Journalist

Lee Hugh
  • Koreas household wealth skewed to property, undermining capital markets: report
    Korea's household wealth skewed to property, undermining capital markets: report SEOUL, December 08 (AJP) - South Korean household wealth remains heavily concentrated in real estate, leaving the country structurally behind major advanced economies in financial investment and capital-market participation, according to a report released Monday by the Korea Economic Research Institute (KERI). The study, authored by Professor Song Heon-jae of the University of Seoul, found that non-financial assets — largely residential and commercial property — accounted for 64.5 percent of household wealth in 2024. By comparison, real assets represented 32 percent of household wealth in the United States, 36.4 percent in Japan and 51.6 percent in the United Kingdom. Financial assets made up just 35.5 percent of Korean household wealth, the lowest among the countries surveyed. The report also highlighted Korea’s conservative asset allocation within its financial portfolio. Cash and deposits rose to 46.3 percent of financial assets in 2024 from 43.4 percent in 2020, while holdings of securities and derivatives edged down from 25.1 percent to 24.0 percent, underscoring a household preference for savings over market-based investment. In contrast, US households have steadily shifted toward capital markets, with financial assets accounting for 68 percent of total household wealth. The share of investment products climbed from 51.4 percent in 2020 to 56.1 percent in 2024, supported by strong equity and asset-price performance. Japan maintained a high cash and deposit ratio of 50.9 percent, but expanded its allocation to financial investments from 15.2 percent to 20.9 percent, aided by a weaker yen and government-backed initiatives to deepen retail participation in capital markets. “The excessive concentration of household wealth in real estate constrains the efficient flow of capital into productive sectors such as corporate investment,” said Lee Sang-ho, head of KERI’s Economic and Industrial Policy Bureau. “Building a culture of long-term financial investment is essential to creating a virtuous cycle between corporate growth and household wealth.” The report called for structural tax reforms to rebalance Korean household portfolios, including simplifying dividend and capital gains taxation and introducing a unified tax rate for financial income. It also recommended reviving tax-deductible long-term investment funds and allowing tax relief on losses from long-term financial products, mirroring practices in the United States. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-08 09:05:35
  • SingCham Korea hosts year-end celebration marking 50 years of Singapore–South Korea ties
    SingCham Korea hosts year-end celebration marking 50 years of Singapore–South Korea ties SEOUL, December 07 (AJP) - SingCham Korea brought together about 150 guests on December 5 for its year-end celebration, "The Golden Ticket," held at Floating Island's Vista Hall in Seoul. The event gathered members of the Singaporean community, South Korean partners, business leaders, and diplomats to mark the close of the year and the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Singapore and South Korea. The evening opened with welcome remarks from SingCham Korea CEO Justin Yong, who highlighted the presence of Singapore's Ambassador to South Korea, Wong Kaijun. "We are deeply honored to have His Excellency Ambassador Wong Kaijun," Yong said, noting the ambassador's role since arriving earlier in the year. He announced that Wong had accepted SingCham's invitation to continue serving as its honorary patron. "We look forward to working closely with you and the embassy," he said. Yong reflected on the significance of 2025, describing it as "fifty great and golden years of friendship and collaboration" between the two countries. He pointed to last month's meeting between Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and South Korean President Lee Jae-myung at the APEC Summit, where both sides elevated bilateral ties to a strategic partnership built on five pillars. "This new chapter is going to open exciting opportunities for innovation, trade, talent exchange and deeper business ties," Yong said. He also described SingCham Korea's growth over recent years. "We did not start with big numbers, we didn't start with big resources," he said. "But we shared the same spirit that has shaped the Singapore–Korea partnership — the spirit to connect, to build and to grow." Yong thanked SingCham's board members, volunteers, and sponsors for supporting the organization's activities. Singapore's Ambassador Wong Kai Jiun followed with remarks linking the event's theme to the idea of opportunity. "When I think of a 'golden ticket,' I recall a book that I used to read as a child," he said, referring to "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory." He noted that the story's theme of opportunity and adventure paralleled the business community's experiences in Korea. "Tonight, I believe that SingCham Korea is also celebrating something similar — the opportunities that have brought