Journalist
Lee Jung-woo이정우
cannes2030@ajupress.com
ReporterMinistry of Unification & North Korea, Politics, Foreign Affairs
I studied philosophy in college, and sociology and journalism in graduate school. I cover North Korea, South Korean politics, foreign affairs and films. I enjoy Nordic cinema, Indian cuisine and Japanese detective novels. I have a cat and like bright, acidic coffee.
"Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter."
"Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter."
Latest by Lee Jung-woo
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A tale of two Koreas: one learns war, the other stumbles at the border SEOUL, August 07 (AJP) - North Korea is gaining first-hand experience in drones, artillery and ballistic missiles on the battlefields of Ukraine while South Korea's front-line forces are confronting failures in something more basic: loaded weapons, reporting and command. The contrast is sharpening as Pyongyang expands military cooperation with Russia and continues developing its nuclear and missile arsenal, while Seoul investigates why some troops guarding the world's most heavily fortified border stood watch without ammunition loaded into their weapons and how a U.S. military drone taking part in a joint exercise was nearly mistaken for a hostile aircraft. The stakes rose again Thursday when North Korea fired a short-range ballistic missile from the Wonsan area toward the East Sea, its 10th ballistic missile launch this year, according to South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff. But North Korea is no longer learning only through weapons tests at home. Its involvement in Russia's war against Ukraine has expanded from supplying artillery shells and missiles to sending troops and, more recently, a missile unit. Ukrainian military intelligence said this week that about 90 North Korean personnel had begun deploying to Russia's western Voronezh region and could eventually operate as many as 120 ballistic missiles and six launchers. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has also said Russia may be preparing to receive another 30,000 North Korean troops. The size of any additional deployment has not been independently confirmed. North Korean troops have already gained combat experience in and around Russia's Kursk region, exposing them to a battlefield shaped by drones, electronic warfare, artillery and rapidly changing Western and Russian tactics. For Pyongyang, that amounts to an opportunity few militaries receive: testing soldiers, weapons and tactics against an experienced opponent in an actual war. Rep. Jin Seong-joon, a ruling Democratic Party lawmaker who chairs the National Assembly's National Defense Committee, said Seoul should treat the change seriously. "North Korea is strengthening its alliances with Russia and China while learning and training for modern warfare through its deployment to the war in Ukraine," Jin told AJP. South Korea must revise its operational plans and training for the changing battlefield, he said, while ensuring that basic border security does not suffer in the process. "There must never be complacency or negligence in the existing border security posture," Jin said. Rep. Hwang Myung-sun, another Democratic Party member of the committee, called North Korea's battlefield exposure a "qualitative transformation." "This is not simply an expansion of conventional military strength but a qualitative leap in its ability to conduct modern warfare," Hwang said. The concern is not that North Korea will simply copy Russian tactics. Its troops are also observing Ukrainian forces employing drones, Western weapons and new methods of combining reconnaissance, targeting and artillery. Any Russian transfer of military technology would add another layer to what Pyongyang can bring home. South Korea, meanwhile, is examining a series of lapses along its western front. The Army's 1st Corps changed instructions earlier this year so that ammunition was kept outside K6 heavy machine guns and K4 automatic grenade launchers used at general outposts and guard posts near the Demilitarized Zone. Inspections subsequently found some troops standing guard without ammunition loaded into K2 rifles and other individual weapons, although ammunition was carried separately. The military has since ordered front-line units to comply with ammunition-loading requirements. Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back relieved 1st Corps commander Lt. Gen. Han Ki-sung of his duties on Aug. 3 as investigations continued. Hwang said the case went beyond one commander. "It is a structural problem," he said. "Defects that accumulated in the field command system under the name of customary practice have now surfaced." A separate episode raised questions about communication between South Korean and U.S. forces. During a Korea Marine Exercise Program drill on July 30, a U.S. Marine Corps fixed-wing reconnaissance drone flew near Story Range in Paju, about 3.7 kilometers south of the Military Demarcation Line. South Korean forces identified it as an unknown aircraft and prepared for a possible shootdown. The U.S. side had notified a South Korean 1st Corps working-level officer of the flight by text message the previous day, according to a JCS inspection. The message never moved up the command chain. Investigators also found that formal airspace and flight approval procedures had not been properly completed. Rep. Kim Dae-sik of the conservative People Power Party said the ammunition and drone cases exposed failures both inside the Korean military and in combined operations. "Internally, the command and reporting system failed, while externally, procedures for South Korea-U.S. coordination failed," Kim said. "The problem was not that the South Korea-U.S. alliance is weak. It arose because a strong alliance was operated loosely." Rep. Koh Dong-jin, another PPP lawmaker, said the underlying weakness was a military culture in which procedures established at headquarters were not always followed in the field and critical information failed to reach commanders. For Seoul, those failures are emerging just as it pours more money into the technologies transforming warfare elsewhere. South Korea's 2026 defense budget totals 65.86 trillion won ($46.5 billion), including nearly 20 trillion won for defense capability improvement. The military is also moving to acquire more than 20,000 low-cost combat drones and train some 500,000 personnel in drone operations as it tries to absorb lessons from Ukraine and other recent conflicts. Koh said Seoul should focus investment not on matching North Korea weapon for weapon but on capabilities that can neutralize Pyongyang's asymmetric strengths, including nuclear weapons, missiles, drones and special operations forces. Artificial intelligence, advanced semiconductors and unmanned systems should take a larger role, he said, while South Korea and the United States repeatedly train for nuclear contingencies and the integration of Korean conventional forces with U.S. strategic assets. Rep. Cheon Ha-ram of the Reform Party also said the Ukraine war was giving North Korea access to the "cutting edge of modern warfare," particularly drone operations. But he argued that no amount of advanced equipment could compensate for weakened fundamentals at the front. "The 1st Corps' unloaded-weapon guard posture shows a situation in which the objectives of front-line units have become distorted into 'avoiding accidents' and 'not provoking North Korea,'" Cheon said. Lawmakers differed over why the failures occurred and how Seoul should approach Pyongyang. They agreed more readily on the danger. North Korea is returning from Russia with experience that cannot be acquired on a training ground. Its troops are learning how drones, missiles, artillery and electronic warfare work when an enemy shoots back. South Korea is also trying to learn from Ukraine, investing in drones, artificial intelligence and manned-unmanned warfare. But its recent problems carry a simpler lesson. Modern warfare may depend increasingly on algorithms, drones and precision weapons. Front-line defense still depends on weapons being ready, orders being followed and the right information reaching the right commander in time. 2026-08-07 17:56:03 -
