Slow Letter is
a curated snapshot of Korea.

We go beyond the headlines, connect the dots, and show you what really matters — with insight and edge. We surface the stories behind the noise and bring the context you didn’t know you needed. It’s not just about what’s happening. It’s about why it matters.

This English edition combines AI-powered translation with careful human editing — using Upstage Solar-Pro-2 — and it’s still in beta mode.We’re learning as we go, and your feedback is invaluable.

10.13 Million Working Seniors.

• 1.5 times the 6.71 million from a decade ago.
• 70% of seniors hope to work until 73.6 years on average.
• The average age at leaving the longest-held job: 53.0 years.
• Average pension payout: 880,000 won. Only 53% receive pensions.
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What Matters Now.

Three Coups, One Academy: Will Unification Change the Army Staff College?

• Lee Jae-myung (President) said this during a State Council meeting. When An Gyu-baek (Minister of National Defense) remarked, “We are undergoing a very difficult process,” he countered, “What reform in the world isn’t difficult?”
• The Ministry of National Defense has long maintained that the December 12th rebellion and the founding of the Korea Military Academy are unrelated. The Academy’s alumni association issued a statement: “Generalizing the historical deviations of a few as collective responsibility risks appearing like political retaliation.”
• In an editorial, Chosun Ilbo rebutted, “The December 3rd martial law is fundamentally different in nature.” While the May 16th coup was led by the 8th class and the December 12th rebellion by the 11th class, the December 3rd incident was triggered by Yoon Suk-yeol’s era-defining misjudgment, they argued.
• JoongAng Ilbo criticized in an editorial: “With political grudges and punitive motives taking precedence, the unification plan itself has wavered, producing grotesque proposals like a ‘naval academy without a sea’ or an ‘air force academy without a runway.”
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“Didn’t Read the Revised Criminal Procedure Bill.”.

• “Does the revised criminal procedure law explicitly state prosecutors cannot investigate?” he asked.
• The People Power Party criticized, “Shaking the criminal justice system and then the president brazenly saying he didn’t read it is the height of irresponsibility.”
• A Blue House official explained, “It seems he meant he knew the main points but didn’t read every detailed clause.”

Can’t Even Form a Joint Investigation Headquarters?

• Jeong Seong-ho (Minister of Justice) stated, “The legal basis for operating a joint investigation headquarters is very weak,” to which Lee Jae-myung countered, “If it’s not prohibited, it can be done.” Jeong rebutted again, “There is no legal provision.”
• This implies that even currently operational joint units should be disbanded.
• Yoon Ho-jung (Minister of the Interior and Safety) remarked, “Rather than a prosecution-police joint headquarters, it might become a joint unit combining the prosecution, the Anti-Corruption Investigation Office, and the police.” Jeong countered once more, “There is no legal basis.”
• Lee Jae-myung remarked, “It seems the two of you could end up on very bad terms.”
• Park Hyung-soo (People Power Party lawmaker) said, “I was stunned and speechless watching them bring up now what should have been discussed before pushing through the bill.”
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Starbucks Raid.

• Seventy-six days after the ‘Tank Day’ controversy.
• Yesterday, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency’s Public Crime Investigation Unit raided Starbucks Korea’s headquarters.
• When police applied for a warrant in June, prosecutors had rejected it. Then, the charges were defamation and violation of the May 18 Special Act—this time, it’s insult charges.
• In an editorial, Chosun Ilbo criticized, “Before the full story has even emerged, the entire administration has prematurely stigmatized a specific corporation and incited societal punishment—an overreaction,” adding, “It’s a gesture of gratitude for the gift (abolishing supplementary investigative authority) bestowed by the regime.”
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S&P 500 Hits New High.