all of you together." The ambassador underscored the deepening ties between Singapore and South Korea. "It has been fifty great and golden years of friendship and collaboration," he said. He noted that the Singapore–Korea Free Trade Agreement, South Korea's first FTA with an Asian country, laid the foundation for today's economic cooperation. "In the last five years Singapore's investments in the ROK have doubled, while the ROK's investments in Singapore have grown by 70 percent," he said. The ambassador also emphasized the importance of people-to-people exchanges. "These exchanges lay a very firm foundation for all the different areas of cooperation," he said, adding that SingCham Korea "serves as a bridge between businesses in Korea and Singapore, fostering partnerships, opening doors and creating new possibilities." Guests from Singapore, South Korea and other countries joined the celebration, which featured performances, networking sessions and a program recognizing the contributions of the chamber's volunteers and partners. As the evening concluded, the ambassador encouraged attendees to carry the night's theme into the coming year. "Let us hold on to the story of the golden ticket," he said. "May we see the opportunities before us, enjoy the adventures together, and see our dreams come true." 2025-12-07 23:03:41
  • Experts point to trust and perception as key hurdles in South Korea–China relations
    Experts point to trust and perception as key hurdles in South Korea–China relations SEOUL, December 07 (AJP) - A media forum held in Seoul on December 5 brought together senior officials, diplomats, and scholars to assess the direction of South Korea–China relations following the recent summit between the two leaders. Participants broadly agreed that the biggest bottlenecks in bilateral ties are declining trust and widening perception gaps, compounded by intensifying U.S.–China competition. The event, titled "Future Outlook of Bilateral Relations and the Role of the Media after the South Korea–China Summit," was co-hosted by Aju Daily and the Embassy of the People's Republic of China at China Construction Bank's Seoul headquarters. Aju Daily President Yang Kyu-hyun, National Assembly Deputy Speaker Lee Hak-young of the Democratic Party, Representative Kim Geon of the People Power Party, Deputy Minister for Public Diplomacy Jeong Ui-hye of South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Chinese Ambassador to South Korea Dai Bing were among those in attendance, along with figures from business and academia. Shin Bong-seop, former Consul General in Shenyang and now a professor at Kwangwoon University, opened the first session with an analysis of how South Korea's foreign policy structure is shifting under prolonged U.S.–China strategic rivalry. He argued that the long-used formula of "security with the United States and the economy with China" has heightened structural risks, adding that security, technology, and supply-chain issues need to be managed separately. He suggested restructuring cooperation with China around so-called "blue-zone" areas such as climate, public health, food security, and small- and medium-sized enterprises, where political risk remains relatively low. Meng Guoxin, Seoul bureau chief for People's Daily, delivered the second presentation. He noted the significance of the summit, the first state visit and first in-person meeting between the leaders in five years, calling South Korea and China "partners that cannot be separated." He said the summit laid out four key directions for future ties: stronger strategic communication, economic cooperation in emerging industries, broader cultural and youth exchanges, and deeper coordination in international forums. Meng added that despite the high level of interdependence in the economic and industrial supply chain, anti-China sentiment and online misinformation in South Korea are real obstacles to stability, underscoring the media's responsibility to provide fact-based reporting. During the first session's panel discussion, Kwangwoon University Professor Kim Hee-gyo and Yonsei University Graduate School of International Studies visiting professor Hwang Jae-joon, who also serves as a policy adviser to the Democratic Research Institute, described the bilateral structure as a mix of security competition, economic dependence, technological rivalry, and volatile public opinion. They stressed the need to manage domestic sentiment alongside strategic realism in foreign policy. The second session examined the role of the media and opportunities for media-sector cooperation. Lee Seok-woo, international affairs editor at Financial News, said the South Korea–China summit centered on practical, people-focused cooperation in areas such as financial-crime prevention, currency-swap discussions, follow-up negotiations to the bilateral free-trade agreement, and expanded person-to-person exchanges. He also noted that structural limitations remain in issues such as North Korea and China's restrictions on Korean cultural content. Lee warned that distorted information and hate-driven narratives circulating online continue to shape public attitudes in both countries, creating what he