Korea braces for record power demand as mercury nears 40 C SEOUL, August 07 (AJP) -South Korean authorities stepped up monitoring of the nation's electricity grid on Thursday as power demand approached record levels amid what has become the country's longest and most intense summer heat wave on record. Climate, Energy and Environment Minister Kim Sung-whan visited the Korea Power Exchange headquarters in Naju, about 270 kilometers south of Seoul, to review electricity supply conditions for August and inspect the operational status of power plants, transmission lines and substations. Officials also examined emergency response plans and the availability of reserve generating capacity to ensure a stable power supply in the event of an unexpected surge in electricity demand or simultaneous outages at multiple power plants. The Korea Meteorological Administration forecast afternoon highs of between 31 C and 39 C nationwide, with Seoul expected to reach 39 C, Incheon and Gwangju 38 C, and Daejeon and Daegu 37 C. Temperatures in Seoul and Incheon had already exceeded 30 C by 8 a.m. after another sweltering night prevented heat accumulated during the day from dissipating. The prolonged heat has also taken a growing toll on public health. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said 2,441 heat-related illness cases were reported between May 15 and Aug. 4, including 21 presumed deaths. Of the deaths, 13, or 62 percent, involved people aged 80 or older. Peak electricity demand reached 95.044 gigawatts on Thursday, up about 2 percent from the previous day, according to the Korea Power Exchange. The supply reserve margin stood at 10.4 percent, slightly above the 10 percent level generally considered necessary for a stable power supply. Electricity demand could climb further next week as factories resume normal operations following the summer holiday period while households and businesses continue to rely heavily on air conditioning. The ministry said demand could surpass the current national record of 97.1 GW, set on Aug. 20, 2024, if the heat wave and tropical nights persist. The government had earlier prepared for maximum demand of up to 98.8 GW this summer and secured total supply capacity of about 107 GW.Jeju Island has already set a regional record. Its electricity demand reached an all-time high of 1.1863 GW at 7 p.m. on Tuesday as residents and tourists increased their use of cooling equipment. The ministry said stable reserve levels could be maintained unless demand increases beyond projections or a series of power plant failures occurs. Electricity authorities are inspecting vulnerable facilities and maintaining emergency repair systems to minimize the risk of disruptions caused by extreme heat, heavy rainfall or equipment failures. Kim called on power companies to closely analyze changing weather conditions and electricity consumption rather than relying solely on previous summer patterns. He also urged operators to protect workers at power facilities by adjusting outdoor working hours and ensuring adequate rest during the heat wave. South Korea has experienced increasingly frequent and prolonged periods of extreme heat. The weather agency said the country averaged 18.3 heat-wave days annually during the decade from 2016 to 2025, more than double the 8.3-day average recorded from 1973 to 1982. The average number of tropical nights tripled over the same comparison period, rising from 4.1 to 12.2 days. 2026-08-07 14:42:44 -
Kangaroo families become the new normal from Seoul to San Francisco SEOUL, August 06 (AJP) - Suddenly, kangaroos seem to be multiplying around the world. Not in the Australian outback, but in family homes from South Korea to the United States, where growing numbers of young adults are delaying independence and staying in — or moving back to — their parents' houses as soaring housing costs outpace wages. The once-stigmatized "kangaroo family," in which adult children remain in the parental home, is increasingly becoming an economic necessity rather than a personal choice. "There is no reason to move out and spend all my salary on housing and living costs," said Park Jae-wook, a 29-year-old office worker who still lives with his parents in southern Seoul despite commuting across the city each day. "Almost all my unmarried friends live with their parents. It's completely normal now." In South Korea, 3.53 million households headed by people in their 50s and 60s — more than one-third of the total — lived with unmarried children in their 20s or 30s last year, government data showed. Among unmarried Koreans in their 30s living with parents aged between 50 and 69, more than three-quarters were employed, underscoring how a steady paycheck no longer guarantees residential independence. A new study by the Korea Employment Information Service points to an even wider disconnect between earning one's own living and being able to afford a home away from one's parents. Tracking the same group of young Koreans between 2021 and 2024, the agency found that the proportion considered economically independent rose to 75.4 percent from 65.9 percent. But the share that had achieved residential independence edged up to only 30.4 percent from 26.4 percent over the same period. The report defines economic independence as being employed without financial support from parents, while residential independence means living separately from them. The divide was even more striking in the Seoul metropolitan area, home to some of the country's most expensive housing. Some 78.1 percent of young people there were economically independent in 2024, higher than the 72.3 percent outside the capital region. Yet just 27.8 percent lived independently, compared with 33.2 percent elsewhere. The employment agency said the reversal suggests high housing costs are holding back young people in the capital even after they secure jobs and income. The pattern can persist for years. Of young people who were financially independent but still living with their parents in 2021, 70.6 percent remained in the same position three years later. Just 17.4 percent had gone on to achieve both financial and residential independence by 2024. "The rent is simply too expensive," said Oh Eun-ji, 56, who lives with her two adult children. "It makes perfect sense for them to stay home and save until they get married." The phenomenon is no longer uniquely Korean. In China, the rise of so-called "full-time children" has become one of the country's defining social trends. Millions of young adults have returned home, helping with housework and caring for elderly parents in exchange for financial support after a prolonged youth employment crisis. A Peking University report estimated that about 16 million young Chinese fit the description. Japan has grappled for years with the "8050 problem," where parents in their 80s continue supporting socially isolated children in their 50s, highlighting how prolonged dependence can persist across decades. The United States is experiencing a similar shift, albeit for different reasons. Nearly half of Americans under 30 lived with a parent this year, according to Federal Reserve data, while Realtor.com estimated that one-third of adults aged between 25 and 35 remained in the family home. Roughly 70 percent of them were employed, suggesting that affordability rather than unemployment has become the principal obstacle to leaving home. The common thread running through countries with vastly different economies is a widening mismatch between the cost of independence and what young adults can realistically afford. Housing prices and rents have climbed far faster than entry-level wages, while stable jobs have become more difficult to secure. Leaving home is increasingly viewed less as a milestone reached upon adulthood than one earned through years of saving. South Korea illustrates that changing mindset. A government survey found that more young people now believe they should accumulate sufficient savings before moving out than simply reach adulthood or even secure employment, reflecting a growing belief that financial readiness has become the true threshold of independence. Employment itself has also become a weaker guarantee of autonomy. In the United States, where most young adults living with parents already have jobs, analysts increasingly describe the trend as a housing affordability crisis rather than a labor-market problem. Similar pressures are emerging across advanced economies as rents and property prices continue to outpace income growth. Living with parents can shield young adults from debt and prohibitively high housing costs, allowing them to save money during economically uncertain years. But when remaining at home becomes the only practical option, economists warn that it delays household formation, marriage, childbirth and first-time home purchases — decisions that ripple across entire economies already struggling with aging populations and falling birthrates. Parents face mounting pressures as well. Supporting adult children for longer can postpone retirement, reduce savings and increase household expenses at a stage of life when many expected greater financial security. The trend also risks widening inequality. Young adults from wealthier families can accumulate savings while living rent-free, whereas those whose parents cannot provide long-term support may enter adulthood with far fewer opportunities, reinforcing wealth gaps across generations. "What we are seeing is a common pattern across advanced economies," said Rep. Ahn Sang-hoon of the conservative People Power Party, a former professor of social welfare. "Declining youth employment and soaring housing prices are making it increasingly difficult for young people to become independent." Ahn argued that governments should shift resources away from short-term spending toward long-term investment benefiting younger generations, warning that artificial intelligence and robotics could further weaken employment prospects. "Older generations need to shoulder more of the burden while governments invest for future generations under fiscally sustainable policies," he said. "Otherwise, short-term populism will simply leave young people carrying an even heavier burden." Key Takeaways Young adults living with parents are becoming a global norm as housing costs outpace wages. From South Korea and China to Japan and the United States, even employed young people are delaying residential independence because rent and home prices have risen faster than entry-level incomes. The rise of “kangaroo families” could deepen demographic and economic challenges. Prolonged dependence on parents may delay marriage, childbirth, household formation and first-time home purchases, while increasing financial pressure on parents approaching retirement. Intergenerational inequality could worsen without youth-focused housing and employment policies. Young adults from affluent families can save money while living rent-free, but those without parental support face greater financial insecurity, as AI, automation and unstable employment threaten to further narrow their path to independence. 2026-08-06 17:46:19 -
Seoul housing forum warns tax overhaul could worsen rental shortage SEOUL, August 06 (AJP) - The first public debate over the Lee Jae Myung administration's proposed property tax overhaul quickly laid bare tenants' biggest fear: being forced from their homes as landlords reclaim properties or sell them to qualify for lower taxes. At a livestreamed forum hosted by the Seoul Metropolitan Government on Thursday, tenants, homeowners, real estate agents and housing experts warned that stronger tax incentives for owner occupancy could further tighten Seoul's already strained rental market by reducing the supply of jeonse and monthly rental homes. "Paying rent and maintenance fees every month is already a considerable burden," said Kim Min-jung, who secured a rental home shortly before starting her first job in Seoul in June. "I'm also worried that stronger owner-occupancy requirements could mean I have to leave even the home that was already so difficult to find." Kim said tighter eligibility rules for jeonse loans and dwindling rental supply had already pushed many young tenants away from Korea's traditional lump-sum deposit rental system and into more expensive monthly leases. Park Jun, who has operated a real estate agency in Seoul's Songpa District for 21 years, said the decline in rental listings had already accelerated after the capital was designated a land transaction permit zone. Under current rules, buyers must occupy newly purchased homes for at least two years after completing the purchase. The proposed tax overhaul, he said, would give landlords another incentive to reclaim homes that had previously been rented out. "Jeonse and monthly rental listings have already plunged as landlords move back into their properties," Park said. He warned that the pressure could intensify once major reconstruction projects such as Eunma Apartments and Jamsil Jugong Complex 5 begin relocating residents. "Between 15,000 and 17,000 people could be looking for homes at the same time," he said. "That could trigger a serious jeonse shortage. Urgent measures are needed." Housing experts argued the proposal risked treating symptoms rather than the underlying causes of soaring home prices. Kim Ji-yeop, a professor of architecture at Sungkyunkwan University, likened the government's approach to Don Quixote attacking windmills. "The government's housing policy reminds me of Don Quixote fighting windmills," Kim said. "The enemy is somewhere else, but the government is fighting the windmills." Rather than relying on higher property taxes to cool prices, he said, policymakers should encourage private-sector housing supply, ease regulations and support a wider range of housing options. Other participants questioned whether the overhaul was designed primarily to stabilize home prices, raise tax revenue or redistribute wealth. Some described the proposed increases in holding and capital gains taxes as punitive, particularly for elderly homeowners, long-term owners and people unable to occupy their homes because of work or family obligations. The proposed revision would raise annual comprehensive real estate holding taxes on owners of high-value and multiple homes, gradually increase rates on tax bases exceeding 600 million won ($432,000), and reduce long-term capital gains tax deductions by placing greater emphasis on how long owners have actually lived in a property. Critics argue those incentives would encourage landlords to withdraw rental housing from the market. Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon said comments describing the proposed tax increases as a form of "state violence" had resonated with him. He warned that penalizing owners who do not live in their homes could encourage them to sell properties, move into them or pull them from the rental market altogether, reducing rental supply and ultimately hurting the very tenants the policy is intended to protect. AJP Takeaways • South Korea's proposed housing tax overhaul is triggering fears of a tighter rental market, with tenants warning that stronger owner-occupancy incentives could encourage landlords to reclaim homes or sell properties. • The first public debate in Seoul shifted attention from tax fairness to tenant displacement, highlighting concerns over shrinking supplies of jeonse and monthly rental housing. • Housing experts argue higher property taxes alone will not stabilize home prices, calling instead for greater private-sector housing supply and regulatory reform. • Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon warned the tax changes could backfire, reducing rental listings and hurting tenants despite the government's aim of cooling the housing market. 2026-08-06 17:23:00 -
Seoul is boiling, but protests go on SEOUL, August 06 (AJP) - A prolonged and deadly heat wave is tightening its grip on South Korea, with 21 suspected heat-related deaths and 2,441 patients reported nationwide between May 15 and Aug. 4. Despite the escalating health risks, rallies, news conferences and demonstrations have continued across central Seoul, leaving participants and police officers responsible for managing the events exposed to intense sunlight and high temperatures. A total of 9,477 rallies and demonstrations were held in Seoul during the first six months of the year, according to police data. The monthly figure reached 1,774 in March and 1,757 in April, the two highest totals during the period. The tally for July has not yet been released. Several demonstrations have proceeded in recent days as daytime temperatures in the capital hovered around 38 C. Members of Solidarity Against Disability Discrimination held a subway-boarding protest at Hyehwa Station on Monday, while a coalition opposing proposed changes to local education funding held a news conference outside Cheong Wa Dae on Tuesday. The Korea Meteorological Administration announced the first “extreme heat warning” for Seoul and parts of Gyeonggi Province earlier this week. The new warning, introduced this summer, is designed for particularly dangerous conditions in which the daily maximum apparent temperature is expected to reach at least 38 C or the actual temperature is forecast to reach at least 39 C. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency has distributed hats, ice packs and handheld fans to police stations as officers are increasingly assigned to outdoor events during the heat wave. Police personnel deployed at major rally sites such as Gwanghwamun Square, where shade is limited, can remain outdoors for extended periods while controlling traffic and separating opposing groups. Organizations holding rallies have also introduced measures intended to reduce heat-related risks. Some have shortened events or advised participants to bring water, hats and parasols. The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions has circulated internal guidelines calling for rest areas, designated safety personnel and a limit of about one hour for outdoor rallies during periods of extreme heat. The continued demonstrations come as health authorities warn that prolonged exposure can be dangerous even for people who are not performing strenuous physical activity. Of the 2,441 heat-related patients recorded this season, 825, or 33.8 percent, were aged 65 or older. Thirteen of the country’s 21 suspected heat-related deaths involved people aged 80 or above, according to data from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency cited by the Ministry of Health and Welfare. The KMA said the current extreme heat would probably reach its peak Friday, with afternoon temperatures ranging from 31 C to 39 C nationwide. Seoul is forecast to record a morning low of 27 C and an afternoon high of 39 C, while highs of 38 C are expected in Incheon and Gwangju. Temperatures are expected to decline slightly over the weekend as the atmospheric pressure pattern changes and clouds reduce the amount of direct sunlight. However, the heat wave is not expected to end, with daytime highs still likely to exceed seasonal averages and apparent temperatures potentially approaching 35 C again next week. 2026-08-06 14:54:51 -
Korea's property tax overhaul outline jolts Gangnam SEOUL, August 04 (AJP) - Gangnam's luxury apartment owners were left scrambling over whether to sell, move back into their homes or brace for sharply higher tax bills after the government unveiled a sweeping property tax overhaul that many residents described as bombshell. Within hours of Monday's announcement, real estate agents across Seoul's most expensive neighborhoods said phones began ringing from owners asking whether they should accelerate planned sales or abandon rental arrangements to qualify for more favorable tax treatment before the new rules take effect. The overhaul, unveiled as part of President Lee Jae Myung's 2026 tax revision package, seeks to shift the burden toward owners of ultra-expensive and non-owner-occupied homes while easing taxes for many owner-occupiers. "When you add everything together, wage income is taxed at as much as 49.5 percent. But even if someone earns capital gains of 10 billion won from real estate, they pay only a few hundred million won in tax," Lee said during a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, following the tax revision announcement on the previous day. The president argued that the tax code should better reflect taxpayers' actual ability to pay rather than continue giving preferential treatment to large gains from property. The announcement immediately exposed one of the country's deepest political and economic fault lines. Few issues influence household finances — or election outcomes — more than housing in Korea, where homes function not only as places to live but also as retirement savings, investment vehicles and symbols of social mobility. Physical assets account for nearly three-quarters of average household wealth, while Seoul apartment prices have climbed for 13 consecutive months, widening the divide