OPINION: South Korean politics faces perpetual crisis as debate and compromise disappear SEOUL, December 4 (AJP) - South Korea's political system is currently severely dysfunctional. Politics is meant to be the art of discussion, negotiation, and compromise. However, this essential process is missing today. The country's two major parties have normalized the dangerous practices of "deciding without discussion" and "acting without debate," neglecting their role as representatives of the people. This procedural destruction undermines public trust. The biggest issue is the absence of a functioning decision-making structure in the National Assembly. Laws are prioritized for speed over thorough debate, and party interests often outweigh public opinion. Policies hastily enacted are frequently reversed when political circumstances shift. This cycle of self-negation reflects the current reality of South Korean politics. Political parties are also to blame. They should be forums for debate, but have long lost this function. Meetings are held with predetermined conclusions, and leadership enforces positions based on "political loyalty," ignoring individual expertise and silencing representatives. This results in politicians who merely follow party directives, further weakening politics. This structure undermines policy consistency and effectiveness. Laws born from partisan power struggles are repealed with each change in administration, creating uncertainty that leaves government without direction and businesses without the ability to plan ahead. Over time, this instability erodes national competitiveness. This structure threatens the consistency and effectiveness of government policies. Laws created through power struggles between parties are repealed with each change in administration, leaving the government directionless and businesses unable to plan. Such shifts could eventually weaken national competitiveness. To normalize politics, robust debate must be restored. Without it, policies risk becoming mere political bargains, and laws turn into tools of partisan control. The current structure, where conclusions are forced upon the National Assembly, solves nothing. Politics must open its doors to diverse opinions and expand public discourse. Though slower, such a pace is a healthy sign of democracy. Strengthening internal party democracy is essential for political normalization. This requires transparent procedures, reform of unilateral decision-making, and enhancement of individual expertise and accountability. When parties become forums for debate, the National Assembly can function properly again. The problem is not confined to one faction or group. The entire political system has learned the wrong way to operate, undermining the basic order of national governance. Meanwhile, citizens suffer from political strife, policies drift, and the nation stands still. Politics is ultimately about creating legitimate outcomes through discussion, negotiation, and compromise. The harm of skipping this process must not be repeated. Politics that ignores process, abandons debate, and rejects compromise will ultimately destroy itself. What is needed now is not grand slogans but the restoration of politics' most basic functions. Ignoring this simple truth will trap South Korean politics in perpetual crisis. * This article, published by Economic Daily, was translated by AI. 2025-12-04 10:34:36

December sees spike in traffic accidents SEOUL, December 4 (AJP) - Traffic accidents caused by slippery roads are most frequent in December, according to a study released by insurance company Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance on Thursday. The analysis of some 2,120 accidents from November 2021 to February 2024 found that 53.9 percent occurred in December, compared to 36.6 percent in January. Despite having fewer snowy or rainy days in December, the average number of accidents per day was 82.5, higher than January's 51. The study also found that some 44.9 percent of accidents happened on the day of bad weather and during the following week. In particular, over 80 percent of accidents were concentrated on rainy days. Researcher Jang Hyo-seok, who led the study, said, "The sudden drop in temperatures and snowfall or rain could reduce motorists' driving skills," and advised using public transportation on such days. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-04 09:56:36