described as a long-term bottleneck in bilateral ties. Noh Seong-hae, Seoul bureau chief for China Media Group (CMG), outlined areas where South Korean and Chinese media could strengthen cooperation, including improving communication of national policies, easing misunderstandings, and expanding cultural and academic exchanges. He pointed to political sensitivities, rapidly shifting online sentiment, the spread of false information, and gaps in information access as major challenges. Noh proposed building a sustained cooperation platform grounded in trust and accuracy, suggesting joint reporting projects, co-produced programs, regular briefings, fact-checking partnerships, youth-reporter exchanges, and collaboration on video and AI-based content. He added that a phased roadmap — from expanding joint reporting to developing co-branded content — could help broaden cultural and economic engagement and improve public understanding in both countries. In the final discussion, former JTBC Beijing correspondent Park Sung-hoon, now with the investigative team at JoongAng Ilbo, and KBS producer Jeong Yong-jae drew on their reporting experience in China to highlight practical challenges in covering bilateral issues. Both noted that consistent reporting on youth exchanges and everyday cooperation can help improve public perceptions. Throughout the forum, speakers shared the view that South Korea–China relations now reflect overlapping dynamics: security tensions, economic interdependence, technological competition, and cooperation in daily life. Participants emphasized that for the positive momentum created by the recent summit to continue, sustained media-to-media engagement will be essential. 2025-12-07 22:52:25
  • Seoul presidential office moving back to Blue House by X-mas
    Seoul presidential office moving back to Blue House by X-mas SEOUL, December 07 (AJP) - The presidential office in Seoul will return to the Blue House by Christmas while readying a stronger national data-protection measures and a renewed push for dialogue with North Korea as the Lee Jae Myung administration moves beyond the phase of "a stabilization of diplomacy, security and governance" in the first six months after a snap election and presidential impeachment. The move out from Yongsan premise will be "essentially finished around Christmas," said presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik in a press briefing on Sunday, looking back the first six months under Lee presidency. The return to the presidency’s “rightful home” will become a symbolic reset for the administration as it enters its second phase, he said. The government will reinforce its data-security framework before year-end following the massive personal-information leak at Coupang, building on what officials described as an “initial comprehensive response” already in place. National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac used the six-month briefing to emphasize that while inter-Korean relations have seen little movement, the administration has rebuilt the diplomatic environment needed to attempt genuine engagement next year. He rejected speculation that Seoul might adjust its joint military drills with the United States as a goodwill gesture toward Pyongyang, saying the idea is “not under direct consideration” and stressing that exercises remain a function of “evolving security circumstances.” ' Pyongyang has not responded to Seoul’s recent offer of military talks to clarify parts of the Military Demarcation Line and prevent accidental clashes, but President Lee has reiterated that dialogue remains open and necessary. Wi said the administration had worked “without pause” to normalize foreign and security policy that he argued had deteriorated in previous years. He pointed to the stabilization of the Korea-U.S. alliance, “unexpectedly forward-looking” progress with Japan, and the shift of Korea-China ties from their “worst point” toward a recovery track as groundwork for a relaunch of inter-Korean diplomacy. He added that the presidential office plans to execute a “Korean Peninsula Peace Coexistence Process” beginning next year, now that broader regional alignments have been reset. The administration also outlined follow-up steps to last month’s security and tariff negotiations with Washington, including task forces on enriched uranium consultations, nuclear-powered submarine cooperation, and expanded defense-budget coordination. Working-level talks will begin this month, with tangible results expected in the first half of next year. Wi said these efforts reflect Seoul’s intention “to assert a more proactive defense posture” while reaffirming U.S. security guarantees and moving toward the eventual restoration of wartime operational control. On the economic front, Kang and Policy Chief Kim Yong-beom highlighted the successful conclusion of the Korea-U.S. tariff negotiations as a signature achievement of the administration’s first half-year. Kim said public trust and “the competitiveness of Korean manufacturing” were the foundation of the breakthrough and signaled that Seoul will use the agreement to upgrade the alliance into a 21st-century technology-security-economic partnership. The presidential office said it evaluates its six-month performance under three themes: restoring the public’s everyday economic conditions, normalizing foreign and security policy, and governing with a citizen-first framework. As for the ruling party’s proposal to establish a special court division to handle insurrection-related cases, the presidential office said it would proceed only within “the narrowest constitutionally permissible boundaries.” * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-07 19:32:04