between homeowners and aspiring buyers. The proposal reorganizes the comprehensive real estate holding tax around both property value and actual residency instead of simply counting how many homes a person owns. The tax exemption for a single owner-occupied home would rise from an officially assessed value of 1.2 billion won ($838,000) to 1.4 billion won, equivalent to roughly a 2 billion won market value. Taxes would generally decline for owner-occupiers with homes worth up to around 3 billion won, while owners of properties valued above roughly 4 billion to 5 billion won, multiple-home owners and nonresident owners would face heavier burdens. The government also plans to fundamentally overhaul capital gains tax deductions. Beginning in 2029, tax benefits for long-held homes will depend almost entirely on how long owners actually lived in the property, replacing decades of preferential treatment based largely on ownership period. The maximum deduction will also be capped at 1 billion won. Supporters say the distinction between a primary residence and an investment property is long overdue. "The direction is exactly right," said a 55-year-old manager at a midsized paper company in Seoul. "Housing should be a place to live, not an object of speculation." He said the package would reduce reasonable burdens on ordinary homeowners while asking owners of luxury and investment properties to contribute more. "It moves away from the outdated approach of looking only at how many homes somebody owns and toward a system that considers their actual ability to pay." A public corporation manager in his 40s living in Goyang also welcomed the proposal despite saying taxes on ultra-expensive homes felt distant from most people's lives. Democratic Party lawmakers echoed that view. Rep. Jin Seong-jun described the overhaul as an important step toward improving tax fairness, dismissing opposition claims of a "tax bomb" as familiar political rhetoric. Rep. Kim Nam-joon likewise called the proposal evidence of the administration's commitment to fair taxation. Jin nevertheless acknowledged taxation alone would not solve Seoul's housing problem."Ultimately, stabilizing housing prices requires large-scale supply measures," he said, noting that the government is expected to unveil additional housing supply policies soon. The strongest backlash came from Seoul's affluent southern districts, where many apartment owners purchased homes decades ago before redevelopment transformed them into some of Asia's most valuable residential properties. In Daechi-dong, home to luxury complexes such as Raemian Daechi Palace, agents said homeowners who had casually discussed selling earlier this year suddenly became far more serious after the announcement. "People who had been wondering whether to sell this year are now seriously considering it," one broker said. "Those already planning to sell are likely to move up their timetable, while others are deciding they may have to move back into their homes." Another Daechi agent said inquiries from prospective sellers began arriving almost immediately after the government released the proposal. Some landlords whose leases expire this year are now considering returning to live in their apartments themselves. Across west, Banpo in Seocheo, owners were asking not about selling but about residency requirements. "People who rented out their homes are asking whether moving back in would change how much comprehensive property tax they pay," one Banpo broker said. "They're trying to understand exactly when residency matters and how the new rules will apply." Among homeowners, the biggest anxiety centered on the proposed overhaul of capital gains taxes. A cardiothoracic surgeon in his 50s living in Banpo Xi said the scale of the changes had caught even experienced property owners by surprise. "The biggest shock is the capital gains tax," he said. "I recently looked at apartments in Apgujeong, and between one-third and nearly half were owned by people approaching 80." Many purchased their homes 30 or 40 years ago for less than 1 billion won, he said. Today, some are worth around 11 billion won. "For those people, the shock will be enormous," he said. "If they don't sell within the next year or two, some could end up paying an additional 1 billion to 2 billion won in taxes." He also estimated annual holding taxes on large apartments in Banpo or Apgujeong could reach 50 million to 60 million won — comparable to the after-tax annual income of many salaried workers. Not everyone opposed the overhaul on financial grounds alone. A lawyer in his 60s living in Yongsan called the proposal "a communist policy," arguing that higher taxes would discourage homeownership and restrict people's freedom to move. Others worried about unintended consequences for renters. A woman in her 20s working for a major corporation questioned why the government appeared to be discouraging multiple-home owners who provide rental housing. "Is this a signal that the government ultimately wants to eliminate the jeonse system?" she asked. "At a time when jeonse and monthly rents are already rising, discouraging multiple-home owners or owners of one nonresident property may not benefit ordinary citizens." Conservative People Power Party lawmaker Ahn Sang-hoon argued that landlords would eventually pass higher taxes on to tenants while housing demand would simply spill into neighboring districts, pushing prices higher elsewhere. The government has attempted to soften the transition by temporarily easing capital gains taxes on multiple-home owners through 2028 to encourage property sales. Opponents, however, argue that raising ownership costs while maintaining transaction-related burdens risks discouraging private rental supply instead. The debate therefore extends well beyond taxation. Supporters see the overhaul as a long-overdue effort to restore fairness by treating housing primarily as shelter rather than a vehicle for tax-advantaged wealth accumulation. Critics counter that it punishes long-term homeowners whose neighborhoods appreciated around them, could reduce rental supply and ultimately shift higher costs onto tenants. Whether the reforms cool Seoul's overheated housing market may depend less on tax policy itself than on whether the Lee administration can deliver enough new housing to ease the chronic shortage that has fueled soaring prices for years. 2026-08-04 19:25:20 -
