom Hee-jun (Gwangju High Prosecutors’ Office prosecutor) and Kim Dong-hee (Busan High Prosecutors’ Office prosecutor) on charges of abuse of authority.
• Statements alleged they pressured Moon Ji-seok (then Bucheon Branch chief prosecutor) to dismiss charges in the Coupang unpaid severance case. Testifying before the National Assembly that “Moon Ji-seok also agreed to the dismissal” added a perjury charge.
• The unit suspects Kim Dong-hee may have exerted external pressure due to his ties with Kwon Seon-young (Kim & Chang lawyer), who represented Coupang.
• Eom Hee-jun claimed it was a “filthy, disgusting fabricated indictment.” “If instructing a lead prosecutor to follow their opinion is abuse of authority,” he argued, “what prosecutor wouldn’t face punishment?”
• Related Link.
• Related Link.
• Related Link.

Coupang Effect? Q4 Operating Profit Plummets 97%.

• Last year’s revenue was 49.1197 trillion won, with operating profit of 679 billion won—up 14% and 8% respectively.
• Quarterly figures reveal a shift: Q4 revenue was 12.8103 trillion won, but operating profit collapsed to 11.5 billion won. Revenue rose 11%, while operating profit fell 97%.
• Active customers in Q4 dropped to 24.6 million, a decline of 100,000 from Q3.
• Related Link.

Deep Dive.

Judicial Reform Trilogy Passes.

• Passed on the 26th: Criminal Act amendment introducing judicial distortion crimes.
• Passed on the 27th: Constitutional Court Act amendment introducing trial appeals.
• Passed on the 28th: Court Organization Act amendment expanding Supreme Court justices from 14 to 26.
• People Power Party prolonged filibustering but ended it abruptly after 24 hours and proceeded to voting.
• The Hankyoreh, which supported the judicial distortion crime amendment, assessed: “Though fears of rampant complaints persist, actual prosecutions leading to trials and convictions will likely remain rare.”
• “The greater purpose lies in deterrence than punishment.”
• Related Link.

“Next: Abolishing the National Court Administration.”.

• In an editorial, the Hankyoreh argued, “Discussions should expand to include institutional alternatives to realize judicial democracy, such as abolishing the National Court Administration, establishing a judicial administration committee, diversifying Supreme Court justice composition, and introducing jury trials.”
• The National Court Administration has long faced criticism for controlling judges through personnel and administrative measures, infringing on the constitutional guarantee of “judicial independence.” Even during the Yang Seung-tae (then-Chief Justice) era, when the judicial corruption scandal erupted, the National Court Administration itself remained untouched.

Won’t There Be a Shortage of Judges?

• The Dong-A Ilbo editorial noted, “An overconcentration of personnel in the Supreme Court will weaken lower courts.”
• The total number of judges is 3,384 as of this year. There are 131 research judges assigned to the Supreme Court—roughly 8.4 per justice.
• If 12 more justices are added, an additional 101 research judges will be required. Typically, judges with over 14 years of experience serve as research judges, raising concerns that vacancies in frontline courts will grow larger.
• Related Link.

Park Young-jae Resigns, Cho Hee-dae Remains Silent.

• Park Young-jae (Chief of the National Court Administration) submitted his resignation, protesting the passage of the judicial reform bills.
• Cho Hee-dae (Chief Justice) has said nothing.
• Jeong Chung-rae (Democratic Party leader) stated, “He should declare his own position—you are unfit to be Chief Justice.”
• Chosun Ilbo noted, “There wasn’t a single public hearing.”
• Related Link.

Lee Jae-myung’s March 1st Address Keyword: Peace.

• Calling the March 1st Movement the “March 1st Revolution” marks the first time any president has used this term.
• “We will respect the North’s system and pursue neither hostile acts nor any form of absorption unification,” he said.
• Regarding Japan, he stated, “We expect cooperation to open a friendly new era based on genuine understanding and empathy.”
• Related Link.