• Four variables are all favorable. Negotiations with Iran on opening the Strait of Hormuz are underway, and big tech earnings are all strong. Rate hikes are likely to be delayed. The U.S. intervention in yen buying is also positive.
• Scott Livner (Citadel strategist) said, “The feared excesses have largely been resolved,” and expressed optimism: “For the first time in months, investors can focus on fundamentals rather than positioning.”
• Yesterday, the Dow broke its record high. The S&P 500, Dow, and Nasdaq closed at -0.17%, +0.49%, and -0.83% respectively.
• Nvidia surged 3.4%, while SpaceX dropped 13.6%. The effect of Elon Musk (SpaceX CEO) announcing Nvidia chips would be used in SpaceX infrastructure. Stocks of spenders fell, while those with rising sales climbed.
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Deep Dive.

Police Unity Stronger Than Prosecutorial Solidarity.

• Concerns emerge that police power is growing too strong.
• In an editorial, JoongAng Ilbo argued, “The government and National Assembly must establish measures to substantially check police power during the remaining two months.”
• Koo Bon-seon (former Vice Chief Prosecutor of the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office) claimed, “We are heading toward the privatization of criminal justice costs, where victims must personally gather evidence and hire lawyers.”
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Breach of Trust Law Overhaul: Will the Daejang-dong Case Be Dismissed?

• Justice Minister Jeong Seong-ho stated, “We will revise the breach of trust law, which has burdened corporate management with unclear elements.”
• KyeongHyang Shinmun analyzed that if the breach of trust law is abolished, the Daejang-dong case against President Lee Jae-myung could likely be dismissed. Jeong dismissed this as “a novel-like story.”
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Fair Taxation or Not?

• An emergency debate was held over the tax reform proposal.
• Kim Woo-cheol (Professor, University of Seoul) called it “a de facto wealth tax that increases the tax burden on ultra-high-end homeowners” and questioned, “Is the president unilaterally overturning decades of consensus based on personal opinion?”
• Seong Myung-jae (Professor, Hongik University) criticized, “Overtaxing only housing assets while exempting financial assets entirely dilutes the purpose of redistribution.”
• Jeong Da-un (Research Fellow, Korea Institute of Public Finance) warned, “Non-resident single-homeowners avoiding taxes by moving into their own homes would force existing tenants to vacate,” adding, “This could destabilize the jeonse market and even impact housing prices below 2 billion won.”
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Can Trump Escape?

• Three months until midterms, Ross Douthat (New York Times columnist) believes this time it will be genuinely difficult.
• A deal with Iran or Democratic self-destruction might help, but both are unlikely. From Iran’s perspective, there’s no reason to concede to a desperate Trump. Projections suggest Ohio and Iowa could flip to Democrats. If approval ratings fall below 40%, immediate lame-duck status awaits.
• Remaining cards? A trade war? Unlikely given Trump’s current psychological state. Announcing alien life? Pure wishful thinking.
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Another Take.

Lee Jin-woo and Kim Won-jang.

• Lee Jin-woo (host of ‘Economy in Your Hands’) and Kim Won-jang (CEO of Economic Research Institute) engaged in a no-holds-barred debate.
• Kim argued, “We must change the reality where 30 years of labor income cannot match the value of buying a single home.” The idea is that elderly homeowners burdened by property taxes should leave Seoul, allowing younger generations to enter.
• “Now is the time for good ideas and policies that let people think, ‘If I sell now, I won’t lose.’”
• Lee countered, “Even the state must not cross certain lines.” He argued that taxes forcing people to sell by inflicting pain erode trust. While Korea’s property taxes are low, total real estate taxes—including transfer and acquisition taxes—are among the OECD’s highest. Multi-homeowner taxes are even higher than in developed nations.
• “Isn’t the person buying a home vacated by someone driven to the outskirts (the new owner) someone for whom property taxes aren’t painful? Who are we harming to help whom?”
• Opinions diverged on redevelopment issues.
• Kim criticized how density bonuses concentrate billions in windfall gains for Gangnam’s prime areas: “What’s the difference from lining people up and handing out 300 million won each?”
• Lee insisted on market logic: Gangnam covers construction costs by selling units for 3 billion won, but outskirts lack profitability even with density incentives. Since contributions are recovered through public donations, it’s not one-sided favoritism.
• Both agreed that taxpayers must be respected.
• Lee emphasized, “We owe minimal courtesy to those contributing to the economic system.” “Tax hikes may be necessary for revenue, but they shouldn’t resemble seizing criminal profits from thieves.”
• Kim also stressed, “Attitude is everything.”
• “Even to those in the Gangnam ‘castle,’ we should warmly appeal, ‘You’ve gained much—please compromise for future generations,’ and add small incentives as they step down. That’s dignified market economics.”
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Who Will Strike First?