Song Young-gil Rejects Candidate Unification, Vows to Complete Race Song Young-gil, a member of the Democratic Party and candidate for party leader, has dismissed the possibility of candidate unification and made it clear that he intends to complete the race until the party convention on the 17th. He argued that withdrawing midway would be disadvantageous given the introduction of a preferential voting system, and he plans to leverage his experience leading both local governments and the ruling party to aim for a late-stage turnaround.In an interview with Aju Economy on July 31 at the National Assembly building in Yeouido, Seoul, Song stated, "There is no need for unification; I will go all the way to the end."The upcoming Democratic Party convention will implement a preferential voting system. Party members will rank three candidates, and if no candidate receives a majority in the first round, the candidate in third place will be eliminated, and their second-choice votes will be redistributed to the remaining two candidates.Song argued, "If we do not go all the way, it will be a loss," asserting that it is rational for all three candidates to participate fully in the election.He emphasized that his experience as both the mayor of Incheon and the leader of the Democratic Party distinguishes him as the strongest candidate. "The party leader must support the president's governance legislatively while accurately conveying public sentiment and proposing alternatives to address the president's shortcomings," he said, adding, "Among the three, I am the one who can perform that role best."He continued, "I have led a metropolitan government, specialized in economics, and have experience supporting the government's success as the leader of the ruling party. My experience in managing both local governments and the ruling party makes a significant difference in times of crisis."One of Song's key achievements is his experience overcoming a financial crisis during his tenure as mayor of Incheon. When he took office in 2010, Incheon was facing severe financial difficulties, with debts exceeding 7 trillion won and daily interest payments reaching about 1 billion won. To secure funding, Song pushed for the sale of the Incheon Comprehensive Terminal, which was leased by Shinsegae Department Store, but determined that it could not be sold for the 650 billion won that Shinsegae had considered.He involved Lotte in the bidding process, fostering real competition between the two retail giants, and ultimately, the terminal was sold for 900 billion won. He explained that including related revenues, the financial impact amounted to approximately 920 billion won.Song highlighted this case as evidence of his negotiation skills and crisis management abilities, showing that he did not sell local government assets at a loss but rather secured their true value through competition.He argues that his experience as mayor can be a significant asset in national politics. A politician who has managed a local government understands how policies are implemented on the ground and how budgets and administrative organizations operate."Politics is not just about slogans," he said. "One must understand economics, administration, and budgets, and have real experience in solving crises to support the success of the Lee Jae-myung government."Currently, the Democratic Party leadership election is unfolding as a two-horse race between former leader Jeong Cheong-rae and former Prime Minister Kim Min-seok. As of August 3, the cumulative first-choice vote percentages among party members were 45.51% for Jeong, 44.52% for Kim, and 9.97% for Song.Despite his low first-choice vote percentage, Song maintains that the nature of the preferential voting system means the final outcome cannot be predicted. Even if he finishes in third place, the second-choice votes from his supporters could determine the ultimate winner, and he could create an opportunity for a turnaround in the remaining regional contests.Since entering the National Assembly in 2000, Song has served five terms in the Incheon Gyeyang district and was elected mayor of Incheon in 2010. He became the leader of the Democratic Party in 2021 and returned to the National Assembly through a by-election in Incheon Yeonsu-gap in June, becoming the first six-term member from Incheon.The interview took place in Room 818 of the National Assembly building, which was previously used by President Lee Jae-myung during his time as a lawmaker. After returning to the National Assembly through the by-election, Song took over this office. In this space, where traces of President Lee remain, Song emphasized that he is the right person to support the success of the Lee Jae-myung government."I have experience leading both local governments and the ruling party," he said. "Just as I managed the crisis in Incheon, I will lead the success of the Lee Jae-myung government and the Democratic Party's victory in the general election based on my experience and policy capabilities."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-04 16:40:00 -
Government diet report gives South Koreans a C SEOUL, August 04 (AJP) -If South Koreans were graded on their eating habits, they would earn a C, with young adults dragging down the national score as they skipped breakfast and fell short on fruit and whole grains, government data showed Tuesday. South Korean adults scored an average 58.6 out of 100 on the Korean Healthy Eating Index for 2022–2024, little changed from the 58.9 recorded in 2019–2021, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. The Korean Healthy Eating Index, or KHEI, for 2022–2024 was nearly unchanged from the 58.9 recorded in 2019–2021, according to an analysis released by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. The results were based on nutrition data from 16,586 adults aged 19 and older who participated in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 2022 and 2024. A higher score indicates closer adherence to the country’s dietary guidelines. The index comprises 14 components. Eight evaluate the consumption of recommended foods and eating habits, including breakfast, mixed grains, fruit, vegetables, protein foods and dairy products. Three assess the moderation of sodium, saturated fat and sugar, while the remaining three measure the balance of carbohydrate, fat and overall energy intake. Men scored 57.6, two points below women’s 59.6. The disparity was more pronounced by age, with the score increasing steadily among older groups. People aged 19 to 29 received an average score of 50.3, followed by 52.8 among those in their 30s. The figure rose to 56.7 for people in their 40s, 60.5 for those in their 50s and 65.2 for those in their 60s. Adults aged 70 and older recorded the highest score at 66.1. Young adults performed particularly poorly in categories related to eating breakfast and consuming mixed grains and fruit. People in their 20s received just 3.9 out of 10 for breakfast consumption and 1.1 out of five for mixed-grain intake. Their total-fruit score was one out of five, while their fresh-fruit score was 1.3. Those in their 30s recorded similarly low scores, receiving 4.3 for breakfast, 1.1 for mixed grains and 1.2 for total fruit. The two youngest age groups also received less than half of the available points in the category measuring whether saturated fat remained within the recommended share of total energy intake. Across the entire adult population, mixed grains, total fruit, fresh fruit and milk and dairy products were identified as the areas most in need of improvement. When individual components were converted to a 100-point scale, all four categories scored below 50. Consumption of meat, fish, eggs and beans, along with sodium moderation, received relatively high scores of more than 70. Dietary weaknesses differed among older adults. People aged 60 and above generally received the highest overall scores but performed poorly on dairy consumption and the balance of energy obtained from carbohydrates. Adults aged 70 and older received only 2.6 out of 10 for milk and dairy products, the lowest score among all age groups. “Our adult healthy eating score has remained largely unchanged in recent years, but the consumption of mixed grains, fruit, and milk and dairy products