Gwangju-Jeonnam Merger Law Passes, What About Daegu-Gyeongbuk?

• The People Power Party requested the filibuster be halted to pass the Daegu-Gyeongbuk merger law, which remains stalled in the Legislation and Judiciary Committee.
• Jeong Chung-rae (Democratic Party leader) countered, “First, decide on a party stance.”
• While the People Power Party held a general assembly, the Democratic Party sequentially passed the Gwangju-Jeonnam merger law, a revised National Referendum Act guaranteeing overseas voting rights, and a revised Child Allowance Act expanding benefits.

Another Take.

Claude Rebels Against Trump, ChatGPT Yields.

• Anthropic (Claude), the sole AI supplier to the U.S. Department of Defense, has been ousted.
• When it resisted using AI for military purposes, Pete Hegseth (U.S. Secretary of Defense) labeled Anthropic as a “supply chain risk threatening national security.”
• Anthropic demanded safeguards to prevent autonomous weapons deployment without human intervention.
• The Pentagon insists private contractors cannot dictate government usage.
• Anthropic claimed, “No threat or punishment will change our stance,” calling the designation as a “supply chain risk” unjustified.
• The New York Times noted, “The Ukraine war ushered in the drone warfare era, making autonomous weapons a present reality,” adding, “As AI capabilities advance, so will the incentive to weaponize them.”
• Amid this, Sam Altman (OpenAI CEO) visited the Pentagon to finalize a contract.
• Altman left a vague remark: “No private U.S. company can wield power stronger than a democratically elected U.S. government.”
• Related Link.
• Related Link.

South Korea to Grant Google Map Data Despite No Local Workspace.

• Withholding map data from Google was justified by its tax avoidance through operating without a local Korean base.
• The government’s stance was: if Google needed data, it should establish local servers.
• Yet the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport conditionally approved data export. The condition: Google’s partner must process raw data on Korean servers, then submit it for government review and verification before export.
• The move reflects U.S. trade pressure. Jang Yong-jun (Kyung Hee University professor) stated, “Avoiding becoming a retaliatory test case is paramount.”
• The Hankyoreh adopted a relatively favorable tone.
• One study warned of potential economic losses up to 197 trillion won over a decade.
• Related Link.
• Related Link.

Crackdown on Speculative Farmland: Forced Sales Under Review.

• Currently, it takes 4–5 years to issue a disposal order.
• As of 2023, 5,855 people received disposal obligation notices, but 1,416 failed to comply within a year and received disposal orders. The sample survey suggests actual violations are far higher.
• As of 2024, 47% of all farmland is leased—meaning many own land without farming.
• A Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs official said, “There are tens of thousands of cases in the field,” adding, “If a May field inspection finds no crops but the owner claims they plan to plant winter crops, it’s ambiguous whether to penalize them.”

The Only Age Group Strongly Supporting the People Power Party: Young Men in Their 20s.

• According to Gallup Korea’s February consolidated statistics, 22% of males aged 20 or younger support the Democratic Party, while 25% support the People Power Party—the only demographic where the latter leads.
• The same group also records the lowest presidential approval rating at 38%.
• Young men’s support for the People Power Party peaked at 48% in 2022, dropped to 21% last year, but has since rebounded. Democratic Party support among them fell to 12% at one point but recovered to 22%.
• Young women’s Democratic Party support surged to 48% immediately after the martial law declaration but fell to 28% in February this year.
• Both young men and women have large centrist/floating voter segments.
• Lee Jae-myung (President) holds a 64% approval rating, while the Democratic Party and People Power Party stand at 43% and 22%, respectively.
• Related Link.

The Fix.

74% of Writers: “Writing Cannot Sustain Livelihood.”.

• The Writers’ Union Preparatory Committee’s survey results.
• 34% responded, “Annual income is 5 million won or less.”
• Oh Bit-nari (Chairperson of the Writers’ Union) demanded two things: first, to sign contracts, and second, to specify when and how much payment will be made.
• Related Link.