• The Russia-Ukraine war has entered a new phase. Four and a half years in, attacks are not just persisting—they’re intensifying.
• First, Russia is unleashing ballistic missiles, while Ukraine’s interceptors (Patriots) are running out. The U.S. has no stockpiles left either.
• Second, Ukraine is striking deep into Russian territory with drones, hitting cities as far as Moscow and St. Petersburg. Yet Russia cannot afford to pull back its forces.
• It’s a race against time. Can Russia collapse Ukraine’s air defenses before its own falter?
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THAAD at 80% Depletion.

• The U.S. lacks the capacity to aid Ukraine further. Five months into the Iran conflict, it has exhausted 80% of THAAD systems and 50% of Patriot missiles.
• Long-term contracts with Lockheed Martin exist, but Patriot deliveries remain limited to about 20 units per month.
• Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen stated, “Negotiations with Iran are ongoing, and there’s a possibility of reaching an agreement today or tomorrow.”
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“Traitor” Vs. “Loyalty”.

• Blood is spilling at the Democratic Party convention.
• Kim Min-seok (former Prime Minister) emphasized, “A ruling party leader’s worth is measured not by the volume of their voice but by the scale of their capability,” while Chung Chung-rae (former Democratic Party leader) retorted, “A ruling party leader’s role is about loyalty, not betrayal.”
• “After 18 years of running away, they return and demand the house deed,” Chung attacked, adding, “Those who’ve betrayed once are bound to betray again.”
• Chung, appearing on Kim Eo-jun’s News Factory, claimed, “Demanding additional voting is a ‘vote coup.’”
• While some propose giving non-voting members another chance, Chung insists, “Abstention is also a form of expression,” and opposes the move.
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“One Roundhouse Kick” and Seo Beom-soo’s Party Cut.

• Jang Dong-hyeok (People Power Party Leader) stepped in, stating, “I don’t believe this is a matter or situation where mistakes can be excused,” adding, “Appropriate measures at the party level are necessary.”
• Seo Beom-soo (People Power Party lawmaker) sparked massive controversy by joking, “Go ahead and give one roundhouse kick,” in front of the victim of the assault.
• Son Soo-jo (People Power Party spokesperson) said, “I hope he will quietly step down from his parliamentary position.”
• The conflict appears to be escalating into an all-out war between the party’s junior faction and the leadership faction.
• In an editorial, Kyunghyang Shinmun questioned, “Does the Democratic Party have the moral standing to criticize?” It argued, “As long as parties remain fixated on immediate partisan interests, the politicization of victims—like this incident—will never disappear.”
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Metropolitan Construction Starts at 24% of Government Target.

• Only 65,204 households were completed.
• In Seoul alone, 13,121 households were built—just 19% of the target.
• While Seoul’s apartment move-in volume averaged 35,000 households annually from 2023–2025, this year it drops to 27,000 households and will fall further to 17,000 households next year.
• Kim In-man (CEO of Real Estate Economics Institute) stated, “The market has stopped expecting anything.”
• Projects like Yongsan International Business District, Gwacheon Racecourse, and Nowon Taereung CC were all halted or canceled after being initiated under the Moon Jae-in administration.
• Yesterday, Oh Se-hoon (Seoul Mayor) and Kim Yong-beom (Blue House Policy Secretary) met to discuss raising floor-area ratios in quasi-industrial zones.
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“Declaring a Fiscal Emergency in Gyeonggi Province.”.

