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.

Approval Rating Falls Below 40%.

Realmeter poll shows 38.9%. Disapproval stands at 58.7%. (95% confidence level, ±2.0% point margin of error.)
Democratic Party and People Power Party support rates are 43.1% and 37.7%, respectively. Presidential approval is now lower than the Democratic Party’s support.
Gallup Korea reports 42%, while HanKyureh Research maintains 50%. Jo Gwi-dong (Min Consulting Strategy Director) noted, “The percentage of Democratic Party supporters who do not back the president remains in the 10% range,” adding, “It has not yet reached the point where people perceive, ‘We cannot run the election with the president at the forefront.’” This suggests core supporters are not yet wavering significantly.
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What Matters Now.

A Justice Minister for Dropping Charges?

Kim Seung-won (Justice Minister nominee) is under intense scrutiny. Kim served as co-representative of a group advocating for the dismissal of charges against Lee Jae-myung (President). On Facebook, he countered, “Let’s be clear: this isn’t about dropping charges, but about the Yoon Suk-yeol-manipulated indictment special prosecution law.”
He refuted claims that he was a defense lawyer in the Daejang-dong case, calling them untrue.
Kim is a hardliner who persistently pushed for the complete abolition of prosecutors’ supplementary investigation authority. Meeting with reporters, he stated, “The urgent mission is to ensure the new criminal justice system—first in 70 years—settles smoothly.”

“We’re a Minor Party, So Please Understand,” Yong Hye-in Faces Privilege Backlash.

It is customary for proportional-representation lawmakers to resign their seats when appointed as ministers. While National Assembly members can concurrently serve as state councilors, proportional-representation lawmakers have traditionally stepped down to allow the next-in-line candidate to assume the seat, minimizing legislative gaps.
Yong Hye-in (Basic Income Party lawmaker) received her proportional seat via the Democratic Party’s satellite party, the More Democratic Union. If she resigns, Democratic Party member Ko Jae-soon (former Roh Moo-hyun Foundation Secretary-General) will inherit the seat.
If Yong resigns, the Basic Income Party will become an extra-parliamentary party. Yong stated, “I ask for understanding regarding the difficulties faced by minor parties, where an individual’s decision is inevitably tied to the party’s future.”

“A Family Income Party?”.

Na Kyung-won (People Power Party lawmaker) criticized, “They’re refusing to resign because they fear losing 1.1 billion won in party subsidies,” adding, “Yong Hye-in’s nomination is a constitutional disaster born of the semi-linked proportional representation collusion.”
An election commission official stated, “If a party becomes an extra-parliamentary party, subsidies drop to zero.”
Critics also ask, “Is this a family income party?” Yong Hye-in’s spouse holds a party position within the Basic Income Party. Ahn Cheol-soo (People Power Party lawmaker) pointed out, “If the Basic Income Party becomes an extra-parliamentary party, wouldn’t they fail to secure election commission funding for the spouse’s salary?”
The Basic Income Party rebutted, “It’s unfair to portray a colleague, who earned their position through merit, as receiving special treatment due to a pre-founding marriage.”
Yoon Sang-hyun (People Power Party lawmaker) remarked, “This is an insult to the 2030 generation, who strongly resent freeloading.”
Jang Hye-young (former Justice Party lawmaker) noted, “The issue must be properly addressed: nominating as minister a lawmaker who twice wore the badge via satellite parties that destroyed democracy and deceived the public, yet never apologized.”
The Korean Women’s Political Network criticized, “How can someone who spearheaded the complete abolition of supplementary investigative powers—which victims of sexual violence and legally vulnerable groups tearfully appealed to preserve—possibly guarantee the safety of the weak?”
Seo Mi-hwa (Democratic Party Supreme Council member) stated, “The negativity has gone too far,” adding, “As a working mom and young politician, her awareness and sensitivity are lacking in no one.”
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Can One Serve as Both Lawmaker and Minister?

Hankook Ilbo editorialized, “If one wished to retain their legislative seat, they should not have accepted the ministerial nomination.” While district representatives have no choice, proportional-representation lawmakers have predetermined successors.
Former ministers—Kim Han-gil (Culture and Tourism), Lee Dal-gon (Administrative and Security), Kang Eun-hee (Gender Equality and Family), Lee Young (SMEs and Startups), and Shin Won-sik (National Defense)—all relinquished their proportional-representation seats upon appointment.
Opinions within the Democratic Party are divided. Choi Min-hee (Democratic Party lawmaker) stated, “I see her as a tailored candidate,” while Shin Hyun-young (Democratic Party spokesperson) urged, “Choose one role—minister or lawmaker—and focus on it.”
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Missing Persons Case Closed Without Cause of Death.