remains insufficient and needs improvement,” KDCA Commissioner Lim Seung-kwan said. “Younger adults in their 20s and 30s had the lowest overall scores and also ranked lowest in most components, including breakfast, mixed grains, fruit and saturated fat intake,” Lim said. “Greater efforts are needed to maintain regular eating habits and consume a diverse range of food groups.” The Korean findings show similarities with dietary patterns observed in the United States, although the two countries’ indices use different components and standards and therefore cannot be compared directly. The KDCA cited U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data from 2017–2018 showing a Healthy Eating Index-2020 score of 57 among Americans aged 19 to 59 and 61 among those aged 60 and older. The U.S. Department of Agriculture also reports that Americans aged 2 and older had an average Healthy Eating Index score of 58 out of 100, with adults aged 60 and above among the highest-scoring age groups. The agency said average American diets across the life span still failed to align fully with national dietary guidelines. A separate U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention analysis found that only 12.3 percent of American adults met fruit-intake recommendations in 2019, while 10 percent met vegetable-intake recommendations. Women were more likely than men to meet both targets, and adults aged 51 and older were more likely to consume the recommended amount of vegetables than younger adults. The World Health Organization recommends that people older than 10 consume at least 400 grams of fruit and vegetables each day. It also recommends obtaining carbohydrates mainly from minimally refined sources, including whole grains, vegetables, fruit and pulses. 2026-08-04 14:11:20 -
Democratic-led states seek to block U.S. forced-labor tariffs SEOUL, August 04 (AJP) -The legal foundation for U.S. tariffs on goods from South Korea and 59 other trading partners came under challenge Monday as a coalition of 25 Democratic-led states sued the Trump administration in federal court. Many nonexempt South Korean goods entering the United States have faced a combined tariff rate of 12.5 percent since July 24, after Washington replaced an expiring 10 percent global surcharge with new duties imposed under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. Under the measure, the United States imposes an additional duty on South Korean products when their existing most-favored-nation tariff is below 12.5 percent, bringing the combined rate to that level. Products whose existing rate is already at least 12.5 percent receive no additional Section 301 duty. Goods subject to separate Section 232 national security tariffs, including automobiles, steel, aluminum and copper, are excluded from this particular action but may still face other U.S. duties. A coalition of 25 Democratic-led U.S. states filed a lawsuit Monday in the U.S. Court of International Trade in New York, asking the court to halt the "unlawful" tariffs and refund duties already collected. The lawsuit includes New York, California, Oregon, Arizona, Washington, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and 16 other states. The Trump administration imposed duties of between 10 percent and 12.5 percent on imports from 59 countries and the European Union, collectively accounting for more than 99 percent of U.S. imports. Washington said the economies had failed to impose or effectively enforce bans on imports made wholly or partly with forced labor. The states, however, argue that forced labor was used as a pretext to preserve President Donald Trump’s broad global tariff policy after courts invalidated two previous versions. Their complaint said the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative grouped 60 economies into just four tariff categories without establishing a meaningful relationship between conditions in each economy and the rate imposed. It also alleged that USTR provided no clear benchmarks explaining how a country could improve its forced-labor enforcement and secure the removal of the tariffs. “The law and our Constitution are clear that the president does not have the power to impose sweeping tariffs on whatever countries he wants,” New York Attorney General Letitia James said in a statement announcing the lawsuit. James said the tariffs would effectively raise taxes on American families and businesses by increasing the prices of imported products. The White House rejected the states’ claims, saying Section 301 explicitly permits the government to respond to foreign practices that unfairly burden U.S. commerce. “The United States is using its lawful authority to obtain the elimination of unreasonable acts, policies, and practices that burden U.S. commerce,” White House spokesperson Kush Desai said. Desai said weak enforcement of forced-labor import bans placed American workers and businesses at a competitive disadvantage and argued that Section 301 had proved legally durable during Trump’s first term. The current dispute follows a series of courtroom setbacks for Trump’s tariff agenda. In February, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act did not authorize the president to impose the sweeping “reciprocal” tariffs introduced during his second term. The administration subsequently imposed a temporary 10 percent worldwide surcharge for 150 days under Section 122 of the Trade Act. The Court of International Trade also ruled against that measure, although it remained in place during the government’s appeal and expired at the beginning of July 24. The new Section 301 tariffs took effect at the same time, preventing any interruption in the administration’s baseline tariff policy. Unlike the emergency-powers and Section 122 provisions, Section 301 has long been used to address unfair or discriminatory foreign trade practices. Trump relied on it extensively to impose tariffs on Chinese products during his first term, and those duties survived previous legal challenges. The states nevertheless argue that Section 301 requires investigations and remedies tailored to specific countries and practices. They said completing investigations into 60 separate economies in less than three months and imposing nearly identical rates demonstrated that the outcome had been predetermined. The states’ case follows two lawsuits filed by U.S. small businesses on July 24, the day the new tariffs took effect. One was brought on behalf of New York spice retailer Burlap & Barrel and California watch retailer Collective Horology. Those plaintiffs similarly contend that the administration did not explain how tariffs on their imports would eliminate the foreign practices identified by USTR. The latest lawsuit could determine whether the administration can use Section 301 to sustain tariffs covering nearly the entire U.S. import market or whether the law permits only narrower measures directed at clearly identified trade practices. 2026-08-04 10:56:29 -