  • BTSs RM confesses thinking of disbanding group thousands of times
    BTS's RM confesses thinking of disbanding group "thousands of times" SEOUL, December 07 (AJP) - BTS leader RM confessed he had repeatedly questioned whether the K-pop superstar group should disband or suspend its activities altogether, despite the seven members all having finished their military service by June this year, implying deep internal pressure and a series of undisclosed circumstances that prevented the group from returning sooner. During a Weverse live session on Saturday, RM directly addressed fans wondering about the group’s long silence. “Many people ask, ‘Why did you waste the second half of 2025?’ or ‘Why didn’t you do anything?’” he said. “I also wanted to pursue various activities after being discharged, but there were circumstances I can’t talk about. I don’t have the right to explain everything, so I can’t disclose it all.” Rapper Suga was the last of the bandmates to be released in June, following RM, V, Jimin, and Jung Kook earlier in the year and Jin, the eldest who was discharged in June 2024, and j-hope in October in the same year. BTS has not held a concert since October 2022, marking the longest hiatus of the group’s career. After concluding the “Permission to Dance” tour and releasing a series of solo projects, all seven members entered South Korea’s mandatory military service between late 2022 and 2024. Their enlistments halted group activities at a time when BTS was at the height of global influence, driving billions of dollars in cultural exports, tourism and global attention to South Korea. For years, BTS’s military service had been the subject of national debate over whether cultural contributions could warrant exemption. HYBE ultimately confirmed in October 2022 that the members would serve without exception. Their staggered schedules ensured a full-group comeback would not occur until all had been discharged in 2025. With all seven now having completed their service, fans widely expected a swift reactivation of BTS as a full group. RM, however, indicated the path has not been simple. “I couldn’t sleep. The pressure is huge.” RM described the emotional weight of preparing for a return on such a massive scale. “I want to perform right away, but preparing for it requires so much, and the personal pressure is huge,” he said. “Since last month, I haven’t even been able to sleep. I was thinking about whether I should get a prescription for sleeping pills." He apologized for the extended wait. “I’m truly sorry for making you wait so long. But we have our reasons, and we can’t come back easily until we can present something you’ll be satisfied with,” he said. “Considering the scale and all the circumstances involved, this may sound like an excuse, but I ask for your understanding. We will return. There may be times when it’s not exactly what you hoped for, but I will do my best.” RM confirmed that the group’s new album—planned for release next spring—is nearly complete, with the members practicing daily and filming content throughout December. “Our comeback is soon,” he said. “We will be practicing and filming this month.” The livestream took a more vulnerable turn when RM revealed he had repeatedly questioned the future of the group. “I’ve wondered thousands of times, ‘Would it be better for the team to disband or go on hiatus?’” he said. “But the reason we’re still together is because of the love between the members and the respect we have for our fans.” His remarks offered a rare glimpse into the strain of managing expectations of a global fanbase while navigating military obligations, creative direction and personal well-being. “I love you in my own way.” RM ended the livestream with a message to ARMY. “I love you all. I hope you really know that,” he said. “Even if that love doesn’t come back to me in the same way, I’ll keep loving you in my own way.” With the full group reunited and their comeback preparations underway, BTS’s return next spring is poised to be one of the most closely watched events in the global music industry—marking the end of a three-year military hiatus and the beginning of the group’s next chapter. 2025-12-07 16:56:31
  • Coupang issues follow-up notice on data breach, warns against secondary damage