Retroactive US tariff cuts remove uncertainty for Korean exporters SEOUL, December 04 (AJP) - The United States has retroactively reduced tariffs on South Korean automobiles to 15 percent effective Nov. 1, following recent trade negotiations, South Korea’s government said Thursday. The two countries are working to ease related customs procedures for exporters, it added. The U.S. Department of Commerce and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative issued a pre-release of the Federal Register on Dec. 3, with formal publication scheduled for Dec. 4. The revised tariffs apply to passenger vehicles and auto parts, while tariffs on pickup trucks will remain at 25 percent under the rules of the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement — unchanged from those applied to the EU and Japan. Tariffs on mutual goods and wood products under Section 232, as well as aircraft and aircraft components, will also be applied retroactively to Nov. 14, the date the two countries signed a strategic investment memorandum of understanding. These items had been subject to an additional 15 percent duty since Aug. 7. For products whose most-favored nation (MFN) tariff rate is below 15 percent, the total tariff burden will be harmonized at 15 percent from Nov. 14. Goods that qualify under the bilateral FTA will also be subject to a 15 percent tariff ceiling. Wood products currently facing a 25 percent tariff will see duties lowered to 15 percent starting Jan. 1, while aircraft parts will become duty-free if they meet FTA requirements. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection has circulated guidance on the updated Harmonized System (HS) codes and import procedures, requiring South Korean exporters to adjust their customs declarations accordingly. In a statement, South Korea's Trade Minister Kim Jung-gwan said the tariff adjustments on major export categories — including automobiles, aircraft components and wood products — would “remove uncertainties” for South Korean exporters. He added that the government would continue efforts to resolve customs-related challenges through advisory services and voucher support programs. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-04 09:48:12

Season's first snow expected in Seoul SEOUL, December 4 (AJP) - The season's first snow is expected in Seoul and nearby metropolitan areas on Thursday, with sub-zero temperatures lingering, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration. "A heavy snowfall is expected later in the day over a few hours, which may disrupt the evening rush hour," the KMA said, advising people to stay updated with the latest weather forecasts. The capital region may see 1 to 5 centimeters of snow, while northeastern Gyeonggi Province and other mountainous areas could receive up to 8 centimeters. Meanwhile, a cold snap persists in Seoul, with morning lows at -9.4 degrees Celsius, and is expected to abate a little over the weekend. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-04 09:30:26

Seoul lifts 2026 cap for foreign-currency sovereign bonds to $5 bn SEOUL, December 04 (AJP) - South Korea has raised the ceiling for next year’s foreign-currency denominated sovereign bond issuance to $5 billion from $3.4 billion offerings this year, giving authorities more firepower to stabilize the won as demand for U.S. dollars can intensify to finance the government’s pledged $20 billion in annual U.S. investments. The stretch marks the largest foreign-currency borrowing capacity since crisis periods—$6 billion cap in 2009 at the height of the global financial crisis and $4 billion in actual issuance in 1998 during the Asian liquidity crunch. The revision was included in the 2026 budget framework approved by the National Assembly on Tuesday, the Ministry of Finance and Economy (MOFE) said Thursday. The government issued $3.4 billion this year across dollar, euro, and yen tranches—just under the $3.5 billion cap that was raised in May from an originally planned $1.4 billion. In October, Seoul sold $1.7 billion in bonds at a record-low spread of under 2 percent across maturities from two to ten years. Korean sovereign foreign-currency debt continues to hold solid investment-grade ratings: AA from S&P, Aa2 from Moody’s, and AA- from Fitch. Under the FX stabilization bond program, the issuance ceiling may be adjusted depending on global financing conditions, repayment schedules, and movements in the foreign-exchange market. The increase comes as the won has weakened roughly 7 percent this year, hovering near crisis-era levels of 1,500 won per dollar, pressured by a stronger U.S. dollar, heavy Korean investment in dollar-denominated assets, and concerns surrounding the government’s $350 billion investment pledge in the United States. The dollar, which has been easing lately as institutional players complied with pleas from authorities to help defend the won, is trading at 1,466.20 won in Seoul as of 9.15 a.m. Thursday. Domestically, the government trimmed next year’s won-denominated bond issuance target to 225.7 trillion won from the initial proposal of 232 trillion won. In a separate statement, the finance ministry stressed that Korea’s external liquidity remains sound despite the won’s slide. The liquidity coverage ratio—a measure of financial institutions’ high-quality assets available to meet short-term foreign-currency obligations—stood at 160.4 percent at the end of September, well above the 80-percent supervisory guideline. Net foreign assets exceeded $1 trillion, while the foreign-debt-to-FX-reserves ratio stayed at a manageable 40.7 percent. Korea held the world’s ninth-largest foreign-exchange reserve, totaling $430.7 billion as of November. 2025-12-04 09:23:04