Song Young-gil vows to stay in ruling party race despite regional setback SEOUL, August 03 (AJP) - Six-term lawmaker Song Young-gil vowed to stay in the South Korean ruling Democratic Party leadership race until the end despite finishing a distant third in the opening weekend of regional voting, rejecting speculation that he would join forces with rival Kim Min-seok and arguing that his experience makes him the strongest candidate to lead the party. Although the Aug. 17 leadership contest is increasingly shaping up as a two-way race between former party leader Jung Chung-rae and former Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, Song insisted the newly adopted preferential voting system gives him a path to victory and said his experience leading both the Democratic Party and Incheon Metropolitan Government sets him apart from his rivals. "There is no need for unification," Song said in an interview with AJP at the National Assembly on July 31. "Because the runoff system has effectively been replaced by preferential voting, a candidate would put himself at a disadvantage by failing to remain in the race until the end. I will complete the race without unification." Under the preferential voting system introduced for the Aug. 17 convention, voters rank the three leadership candidates in order of preference. If no candidate wins a majority of first-choice votes, the third-place candidate is eliminated and the second-choice votes cast by that candidate's supporters are redistributed between the two remaining contenders. Song said he offers a combination of experience unmatched by the other candidates, having served as both Democratic Party chairman and mayor of Incheon. "The person best equipped among the three candidates to perform the role of ruling party leader is Song Young-gil," he said. "I have led a metropolitan government, studied economics and supported a national administration as the leader of the ruling party." Why him over the two who have served in leadership under President Lee Jae Myung? Song said the next party leader must be more than a political ally of the president. "A ruling party leader must work in step with the president and provide legislative support for the administration," Song said. "At the same time, the leader must accurately convey public sentiment, compensate for the president's shortcomings and present alternatives." "I believe I am more capable of performing that role," he added. "I have already demonstrated it while serving as party leader." Although he led the Democratic Party under former President Moon Jae-in, Song stressed his long relationship with Lee. While representing Incheon's Gyeyang B constituency, Song occupied the parliamentary office that Lee later inherited after winning the 2022 by-election following Song's unsuccessful Seoul mayoral bid. After returning to the National Assembly in the June 3 by-election in Incheon's Yeonsu A district, Song chose to move back into the same office, Room 818, for the first time in four years. Song also sharply criticized Jung Chung-rae's proposal to suspend trading in single-stock leveraged exchange-traded funds, arguing that political leaders should avoid making market-moving remarks without sufficient economic understanding. "Had trading been suspended as Jung proposed, investors might have been denied even the chance to recover their principal," Song said. "The episode demonstrated that the leader of the ruling party must not make remarks capable of moving the market without sufficient economic understanding and careful review." Jung proposed during a televised debate on July 29 that the government consider temporarily suspending trading in leveraged ETFs tracking individual stocks, including Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, as volatility swept through the Korean stock market. "Stopping the trading of products that have already been listed would go too far," Song said. Financial authorities subsequently announced plans to temporarily halt new listings of single-stock leveraged products, raise the required cash deposit from 10 million won to 30 million won and eventually increase the minimum trading unit to 20 shares. The market capitalization of 16 single-stock leveraged ETFs had surged from 4.4 trillion won when they debuted on May 27 to 11.9 trillion won as of July 15. Song said his opposition to suspending trading also reflected his confidence in South Korea's semiconductor industry. "Unless the AI era goes into reverse, demand for memory chips will continue to increase," he said. "I believed that the share prices of Samsung Electronics and SK hynix would eventually recover." Despite his brave words. Song faces an uphill battle after finishing a distant third in the opening regional contests. Kim and Jung remain locked in a razor-thin contest. Kim narrowly won the Chungcheong regional vote announced Saturday with 45.05 percent to Jung's 44.61 percent. Jung rebounded to win Sunday's Busan, Ulsan and South Gyeongsang contest with 46.65 percent, ahead of Kim's 43.84 percent and Song's 9.49 percent. As of Monday, the cumulative first-choice vote among eligible party members stood at 45.51 percent for Jung, 44.52 percent for Kim and 9.97 percent for Song. Jung's lead over Kim was just 1,211 votes, leaving Song's supporters and their second-preference choices with the potential to determine the eventual winner. Song also pledged to apply transparent and consistent standards when selecting candidates for the 2028 general election, one of the most consequential powers of the next party leader. "I will build a Democratic Party in which opportunities are equal, the process is fair and the outcome is just," he said. Song accused Jung of using candidate nominations in the recent local elections and parliamentary by-elections to strengthen his own political faction ahead of his leadership campaign. "The nominations were criticized as an attempt to plant his own people for Jung Chung-rae's reelection," Song said. "I will make fair nominations in accordance with transparent principles. Candidates will be selected according to their competitiveness and the public's evaluation, not their faction or personal relationship with the party leader." Song said his ultimate goal was to help the party secure another parliamentary majority in the 2028 general election, calling the June 3 local elections as "a defeat wearing the outer appearance of victory," arguing that the leadership had failed to present a coherent nationwide message despite retaining political dominance. Born in Goheung, South Jeolla Province, in 1963, Song graduated from Yonsei University with a degree in business administration before passing Korea's 36th national bar examination. He entered the National Assembly in 2000, served five terms representing Incheon's Gyeyang district, was mayor of Incheon from 2010 to 2014 and chaired the Democratic Party in 2021. Readmitted to the party in February, he returned to parliament by winning the June 3 by-election in Incheon's Yeonsu A district, becoming the city's first six-term lawmaker. Voting by party members in Jeju and Incheon will take place from Aug. 4 to 7, with results announced Aug. 8. Voting in Gangwon, Daegu and North Gyeongsang will run from Aug. 5 to 8, followed by regional speeches and results on Aug. 9. The Honam contest will be held on Aug. 15, before the final regional round in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province on Aug. 16. The Democratic Party will elect its new leader at its national convention in Daejeon on Aug. 17, with votes from party members and delegates accounting for 70 percent of the result and a public opinion survey making up the remaining 30 percent. 2026-08-03 17:45:05