    Coupang issues follow-up notice on data breach, warns against secondary damage SEOUL, December 07 (AJP) - Coupang said on Sunday that there have been no additional personal data breaches linked to the earlier incident, while urging customers to remain cautious to prevent potential secondary damage such as phishing or impersonation scams. In a follow-up notice sent to users, the e-commerce platform said the update was intended to reinforce precautionary guidance related to a data breach first announced on Nov. 29, stressing that the message does not indicate a new security incident. According to Coupang, the data exposed in the breach included customers’ names, email addresses, shipping address books — which may contain names, phone numbers, addresses and shared building entry codes — as well as limited order information. However, the company said it has repeatedly confirmed that no payment-related information such as credit card or bank account numbers, login credentials, passwords or personal customs clearance codes were compromised. Coupang added that the National Police Agency has found no cases so far of secondary damage resulting from misuse of the leaked information following a full-scale investigation. The company said it immediately blocked abnormal access routes upon identifying the breach and has strengthened internal monitoring systems. It also noted that it promptly reported the incident to relevant authorities and is cooperating fully with the ongoing investigation. Coupang advised customers to avoid clicking on links from unknown sources, verify messages claiming to be from its official customer service channels, and remain cautious of phone calls or messages impersonating delivery workers, sellers or part-time job recruiters. For users who have stored shared apartment entry codes in their address books, the company recommended changing those access codes as a preventive measure. The notice was issued at the request of the Ministry of Science and ICT, the Personal Information Protection Commission and the National Police Agency, according to Coupang. 2025-12-07 15:50:48
  • President Lee nominates Kim Ho-chul as auditor general
    President Lee nominates Kim Ho-chul as auditor general SEOUL, December 07 (AJP) - President Lee Jae Myung has nominated Kim Ho-chul, a veteran human rights lawyer, as auditor general of South Korea’s Board of Audit and Inspection, the presidential office said on Sunday. The nomination was announced by presidential spokesperson Lee Kyu-yeon during a briefing at the presidential office in Seoul. Kim has held a range of senior public and civic posts, including serving as a standing member of a military death investigation panel and chairing the National Police Commission. He has also led major civic groups, including Lawyers for a Democratic Society, and served as a co-representative of the Korea Federation for Environmental Movements. Lee described Kim as a leading human rights lawyer who has consistently promoted public interest and social values, citing his involvement in high-profile institutional issues such as police oversight reforms and investigations into military deaths. “Kim is expected to help restore the constitutional principles of political neutrality, institutional independence and public trust in the Board of Audit and Inspection through the normalization of its audit functions,” Lee said. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-07 14:29:47
  • Traditional Korean liquor sales surge at convenience stores as young consumers embrace local brands
    Traditional Korean liquor sales surge at convenience stores as young consumers embrace local brands SEOUL, December 07 (AJP) - Traditional Korean liquor from small regional breweries is gaining popularity at convenience stores, with sales jumping more than five-fold as trendy products attract younger consumers beyond the traditional middle-aged demographic. GS25, a major convenience store chain, said sales of traditional liquor from small breweries through its Wine25Plus online platform surged 5.4 times in the first 11 months of this year compared to the same period last year. Overall traditional liquor sales on the platform increased 2.4 times. The growth comes as breweries introduce low-alcohol products and leverage popular entertainment content for branding. National Tax Service data shows traditional liquor shipments more than doubled to 163 billion won in 2022 from 63 billion won in 2020. GS25 partnered with Daedong Yeojudo, a traditional liquor curation and distribution platform, to help small breweries expand beyond regional markets. The collaboration brought 19 small breweries onto Wine25Plus this year, with over 90 percent based in regional provinces including Gyeongsang and Jeolla. Hoegok Brewery in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, saw sales double after joining Wine25Plus, with the platform now accounting for about 30 percent of total revenue. The brewery produces trendy products using popular TV drama intellectual property. Another brewer, Han Young-seok's Fermentation Lab in Jeongeup, North Jeolla Province, reported a 26 percent sales increase. Hoegok Brewery's customer base among consumers in their 20s and 30s grew 65 percent this year, GS25 said, adding that restaurants and pubs have begun requesting product listings. "Wine25Plus is helping regional breweries grow from local brands to nationwide brands through our national distribution network and curation system," said Jeon Jun-young, an official at GS25's Wine25Plus. 2025-12-07 11:16:13
  • When will South Korea get off the treadmill?