• Gyeonggi Province’s debt stood at 7.0415 trillion won as of June this year. When Kim Dong-yeon (former Gyeonggi Governor) took office in 2022, it was 3.8362 trillion won.
• Choo Mi-ae (Gyeonggi Governor) stated, “We must stabilize finances before it’s too late to protect residents’ lives and future.”
• Last year, Gyeonggi Province issued 943 billion won in municipal bonds. Projects lacking secured budgets exceeded 300 billion won. Cho criticized Kim Dong-yeon, calling it “destroying trust.”
• “The situation is already dire enough that even ongoing projects cannot be sustained properly.”
• With a fiscal independence rate of 54%, Gyeonggi ranks second behind Seoul’s 74%. The Democratic Party pointed out, “Repeatedly publicizing fiscal crises to fuel anxiety among Gyeonggi residents is not desirable.”
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No Replacement for Kim Yong-beom.

• Stock prices rebounded, but criticism of the government’s handling of leveraged ETFs persists.
• Cho Kuk (former head of the People Power Party Innovation Party) strongly criticized, “The current crisis is a failure of state-controlled finance created by the government’s policy core, led by Kim Yong-beom (Blue House Policy Director).” He argued, “Responsibility must be held for Kim Yong-beom, along with Yoon Chang-yeol (Chief of the National Assembly Coordination Office), Lee Won-geun (Financial Services Commission Chairman), and Lee Chan-jin (Financial Supervisory Service Governor).”
• A Democratic Party lawmaker met by Kyunghyang Shinmun said, “The public’s resentment will only grow if no one takes responsibility.”
• A Blue House official met by Chosun Ilbo stated, “I understand there is no discussion about Kim Yong-beom’s position.” Some suggest that if Kim steps down, it would imply the Blue House’s direct responsibility for the crisis.
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Calling North Korea “Chosun”?

• Jeong Dong-young (Unification Minister) proposed it. He said, “Respecting the other side by calling them by their chosen name will build trust, and this will be the first step toward peace and coexistence.”
• Lee Jae-myung (President) said, “Since it has unintentionally become a target of political strife, I think we must be even more cautious,” adding, “I sometimes wonder if our goodwill gestures are truly a ‘plus’ for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.”
• Jeong Dong-young proposed a four-party summit involving South Korea, North Korea, the U.S., and China. Cho Jung-hyun (Foreign Minister) said, “I wish they’d just discount it.”
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Rare Earths: The Quiet Triumph of Lee Jae-myung’s Brazil Meeting.

• While President Lee Jae-myung’s trip to the U.S. and South America was overshadowed by other issues, the initiation of rare earth negotiations with Brazil holds significant weight. Earlier this month, South Korea also finalized a rare earth agreement with Mongolia.
• Rare earths (rare earth) are not actually as rare as their name suggests—neodymium reserves exceed those of silver or lead. The challenge lies in their extraction, processing, and the massive waste generated.
• Without rare earths, electric vehicles, humanoid robots, and defense industries would grind to a halt. Permanent magnets for critical components like actuators rely on them.
• As shown below, China dominates the rare earth market: 49% of reserves, 56% of mining, and 92% of finished products.
• Deng Xiaoping (then-China’s paramount leader) once remarked, “The Middle East has oil; we have rare earths.” This foresight dates back over 30 years.
• During the 2010 Japan-Senkaku (Diaoyu) dispute, China’s rare earth export ban caused neodymium prices to skyrocket by nearly 30x. In last year’s U.S.-China trade war, a rare earth cutoff forced Trump to concede—with a one-year grace period set to expire this November.
• Though the U.S. has ramped up rare earth investments and the Pentagon became the largest shareholder of MP Materials (a rare earth developer), the gap with China remains vast. Mining one ton of rare earths produces one ton of waste, posing severe environmental challenges.
• Brazil holds the world’s second-largest rare earth reserves but lacks extraction, separation, and refining technologies.
• South Korea’s collaboration with Brazil not only diversifies supply chains but also creates a new market for non-Chinese supply networks. Mongolia also claims second-largest reserves, though unofficially. South Korea now straddles both Brazil and Mongolia.