Police stated the body was too decomposed to determine the cause of death. Initially, they claimed the victim appeared to have died by hanging, but later retracted the statement.
Hong Seok-gi (Director of the National Investigation Bureau, National Police Agency) said, “This was not just individual misconduct but a failure of managerial oversight and supervision.”
Police are conducting a full review of 310,000 missing persons cases. They will add an approval function to the missing persons profiling system and require station chiefs and criminal division heads to conduct daily checks.
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Han Hak-ja Sentenced to Two Years in Prison.

Han Hak-ja (Unification Church leader) received a two-year prison sentence in the first trial. She faces charges of giving Kim Keon-hee (wife of Yoon Suk-yeol) luxury items, including a Chanel bag, worth 80 million won. The court ruled the embezzlement charge not guilty.
The special prosecution had requested 13 years in prison, but the court stated, “The act appears to have been aimed at expanding the Unification Church’s influence rather than for personal gain, which was considered a mitigating factor.”
The Hankyoreh editorialized, “There are suspicions that while acknowledging the facts of charges involving convicted figures like Kwon Sung-dong (former People Power Party lawmaker), the court opted for leniency on other charges.”
The Kyunghyang Shinmun editorial assessed, “It falls short of the public’s expectations for strict judicial justice.”
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Not a Single Politician Charged.

The joint prosecution-police task force investigating allegations of collusion between religion and politics indicted 32 individuals linked to Shincheonji and the Unification Church—but no politicians.
The case involving Jeon Jae-soo (Mayor of Busan) allegedly receiving a Cartier watch from Han Hak-ja was dismissed due to expired statutes of limitations.
While it was confirmed that the Unification Church made 219 illegal donations totaling 189 million won to 132 politicians, none of the recipients were indicted.
Chosun Ilbo noted, “The task force’s investigation focused heavily on collusion between Shincheonji and the People Power Party, drawing criticism of ‘selective prosecution.’”
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Deep Dive.

Real Estate Tax Overhaul Headed to Assembly.

For now, it’s been sent to the National Assembly without revisions. A Ministry of Economy and Finance official remarked, “It’s not just a matter of tweaking a few numbers, is it?” adding, “Time was too tight for amendments.”
The crux lies in the residential-non-residential disparity. The basic exemption threshold for residential property owners’ comprehensive real estate tax will rise from 1.2 billion won to 1.4 billion won, while non-residential single-homeowners will see theirs drop from 1.2 billion to 900 million won. Long-term holding special deductions for capital gains tax will also be sharply reduced for non-residents.
The Democratic Party is considering raising the threshold for non-residential single-homeowners to 1.4 billion won as well.
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Trump’s Lingering Grudge: “Korea Will Be Remembered for Not Helping in Iran.”.

Donald Trump (U.S. President) said this in a Fox News interview.
“America spends billions helping other countries but rarely gets help in return,” adding, “South Korea is a prime example.”
“We have 40,000 troops in South Korea, yet when asked for assistance regarding Iran, they said, ‘We’d rather not,’” he claimed.
“Because they have no intention of helping us, we can’t be the fools who only give aid,” he added.
For the record, U.S. forces in South Korea number 28,500, not 40,000.
The Hankyoreh analyzed, “This suggests potential demands for reciprocal concessions in future trade or defense cost-sharing negotiations.”
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The Won’s Lonely Rally.

Fell as low as 859.3 won per 100 yen. The yen weakened while the won strengthened.
The won-dollar exchange rate dropped to 1368.6 won.
First, the current account surplus persists. Second, the base rate hike effect remains. Third, SK Hynix ADR funds flowed in. Fourth, foreign stock selling has stabilized.
Shin Hyun-song (Bank of Korea Governor) said, “Even though the exchange rate has stabilized significantly, it remains higher than the familiar levels of past years,” adding, “I believe there is room for further appreciation.”
Park Hyung-jung (Woori Bank economist) said, “We are keeping the possibility open that the won-dollar rate could fall to around 1350 won,” but cautioned, “If the Fed raises rates in September and signals further hikes, the exchange rate could rebound.”
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Another Take.

Cash Service Surges as Card Loan Limits Tighten.