    When will South Korea get off the treadmill? Samsung, SK, Hyundai Motor and LG aren’t just South Korean brands anymore; they’re global fixtures, as ubiquitous as fast Wi-Fi and K-dramas on long-haul flights. There are few corners of the world where someone hasn’t heard of South Korea. In cultural visibility, the last decade has felt as dizzying as the old Han River Miracle — a second, soft-power-driven version. The artificial intelligence boom literally cannot operate without Korean memory chips. K-pop is sung, danced, copied, envied and, in equal measure, admired from São Paulo to Stockholm. K-dramas routinely sit atop global streaming charts. Streets in Seoul no longer look like tourist sites in a single country but like a sampling of the entire human palette. The country now boasts a Nobel literature laureate, Oscar winners and—judging from the nomination chatter—possibly a Grammy next year. Even Google’s search rankings reflect the moment: K-pop Demon Hunters, a whimsical mash-up of Korean tradition, modern culture and idol fantasy, landed at No. 2 in global searches this year. And the stock market? The Kospi has nearly doubled from its 1,961 close in 2015 to above 4,000 this year. By all outward appearances, the country is soaring. Except for one problem: strip away the shiny names and South Korea looks like a nation running on a treadmill. Lots of motion, not enough movement. In just ten years, Korea has had four presidents—not two—because two were impeached along the way. The potential growth rate has withered from 3.3 percent in 2014 to under 2 percent today. The economy grew 2.8 percent in 2015; this year it will limp in at around 1 percent. GDP per capita is stuck in time. Korea has wandered in the $30,000 range for more than a decade. This year’s estimate — $37,430 — puts the country behind Taiwan at $38,066. It is a far cry from projections made in 2015, when Hyundai Research Institute imagined a best-case scenario of hitting $50,000 by 2024. Even their worst-case forecast of 2030 now looks oddly optimistic. Much of this stagnation is tied to the currency. While the Taiwanese dollar has been steady at around 30 per U.S. dollar for a decade, the Korean won has plunged from 1,100 to about 1,480. Had the won remained stable, Korea might already be celebrating the $50,000 milestone. Some critics say the culprit is Korea’s “America habit”—the outsized investment its corporations, pension funds and individuals make in the United States. And the numbers do tell a story. Koreans spent a record $5.93 billion abroad on credit cards in the third quarter. Foreign visitors in Korea spent just $3.76 billion — barely half. Outbound travel hit 7 million people. The travel account logged yet another deficit, because Koreans spend abroad far more enthusiastically than foreigners spend here. Why? Because, as one economist put it, “Korea is expensive.” Official inflation may be 2 percent, but real inflation—when housing is included—feels above 4 percent. The appetite for global assets is even starker. Koreans poured $99.8 billion into overseas securities this year — more than triple the foreign money coming into Korea. The country’s net external financial assets grew from $12.7 billion in 2014 to over $1 trillion today. The National Pension Service (NPS) alone holds 580 trillion won abroad. “Seohak ant” retail traders, once a quirky niche, are now a force. Korean corporations are investing record amounts overseas. And the NPS — now the world’s third-largest pension fund — has become such a whale in global markets that policymakers have informally asked it to help stabilize the won. But here is the uncomfortable truth: money follows returns. Koreans invest abroad because the returns look better there than at home. Which leads to the real issue — not outbound investment but domestic weakness. If a country wants people to study, invest, spend, build, visit and live here, it needs fundamentals that reward those choices. And Korea’s fundamentals have been eroding. The institutions feel fragile. The politics feel turbulent. The demographic outlook feels claustrophobic. And the economic model that powered the last 40 years is now more exhausted than triumphant. A strong currency, a high per-capita income, a magnetic society — these don’t emerge by accident. They come from confidence, predictability, openness, and an economy that feels full of promise rather than boxed-in limits. Without a broad, structural overhaul — one that tackles demographics, service-sector rigidity, education bottlenecks, regulatory clutter and the overcentralized political system — Korea risks becoming a country that is globally famous but internally stalled. And if nothing changes, hitting $50,000 per capita won’t be a milestone. It will remain a beautifully constructed dream — one that fades the moment you step off the treadmill. The author is the managing editor of AJP. 2025-12-06 20:47:34