The Fix.

Monthly Health Insurance Premium: ₩9.18 Million.

• The upper limit is set at a monthly income of ₩127.73 million. At 7.19%, this amounts to a ₩9.18 million premium—30 times the average worker’s rate.
• The Ministry of Health and Welfare pushed to raise the income cap from 30 to 40 times the average, which would mean a monthly premium of ₩12.24 million, but the plan has been temporarily shelved.
• The rationale was that those earning ₩100 million and ₩1 billion should not pay the same premiums, but health insurance is not a tax—high earners already pay substantial taxes.
• Japan adjusts premiums if upper-tier enrollees exceed 1.5% of the population; in South Korea, this figure is 0.04%.
• Other countries cap premiums at 3–4 times the average. South Korea’s upper limit is excessively high, while the relative burden remains disproportionately heavy.
• “Health insurance is not a tax,” stressed Shin Sung-sik (JoongAng Ilbo welfare specialist), emphasizing that “South Korea’s health insurance is a global pride” and “reforms must match that standard.” Reducing low-acuity care and addressing free-riding are essential—fundamental overhaul is the message.

The Right Not to Work When It’s Too Hot.

• A Thai national working in a field died. This year, heat-related illness fatalities have reached 21.
• When the perceived temperature exceeds 33°C, employers are advised to halt work and provide at least 20 minutes of rest every two hours—but this is not mandatory.
• The Kyunghyang Shinmun editorial emphasized, “The conditions for exercising the right to stop work should be relaxed, and laws must be revised to allow special-employed workers, such as delivery riders, to invoke this right.”
• Related Link.

Heatwave Work Stoppage? Compensation for Lost Wages.

• The right not to work in extreme heat is important, but only feasible with economic compensation.
• Jeju Island has introduced a climate insurance program to cover income losses for day laborers.
• If a heatwave alert is issued before 1 PM and work stops, workers receive up to 80% of lost income for up to 4 hours of missed work—equivalent to a daily maximum of ₩68,840 based on standard wages.
• The policy applies to day laborers at public construction sites with contracts exceeding ₩100 million.
• ₩1 billion has been allocated for the program over three years.
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100% Scholarships for Regional National Universities: Possible?

• Cho Kyung-jin (Minister of Education) said this. With 64,000 incoming freshmen next year, expanding it to all grades would cost around 400 billion won. Additional funding of about 100 billion won would suffice, according to calculations.
• The Chosun Ilbo criticized it as “reverse discrimination against private universities.”
• Hwang In-sung (Secretary-General of the Council of Private University Presidents) argued, “Regional universities are all struggling—supporting only national universities while excluding private ones is unfair.”
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Adding Essay Questions and Absolute Evaluation.

• An overhaul of college entrance systems has been proposed.
• Lee Jae-myung (President) remarked, “Continuing education that molds standardized people isn’t educating—they’re ruining it,” while questioning, “Won’t essay academies and ‘cramming tutors’ make a comeback?”
• Cha Jung-in (National Education Committee Chairperson) stated, “We must actively introduce descriptive and essay-based questions so students write their own answers.”
• When Lee Jae-myung pointed out, “There’s no precedent of praise for meddling with admissions systems,” Cha Jung-in responded, “I believe it can be praised if done well.”
• A claim also emerged: if a national education-specialized AI accumulates question and answer data from schools nationwide, the private education market won’t keep up.
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Integrated Nursing-Care System: The More You Do, the More You Lose.

