-
Lee’s 'X presidency': Pros, cons — and why he keeps at it
President Lee Jae Myung is governing the way he rose: by going straight to the public on social media. What began in his days as Seongnam mayor in 2010 as a megaphone against what he called distorted media coverage — and the silence that often met his requests for corrections — has become a governing tool at Cheong Wa Dae. Since January, his use of the platform X has become more direct, using it to weigh in on, and at times to set the agenda on, key domestic issues, including efforts to stabiliz
Feb. 28, 2026 -
Lee launches TikTok account, steps up social media engagement
President Lee Jae Myung opened an account on the popular short-form video-sharing application TikTok on Saturday as part of his efforts to increase his activities on social media platforms. Lee posted a short video depicting him pressing a "subscribe" box on a document awaiting approval while asking viewers to subscribe, like and leave a comment as he made heart-shaped hand gestures. On Friday, Lee wrote on another social media platform, X, "Something big is coming." The presidential office said
Feb. 28, 2026 -
National Assembly passes bill allowing Constitutional Court to review lower court rulings
The National Assembly, led by the ruling Democratic Party (DP), passed a bill Friday allowing the Constitutional Court to review lower court rulings, including those finalized by the Supreme Court. The revision to the Constitutional Court Act -- one of three judicial reform bills pushed by the DP -- passed 162-63, shortly after a filibuster by the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) ended. Of the other two reform bills, one, which criminalizes "legal distortion," passed the Assembly on Thur
Feb. 27, 2026 -
Yet another judicial reform bill passes; NCA minister resigns in protest
A revision of the Constitutional Court Act passed the National Assembly on Friday, after liberal parties ended the opposition's filibuster against the contentious bill that has been criticized for potentially upending the current three-tier court system. The revision, aimed at allowing a ruling finalized at the Supreme Court to be appealed again in the Constitutional Court, passed the plenary session in a 162-63 vote. This came shortly after the opposition-led filibuster ended in a cloture with
Feb. 27, 2026 -
Lee puts sole apartment on market to underscore housing stabilization push
President Lee Jae Myung has put his only apartment on the market to underscore his commitment to stabilizing the real estate market, Cheong Wa Dae said Friday. The presidential office said Lee and first lady Kim Hea Kyung jointly own the apartment in Bundang-gu, Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, and listed it for sale. The couple has held the property for 29 years since purchasing it in 1998. “Although he has been a single-homeowner for residential purposes, the move is seen as an effort to personall
Feb. 27, 2026 -
Opposition by attrition: Filibusters wear down Assembly, but can they win public over?
In South Korea's National Assembly, filibusters to prolong a debate on a bill are becoming an increasingly common tactic for opposition parties to keep the ruling Democratic Party in check. But what was supposed to be an unlimited debate mostly ends up being short-lived. The liberal parties have enough votes in the legislature to force an end to the debate after 24 hours, and move on to pass the bill that is being filibustered. Only a handful of lawmakers attend filibuster speeches, taking turns
Feb. 27, 2026 -
President says Hyundai’s Saemangeum bet will reshape southwest economy
President Lee Jae Myung said Hyundai Motor Group’s more than $6 billion plan to build an innovation growth hub on reclaimed land in North Jeolla Province could “completely reshape the economic map” of South Korea’s southwestern region. Lee attended an investment signing ceremony on Friday, as Hyundai unveiled a 9 trillion won ($6.26 billion) plan to build a suite of advanced facilities encompassing artificial intelligence, robotics and clean energy in Saemangeum, home to Korea’s largest land rec
Feb. 27, 2026 -
PM apologizes for chronic overcrowding on Gimpo Goldline
Prime Minister Kim Min-seok on Friday apologized for the government's failure to address the chronic overcrowding of Gimpo Goldline, a 23-kilometer light metro line connecting Seoul with the satellite city of Gimpo, Gyeonggi Province. The longstanding issue, caused by a shortage of subway cars on the line, which opened in 2019 with 23 trains. It has added six more since then and plans to add another five by the end of the year. But this is unlikely to fully meet demand, as congestion levels ofte
Feb. 27, 2026 -
Lee to pay state visits to Singapore, Philippines next week
President Lee Jae Myung will pay state visits to Singapore and the Philippines next week for summit talks aimed at expanding cooperation with the Southeast Asian nations, Cheong Wa Dae said Friday. Lee will depart for Singapore on Sunday for a three-day visit, with summit talks with Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and a meeting with Singaporean President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, the ceremonial head of state, scheduled for Monday, presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said in a written briefing. It
Feb. 27, 2026 -
Lee vows policy measures to discourage speculative homeownership
President Lee Jae Myung has said the government will come up with policy measures to reduce the benefits of homeownership as housing speculation, while actively protecting the rights of home buying for residential purposes. The remarks by Lee were seen as the latest warning against housing speculation, as the government was set to end the temporary suspension of heavy capital gains taxes for multi-home owners in May. On his social media account on X on Thursday night, Lee said the government wil
Feb. 27, 2026 -
Korea, UAE agree to pursue $65b in joint projects: Cheong Wa Dae
South Korea and the United Arab Emirates have agreed to pursue more than $65 billion in joint cooperation projects, including over $35 billion in defense industry initiatives, Cheong Wa Dae said Thursday. Cheong Wa Dae made the announcement after Kang Hoon-sik, the presidential chief of staff, returned from his trip to the UAE on Wednesday as presidential special envoy for strategic economic cooperation, during which he led an interagency government delegation. Kang met Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubar
Feb. 26, 2026 -
Seoul cuts foreign aid by 16% in shift toward 'quality'
The Lee Jae Myung administration on Thursday confirmed a more than 16 percent cut in South Korea’s official development assistance for this year, marking a pullback after years of rapid expansion. Prime Minister Kim Min-seok said the reduction reflects the government’s push to improve the quality and transparency of foreign aid, criticizing the previous Yoon Suk Yeol administration for expanding ODA at the expense of project quality. “The government has been considering fundamental reforms to th
Feb. 26, 2026 -
S. Korea vows zero tolerance for fake news ahead of June local elections
Prime Minister Kim Min-seok on Thursday called for swift and thorough investigations into election-related fake news, warning that disinformation and smear campaigns pose a serious threat to democracy ahead of South Korea’s nationwide local elections scheduled for June 3. Speaking at a government meeting of relevant ministers and agency chiefs on countering fake news, Kim said false information surrounding elections must be dealt with firmly under the law. “Fake news and smear campaigns that dis
Feb. 26, 2026 -
DP's ex-floor leader grilled by police, denies allegations
Rep. Kim Byung-kee, a three-term independent lawmaker who was ejected from the ruling Democratic Party over a range of corruption scandals, denied all allegations against him as he appeared for police questioning Thursday. "I will faithfully cooperate with an investigation to clear up all suspicions and slander against me and restore my honor," said Kim before he entered a police station as a suspect. Kim formerly served as the Democratic Party floor leader until December, but stepped down amid
Feb. 26, 2026 -
Cheong Wa Dae vows efforts for peaceful coexistence as Pyongyang dismisses any dialogue with Seoul
Cheong Wa Dae said Thursday that South Korea will continue efforts toward peaceful coexistence on the Korean Peninsula, shortly after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un dismissed any dialogue with Seoul while appearing to leave the door open for talks with the United States. Cheong Wa Dae gave the response as Kim, wrapping up the North's key party congress, rejected the outreach by President Lee Jae Myung's administration, describing Seoul's olive branch as "deceptive." "Our government will continu
Feb. 26, 2026