Card loans decreased by 4.577 trillion won over two months from June, while cash services and revolving credit increased by 5.213 trillion won and 760 billion won respectively.
As of late July, nine card companies reported 42.8 trillion won in outstanding card loans, 7.0 trillion won in cash service balances, and 6.9 trillion won in revolving credit balances.
Card loans are subject to debt service ratio (DSR) regulations, but cash services and payment-type revolving credit are excluded from DSR calculations. Borrowers blocked from card loans may have shifted to unregulated products.
Average interest rates: 14.1% annually for card loans, 18.2% for cash services.
A card industry official interviewed by Chosun Ilbo remarked, “Precise management is needed to prevent vulnerable borrowers from being pushed toward costlier financing or outside institutional channels.”
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Super Yen Weakness: A Defeat Crisis Rivaling World War II.

Japan’s government bond yields are expected to exceed 3%. Japan’s debt-to-GDP ratio exceeds 200%. Rising bond yields would increase interest burdens and complicate funding.
The yen’s weakness is also a headache for the U.S. If the yen plummets, Japan’s government might sell off U.S. Treasuries. If Japan sells U.S. bonds, American Treasury yields would rise further.
Seo Jeong-hoon (Researcher at Hana Bank) said, “Even if the U.S. and Japan intervene jointly again, the effect will be limited, and structural weakness factors will persist. Meanwhile, the won is expected to continue strengthening due to the Bank of Korea’s preemptive rate hikes and improved growth rates, so the won-yen exchange rate will likely fall further.”

Xi and Putin Meet.

An SCO summit led by China and Russia was held. Xi Jinping (President of the People’s Republic of China) and Putin (President of Russia) met in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
They discussed a 2,600 km gas pipeline from Russia’s Yamal Peninsula through Mongolia to China. From Beijing’s perspective, reducing dependence on Iran is a priority.
Masoud Pezeshkian (President of Iran) also attended. AFP analyzed, “Iran believes joining the SCO will help bypass U.S. and European sanctions.”

Samsung+SK Hynix Bonuses Buy Homes and Teslas.

Bank of Korea analysis. Credit card spending was up to 4% higher in semiconductor belt areas like Icheon, Hwaseong, and Cheongju. Cumulative consumption growth is projected to reach 1.7 trillion won by year-end.
Tesla deliveries were 106% of last year’s volume.
Home purchases increased in Icheon, while high-end product spending rose in Cheongju.
GDP-boosting effects were 0.01% last year and 0.03% this year.
Lee Jae-ho (Deputy Head of Bank of Korea’s Research Coordination Team) said, “Icheon’s proximity to the capital region likely channeled bonuses more into the housing market,” adding, “The ripple effect expands when increased income flows into consumption rather than asset markets.”
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The Fix.

“No Passport in Water, No Borders in Disaster.”.

Nepal’s disaster recovery costs are projected to reach up to $5 billion—10% of its GDP.
Cumulative greenhouse gas emissions since 1750: the U.S. and China account for 24% and 15%, respectively. Russia 7%, Germany 5%, the UK 4%. South Korea 1%, Nepal 0.01%.
Lee Jun-i (Professor at Pusan National University) stated, “South Korea is also a country with responsibility.”
The Hankyoreh emphasized in an editorial, “Major countries responsible for global warming, such as the U.S. and China, must take moral responsibility and actively support Nepalis to rise again from despair.”
Sishir Khanal (Nepal’s Minister of Foreign Affairs) said, “Our people have become the most tragic victims of the climate crisis.”
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Women’s Wages at 65% of Men’s.

As of 2024, women and men earned 2.85 million won and 4.4 million won, respectively.
Among workers at firms with five or more employees, the share earning less than 3 million won monthly was 57% for women and 25% for men. The share earning over 5 million won monthly was 15% for women and 37% for men.
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Will Foreign Caregiver Side Jobs Work?

Plans are under review to either add nursing hospital caregiving to the E-7 (Specific Activities) visa or expand the E-9 (Non-Professional Employment) visa to cover caregiving roles in nursing hospitals.
Currently, only ethnic Chinese with F-4 (Overseas Korean) visas can work as caregivers, while Vietnam and the Philippines lack such visa options.
Starting next year, 49,000–76,000 caregivers will be needed to cover 500 medical-focused nursing hospitals transitioning to salaried care costs—yet only 35,000 currently work across 1,300 facilities.
Park Sung-baek (Vice President of the Korean Nursing Hospital Association) stated, “Suddenly increasing caregiving staff 3–4 times is impossible.”
Ahn Byung-tae (Senior Vice President of the Korean Nursing Hospital Association) noted, “If the government’s salaried caregiving cost project fails, the industry widely attributes it to a ‘caregiver shortage.’”
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Senior Doctors Paid 33 Million Won Monthly.