• “The reimbursement rates cannot cover rising labor costs,” one insider remarked.
• Integrated care wards require twice the staffing of general wards.
• At one metropolitan university hospital, when bed occupancy was 90%, integrated wards lost approximately ₩100 million more than general wards—this gap widened to nearly ₩400 million when occupancy dropped to 70%.
• Cho Jin (Policy Director, Korean Public Service and Transport Workers’ Union Healthcare Solidarity Headquarters) criticized, “The government claims to expand integrated wards while designing the reimbursement system backward.”
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Missing 6 Million Elderly by Saving 1,500 Won.

• There are 3.8 million elderly patients with hypertension and 2.1 million with diabetes.
• The government’s support of 1,500 won for medical fees and 2,000 won for medication costs for 750,000 elderly patients was an incentive to bring out seniors—who easily fail to control blood pressure and glucose levels—to hospitals.
• However, this incentive, which was only available in some regions, is set to disappear starting next year.
• “Small supports provided during each hospital visit and check-in calls play a role in keeping patients connected to the healthcare system. This is the beginning of chronic disease management, and the effect is greater for poorer patients.”
• Lee Won-young (Central University Professor) pointed out, “We must not make the mistake of missing the most vulnerable elderly by saving 1,500 won.” Instead, the argument is that it should be expanded to all 6 million elderly patients.
• Related Link.

ICYMI.

Coupang Posts Largest-Ever Operating Loss.

• Second-quarter revenue was $8.86 billion, with an operating loss of $560 million—13.3007 trillion won and 835 billion won, respectively.
• A personal data breach incurred a penalty of 624.6 billion won.
• Record revenue coincided with record losses, though the dollar figures appear relatively modest due to currency fluctuations.
• The second-half outlook is bleak: losses include a pre-reflected 350 billion won from a warehouse fire and additional tax payments of around 300 billion won.

SpaceX’s Spending Shock.

• Revenue was a surprise. The market expected $6.8 billion, but it hit $7.8 billion. Net losses were limited to $500 million—well below the $2.1 billion forecast.
• The issue is spending. A staggering $16 billion was spent. They plan to expand computing capacity from 2GW by year-end to 10GW by 2027.
• AI revenue was $2.6 billion—mostly from leasing data center capacity to Anthropic, Google, and others.
• Goldman Sachs predicts 100x AI revenue growth by 2030. Elon Musk (CEO) is boasting about hitting $1 trillion in sales within a decade.

Worth Reading.

Can Prosecutors Now Just Lounge Around?

• No need to listen to those who wish for ruin. But concerns must be heard.
• The Criminal Procedure Act amendment is no different. The intent of Articles 196 and 195 must be carefully examined.
• Deleting the clause stating prosecutors investigate (Article 196) is key, but so are Article 195(1)—requiring prosecutors and police to cooperate—and Article 195(3)—mandating prosecutors respond to police requests.
• Kwon Tae-ho (Editor-in-Chief, The Hankyoreh) emphasized, “The principle of separating investigation and prosecution is a vital value,” but added, “Realizing this value must be grounded in reality and sustain public support to endure.”
• Related Link.

Stop Writing with AI.

• Writing forces us to think. The effort to express our thoughts accurately, strict grammar, clear and consistent logical structure, and the process of being scrutinized by readers all make us act more responsibly.
• Writing is like a muscle—if we outsource routine writing to AI, that muscle atrophies.
• Bret Stephens (New York Times columnist) emphasized, “Spending a few extra seconds is an act of resistance against a world that grows increasingly ignorant.”
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There’s No Such Thing as 100% Our Side.

• In the film ‘Conclave,’ Cardinal Thomas Somers says, “Unquestioning certainty is the most fearsome sin.”
• To those with a strong need for cognitive closure and evaluative urgency, compromise may appear as principle-less infighting, and careful deliberation as indecision.
• But democracy is inherently a system that embraces uncertainty. Ha Sang-eung (Sogang University professor) noted, “Politics that demands unquestioning certainty is the enemy of democracy.”
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Just Living in One Home for Too Long?