To Empty Seoul, Remote Work Is the Answer.

• Han Ae-ran (Dong-A Ilbo reporter) emphasized, “The issue is time.” Even with five major regional hubs and three special self-governing provinces, and good local infrastructure, redistributing capital-area demand nationwide to stabilize the real estate market would take at least a decade.
• Increasing remote work could be the solution. More than one in three Seoul workers are managers, professionals, or office workers—over half in Yeouido, Gangnam, or Seocho.
• “The story goes that changing ‘how we work’ is a far more cost-effective solution than pouring tens of trillions of won into cash subsidies.”
• Related Link.

ICYMI.

Lee Jae-myung X, Average 650,000 Views.

• From January to last month’s 27th, he posted 97 times on X—an average of 1.7 posts per day.
• Posts were concentrated during commuting hours (23%).
• 40% were policy-related messages, 29% addressed controversies like public rebuttals.
• 31% focused on real estate.
• A ruling party official remarked, “Policies take significant time to implement and show results.
• But once the president mentions them on X, they’re effectively treated as officialized—so lower-level administrative agencies have no choice but to accelerate their response.”
• Related Link.

FOMO and FOBO.

• FOMO is familiar: Fear of Missing Out, the anxiety of being forgotten. In the Kospi 7,000 market, individual investors are increasingly jumping in late, fearing they’ll miss out while others profit.
• FOBO is Fear of Better Options: the expectation that waiting will yield a cheaper price.
• According to the Korea Real Estate Institute, the Southeast Region’s housing supply-demand index fell to 99.95 in the fourth week of February—meaning more sellers than buyers.
• A ruling party official interviewed by JoongAng Ilbo remarked, “Unlike the Moon Jae-in administration, the signal that ‘this time is truly different’ has begun permeating the market. While some resistance will follow, I don’t believe it will deter the president’s resolve to stabilize capital markets by curbing real estate bubbles.”
• Related Link.

Worth Reading.

They Must Be Given Space to Change Out of Workwear.

• This is about airline cabin crew. Korean Air does not provide changing rooms or lockers. The rule is to commute in uniform, and dignity must not be compromised.
• “Positive reactions? From the flight attendants? Or from those who want to buy or sell the image of women?”
• Shin Kyung-ah (Professor, Hallym University) proposed, “Do not confine women to peripheral existence or sexual objects.”
• Related Link.

Bourgeois Democracy Through the Eyes of Outsiders.

• Stocks are accessible to everyone. One-won-one-vote egalitarianism appears equal at face value.
• “Trust the capital return rate. The Korea discount is over. The government guarantees it.” Park Sang-hoon (political scientist) criticized, “It’s no different from ‘modernizing the nation’ or ‘let’s live well.”
• On the other side are disheartened citizens: small business owners, impoverished elders, 20-somethings who’ve abandoned job searches, regional residents despairing over the capital-area divide. “They remain largely invisible—a kind of non-citizen.”
• Park Sang-hoon pointed to “capital-area asset-holder democracy symbolized by stocks and apartments.”
• Related Link.

Stop Exploiting the People.

• Lee Jae-sung (Hankyoreh columnist) views Cho Hee-dae (Chief Justice of the Supreme Court) as exploiting the people.
• “Since when did you care so much about the people? Did you release the insurrectionists who invaded the National Assembly because you cared about the people? Did you ignore all procedures and hastily push to disqualify the main opposition’s presidential candidate because you pitied the ignorant masses who wanted to elect a convicted felon as president? Haven’t you completely ignored the people’s demands for resignation and explanations?”
• Lee Jae-sung criticized, “Cho Hee-dae pretended ignorance and had his ‘scapegoat’ resign on his behalf,” adding, “The judiciary has lost its self-correcting ability, like a computer with a broken cooling system.”
• The implication is that “the Chief Justice’s violation of ‘Article 1 of the Constitution’ itself constitutes a perpetual unconstitutional state.”
• Related Link.