  • In the World Cup and the market, the ultimate winner is the one who manages uncertainty
    In the World Cup and the market, the ultimate winner is the one who manages uncertainty The group draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North and Central America has presented the Korean national team with a formidable challenge. Facing Mexico, South Africa, and the winner of the European playoffs (Denmark, Czech Republic, Ireland, or North Macedonia) is difficult enough, but the real variable in this group is the environment. The fact that all matches will be played in Mexico becomes an opponent in itself. High altitude, temperature fluctuations, and humidity exert invisible pressure on players’ stamina, tactics, and psychology. This mirrors the economic landscape, where uncertainty dominates the market. Mexico’s vast high-altitude regions, drastic temperature shifts, intense humidity, and overwhelming home support create a competitive arena that cannot be explained by technique or tactics alone. Entrepreneurial mindset is the driving force that helps organizations break through such uncertainty. Numerous studies show that growth is shaped not only by technology or capital, but by behavioral factors such as opportunity recognition, risk-taking, self-efficacy, and innovativeness. When head coach Hong Myung-bo noted after the draw that the first two matches would be played at altitude and the last in over 35°C heat, he identified the essence of the challenge—but recognition alone is not enough. What Korea needs is entrepreneurial leadership capable of turning environment into opportunity. While many coaches focus primarily on the strength of their opponents, Hong pointed first to environmental conditions. This is an appropriate starting point for understanding uncertainty. Yet entrepreneurial thinking does not end with awareness; execution determines outcomes. The same applies to football. Beyond simple environmental analysis, the ability to structure uncertainty into a strategic asset is essential. Mexico’s 1,600-meter elevation significantly increases physical strain, and the heat and humidity of the third match affect passing speed, pressing intensity, and recovery. Add to this the psychological advantage of Mexico’s home crowd. However, these conditions are not unique to Korea—they are variables every team must face. Under identical conditions, performance differences arise not from resources but from behavior, in other words, entrepreneurial mindset. Some teams perceive the environment as risk; others convert it into a preparable opportunity. The distinction stems from the leader’s perspective. Entrepreneurship is not the ability to avoid risk but to manage it and channel it into execution. Hong’s comment that the team “has no choice but to prepare” is directionally correct, but only gains weight when translated into concrete action. Climate adaptation training, load management, rotation plans, and match-specific tactical adjustments are not optional—they are essential strategies that turn uncertainty into a controllable structure. Innovativeness and execution have long been identified as core predictors of entrepreneurial success. The World Cup is no different. What matters more than skill is the leader’s ability to execute with an entrepreneurial mindset. The environment is the same for all teams, but how each team interprets and prepares for it is what separates winners from the rest. The World Cup is won not by the team with the most talent, but by the team that identifies opportunities first and prepares earliest. That is the leadership Korea needs now. Hong Myung-bo stands at that threshold. Altitude, humidity, and home advantage are steep obstacles—but for a leader equipped with entrepreneurship, these obstacles can become stepping stones. Those who see opportunity win. Those who move first prevail. The author is a columnist of Aju Media Corporation. 2025-12-06 13:19:33