When Sinan County in Gwangju-Jellan offered a senior doctor’s annual salary of 400 million won, applicants finally emerged.
Government subsidies cover 5.5 million won monthly, with the remainder funded by Sinan County’s own budget.
A county official interviewed by JoongAng Ilbo said, “It was nearly impossible to recruit doctors at previous salary levels.”
Lim Kyung-soo (Director of Gobu Public Health Center, Jeongeup, North Jeolla) emphasized, “While doctors are abundant in urban districts, rural townships face shortages.
Medical underserved areas must be categorized more precisely, and housing conditions, pensions, and other incentives should be provided to encourage doctors to work in townships where they are truly needed.”
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ICYMI.

900 Won Coffee Sells Out.

It’s a recession-era cost-effective product. Namyang Dairy’s cup coffee ‘French Cafe Devil’s Temptation’ sold out its initial 120,000 units within three weeks of launch.
Convenience store CU released 13 small-portion ready-to-eat items, including two-piece rice rolls.
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A $480,000 Pill.

A pill costing $663 per dose and $480,000 annually exists. It’s Lonsurf, a pancreatic cancer drug by Revolution Medicines.
CAR-T therapies, priced at $600,000 per infusion, are among the increasingly common drugs with proven efficacy but exorbitant costs. Lonsurf’s median survival of 13.2 months is double chemotherapy’s 6.7 months.
New drug prices have no ceiling. Pharmaceutical companies set prices freely, with no regulations.
Medicare patients can access Lonsurf for a maximum of $2,100 due to the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).
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17.5 Tons of Climate Companion Card Waste.

Cumulative physical card sales reached 3.5 million units as of June. Physical card usage rate is 73%.
The Climate Companion Card became waste when it was replaced by the Climate Companion Pass. PVC (polyvinyl chloride) takes over 1,000 years to fully decompose if landfilled.
Kim Mi-joo (Seoul City Council Member) pointed out, “Although utilizing K-Pass would have saved Seoul’s budget significantly by receiving 40% national funding, the city pushed for a 3-month payback Climate Companion Card funded entirely by its own budget.”
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Worth Reading.

A Judicial Quagmire.

Lee Jae-myung (President) once enjoyed approval ratings above 60%.
Kim Hee-won (Director of News Standards, Hankook Ilbo) noted, “It was possible because judicial risks were sidelined—yet it’s unclear why he would revive them and squander the achievements and support he’s built.”
Suspicions persist that the conflict over Supreme Court justice nomination authority ultimately stems from judicial risks.
Kim Hee-won added, “For Lee Jae-myung, judicial risks are like a quagmire—struggle harder, and you sink deeper,” advising, “Only by moving past them can he succeed as president.”

Is the President’s Grasp of Reality Too Detached?

“We instructed preparations to mass-purchase housing in anticipation of a crash,” said Lee Jae-myung (President).
The Hankook Ilbo editorial criticized, “A misdiagnosis inevitably leads to the wrong prescription,” adding, “Talk of seeking gruel at a well is hard to sympathize with.”
“It’s also concerning that even grassroots complaints are dismissed as ‘resistance to reform’ while selectively seeing only what one wants to see. We worry this will only deepen future generations’ despair through another policy failure.”
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A Trump Shock Is Coming.

U.S. national debt has surpassed $40 trillion. As U.S. Treasury yields soared, the government repurchased bonds—but the effect was short-lived. 15% of the federal budget now drains away in bond interest payments.
Jeong Ui-gil (Senior Reporter, Hankyoreh) forecasted, “The economic wars ahead will deepen the cracks in the dollar amid a bond crisis.”
“In the 1970s, U.S. leadership had the capacity and vision to overcome such crises. But today, the U.S. is led by Trump. Unlike the Nixon Shock, the Trump Shock seems unlikely to save America.”
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It’s Time to Call Them Chosun.

Seo Ui-dong (Kyeongyang Shinmun Editorial Writer) emphasized, “This includes acknowledging North Korea’s statehood and taking steps to ease hostility, such as formally addressing it by its official name.”
The commentary noted, “It is no different from questioning whether it is justified to continue addressing an ex-spouse by marital terms after declaring divorce—a form of ‘stalking.’”
A reciprocal approach—since North Korea refers to South Korea as ‘Daehan Minguk,’ we should reciprocate by calling them ‘Chosun Democratic People’s Republic’—is sufficient.
To act as a pace-setter, actions—not just pledges—are required.
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