Aftermath of Abolishing Supplementary Investigation Authority...President Lee's Choice
The Reform New Party urged President Lee Jae-myung to exercise his veto power regarding amendments to the Criminal Procedure Act that would abolish prosecutors' supplementary investigation authority. Party Leader Lee Jun-seok criticized the abolition of supplementary investigation authority as "a law that disarms the weak" and demanded the president exercise his veto. Floor Leader Cheon Ha-ram also strongly pressured the ruling coalition, arguing that if the president does not exercise veto power, President Lee himself cannot escape responsibility.
2026.08.03
Controversy over '0 voters' spreads to Mokpo, Gwangyang, and Pohang...Statistical anomalies reported at 34 locations nationwide
Following the Gyeonggi region during the June 3 local elections, polling stations in Mokpo and Gwangyang in South Jeolla Province, Pohang in North Gyeongbuk Province, and Inje in Gangwon Province were found to have recorded '0 voters' for several hours across different time periods. Rep. Ju Jin-woo of the People Power Party analyzed data from the National Election Commission and found that 34 polling stations nationwide showed no change in voter numbers for more than 3 hours, suggesting the possibility of post-election corrections beyond simple input errors, and called for the appointment of a special prosecutor.
2026.08.02
Election Commission Retroactively Corrected Voter Numbers in 81 Cases for Presidential Election and 65 Cases for General Election... Rep. Ju Jin-woo Calls for "Comprehensive Investigation into Past Elections"
The National Election Commission reportedly made 81 retroactive corrections to hourly voter tallies nationwide during last year's 21st presidential election, and 65 corrections during the 2024 22nd general election. Most corrections were due to input errors, omissions, and typos, but some cases showed corrections made up to 12 hours later. Rep. Ju Jin-woo of the People Power Party mentioned introducing a special prosecutor for the election commission and urged a comprehensive investigation into all past elections.
2026.08.01
Steel, US Ambassador "Must Open Next Chapter of Korea-US Alliance"...Reconciling Differences in Investment, Security, and Trade Is Key
Michelle Bark Steel, U.S. Ambassador to South Korea, emphasized that the Korea-U.S. alliance should evolve into a future-oriented, outcome-focused partnership that extends beyond security to encompass economics and industry. She also expressed her commitment to faithfully implementing cooperation in U.S. investment, tariffs, and security agreed upon at last year's Korea-U.S. summit in Gyeongju. However, she suggested that frank dialogue and coordination for mutual interests are necessary on pending issues where the two countries' interests diverge, including the implementation of U.S. investment, digital regulation, and expanded defense roles.
2026.07.31
Police refer woman in her 30s from 'Ol Darc' without detention... Ballot counting station blockade controversy sent to prosecution
A woman in her 30s, accused of obstructing operations by blocking sports organization staff from entering an office at the ballot counting station set up at the Olympic Gymnastics Arena, has been referred to prosecutors without detention. Police conducted the investigation viewing the act of sole blockade of the counting station entrance for approximately 2 hours as a serious obstruction of public duties that undermined the agreed-upon on-site order. However, the court previously rejected the detention warrant. The case now moves to the prosecution's decision on whether to indict, and is expected to lead to controversy over the boundary between freedom of assembly and protest and obstruction of public duties.
2026.07.31
President Lee: "Real Estate is Korea's Biggest Challenge" Emphasizes Comprehensive Solutions for Supply, Tax Policy, and Finance
President Lee Jae-myung has defined real estate issues as a structural risk factor for Korea's economy, citing Japan's prolonged economic stagnation as an example. He stressed that coordinating stakeholder interests surrounding supply expansion, tax policy, and financial policy to achieve social consensus is more important than ever, emphasizing that real estate policy is a matter of politics that must responsibly reach conclusions rather than avoid conflict.
2026.07.23
Sejong City's Population Wall Crumbles at 390,000... Will Lee Jae-myung's 'Magic Solution' Work?
Population falls below 390,000, highest commercial vacancy rate nationwide, discrimination in finances worth over 1 trillion won. And the irony of institutions leaving from 2025. The current state of 'Administrative Capital' Sejong City as of July 22, 2026 is far from expectations. Can the Lee Jae-myung government's 'Second Relocation Plan for Seoul Metropolitan Public Institutions' to be announced in the second half of this year become the turning point to revive Sejong? According to comprehensive reporting on the 22nd, the administrative capital
2026.07.22
Controversy Over An Gyu-baek's 'Desertion Suspicions' Reignited...Why is 'Military Reform' in Crisis?
As controversy surrounding incumbent Defense Minister An Gyu-baek's 'desertion suspicions' reignites amid fierce attacks from the opposition party, ruling party lawmaker Kim Byung-joo has come forward with a direct rebuttal, calling it a 'messenger attack' aimed at derailing military reform. In July 2026, past suspicions about the defense chief are being drawn into the maelstrom of reform that is shaking the future of the Republic of Korea's military. Park Dong-hyuk, the representative of the People Power Party, posted on his Facebook on July 19th that "the state...
2026.07.22
President Lee calls for "urgent revision of single-stock leveraged ETFs"
President Lee Jae-myung has ordered swift regulatory improvements regarding single-stock leveraged exchange-traded funds (ETFs), which have been identified as a factor contributing to recent volatility in the domestic stock market. At a State Council meeting held at the presidential office on the 21st, President Lee stated that "comprehensive measures must be prepared swiftly and thoroughly" regarding single-stock leveraged ETFs.
2026.07.21
President Lee Jae-myung Directs Institutional Improvements for Single-Stock Leveraged ETFs
President Lee Jae-myung has instructed the rapid implementation of institutional improvements related to single-stock leveraged exchange-traded funds (ETFs), which have been identified as a factor contributing to recent volatility in the domestic stock market. During a briefing held at the Presidential Office on the 15th, President Lee instructed Chung Eun-bo, chairman of the Korea Exchange, to "promptly prepare supplementary measures," emphasizing the necessity of establishing plans for investor protection and market stabilization.
2026.07.15
Lim Gwang-hyun "Full-scale Collection of Non-Tax Revenue Next Year"...National Tax Service's Role Significantly Expanded
The National Tax Service has begun in earnest to transition into an 'integrated financial revenue agency' that manages non-tax revenue scattered across various ministries in addition to tax collection. The plan is to enhance fiscal efficiency by expanding the agency's role beyond simple tax administration to manage overall national financial revenue.
2026.07.15