• In 1986, Seoul’s per-household income was 6 million won. A 35-pyeong Apgujeong Hyundai Apartment cost 60 million won. By 2024, income rose to 60 million won, but the apartment price surged to 4.4 billion won. While income grew tenfold, housing prices skyrocketed over 70 times.
• Kwon Hyuk (Seoul National University professor) emphasized, “Gangnam is the result of developmentalist-era policies, where an authoritarian state deliberately selected and concentrated resources.” Many elderly people, who’ve lived in one home for decades, are being evicted for unpaid taxes—but there’s no neighborhood like Gangnam, where “everything is perfect.”
• “We must first acknowledge that current asset prices were shaped by state support and that maintaining this community requires action,” he stressed.
• Related Link.

Feedback.

Beware the Fallacy of Renewable Energy Omnipotence.

• Renewable energy’s weaknesses center on short-term intermittency and long-term variability. To compensate, the basic method for enhancing grid stability and flexibility is to adjust peak loads using LNG and other power plants at the system level. This fundamental framework is correct.
• But the problem is that we need massive amounts of electricity in an extremely short period. As someone from the Honam region, I’m personally uncomfortable with all attention being drawn to Honam—dubbed the “Honam Data Center”—but regardless, South Korea must generate as much additional power as its current output within a decade. This is exceptionally challenging given Korea’s limited renewable energy potential.
• Even with every conceivable effort, there are limits to managing grid stability through ESS or system-level solutions. If there were no limits, Germany wouldn’t be facing its current power crisis. Now, we must mobilize every resource—even hydrogen and fuel cells, once sidelined—to achieve our goals.
• I consider it disingenuous to refute macro issues (AIDC construction and grid problems) by citing micro cases (where variables are too diverse to inform current debates).
• A recent article noted: “Grid-forming technology, which relies on inverters, is a useful tool for enhancing grid stability but not a universal solution for surging power demand.”
• By 2026, South Koreans will live in an exceptionally convenient world—a level of convenience renewable energy alone cannot sustain. We must not rest on the illusion of renewable omnipotence but continue advancing technologically to survive the climate crisis. Would anyone truly abandon life if summer temperatures exceed 45°C? To survive, we must keep evolving beyond the myth of renewable energy as a panacea.
• Related Link.

Is a Former Police Officer’s Law License a “Specialist” Pass?

• “Specialist” lawyers typically refer to those with prosecutorial or judicial backgrounds. The expectation that hiring a former prosecutor with high fees might influence investigations or indictments drives this practice, usually sought by suspects or defendants. If prosecutors lose investigative authority, former prosecutors would lose leverage in the investigation phase—naturally diminishing their appeal.
• The *Kyunghyang Shinmun* article is puzzling. It claims that abolishing supplementary investigative authority would make victims seek “specialist” lawyers. But victims or complainants have no reason to hire them—they’re not parties to criminal trials. Do they need a former prosecutor to draft a complaint? What could victims realistically expect from one? Encouragement from a senior to a junior prosecutor?
• Former police officers might gain traction, but we don’t call them “specialists.” Prosecutors become lawyers immediately upon resignation, but police must attend law school for three years and pass the bar. Investigating officers have no incentive to favor ex-colleagues turned lawyers. For victims, hiring a former police officer or a seasoned criminal lawyer makes no difference. Why would abolishing supplementary investigative authority expand the “specialist” market?
• The cited lawyer, Kwon Nae-geon, was a prosecutor until months ago—whether he’s passed the 100-day post-resignation mark is unclear. *Kyunghyang Shinmun* labels him a “former legal advisor,” but he’s essentially a prosecutor. Has *Slow News* fallen for a common trick?
• Related Link.