INTERVIEW: China's Roborock challenges Samsung, LG with high-end robot vacuums SEOUL, December 04 (AJP) - Roborock is upending South Korea’s home appliance market — long dominated by Samsung and LG — by rapidly expanding its foothold with high-end robot vacuums. Priced at around 2 million won ($1,370), the company’s premium models have won over consumers and helped propel the robot vacuum segment to a 1 trillion won market. Roborock’s strategy of moving beyond cleaning into full home automation is setting a new benchmark for the industry. Since entering South Korea in 2020, Roborock has held the No. 1 market share for three straight years beginning in 2022. The company plans to release new technology-driven products next year as it seeks to widen its lead. “Our mission is to lead the industry through annual technological innovations amid accelerating global competition,” Dan Cham, Roborock’s Asia-Pacific Marketing Head, told Aju Business Daily on Dec. 3. “We aim to drive continuous growth under our motto, ‘A brand that surpasses itself through innovation.’” Cham described Roborock as a technology-centered company founded in 2014 by engineers from Microsoft, Intel and Baidu. “Over 50 percent of our staff are engineers, and we invest more than 7 percent of annual revenue into R&D,” he said. The company develops smart robot vacuums, wet-dry vacuums and other home devices. Roborock entered South Korea in November 2020, and by 2022 captured more than half of the local market share. Cham said the company intends to further strengthen its brand presence through continuous innovation. On competition with domestic manufacturers, Cham said market expansion is a positive sign. “Competition accelerates technological advancement,” he said. Roborock tailors its products to local needs and has maintained global leadership for 10 consecutive quarters. The company is also expanding consumer touchpoints through pop-up stores and promotional events that allow customers to test its technologies firsthand. With more brands entering the sector — many offering low-cost devices under 600,000 won — Roborock is doubling down on premium offerings such as its “S Series.” The flagship Saros Z70 features high-end performance and an “Omnigrip” robotic arm capable of lifting objects weighing up to 300 grams, enabling basic tidying functions beyond vacuuming. “This extends beyond cleaning to organizing, opening new possibilities for home automation,” Cham said. “We will continue introducing premium innovations across a range of price points.” Cham expects competition to sharpen around automation capabilities. Roborock last year launched its “AdaptLift Chassis,” enabling robot vacuums to climb thresholds up to 4 centimeters. Its devices can also perform self-cleaning and self-maintenance functions. “We will continue investing in technology to provide advanced smart home products,” he said. Cham highlighted a continued focus on robotic arm features, adaptive height adjustment and software reliability. “We have industry-leading algorithms,” he said, adding that the company will enhance compatibility with major platforms such as Apple Home and Google Home. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-04 09:08:02

National team coach Hong Myung-bo arrives in Washington for World Cup draw SEOUL, December 4 (AJP) - National team coach Hong Myung-bo arrived in Washington, D.C., just days before this week's group draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Speaking to reporters at Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia on Wednesday, Hong said, "Just qualifying for the World Cup is a great honor." When asked which countries would be ideal opponents for South Korea in the upcoming quadrennial sporting event next summer, which will be the first to feature 48 teams and three host countries - Canada, Mexico, and the U.S., Hong declined to comment, saying it is too early to predict. About 42 teams have been assigned to four different groups for the draw based on November's world rankings, with the remaining six to be determined after the European and intercontinental playoffs. South Korea, ranked 22nd, has been grouped with Austria, Australia, Croatia, Colombia, Ecuador, Japan, Iran, Morocco, Senegal, Switzerland, and Uruguay. This gives the country some relief as teams from the same group or the same continent, with the exception of Europe, cannot be drawn together for the group-stage matches. The top-tier group features the three host countries, along with nine football powerhouses such as Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, England, France, Germany, Spain, Portugal, and the Netherlands. The draw is set to take place at the John F. Kennedy Center in the U.S. capital on Friday. 2025-12-04 08:53:23

INTERVIEW: South Korea's Tesolo targets global humanoid market with robotic hand SEOUL, December 04 (AJP) - South Korean robotic gripper maker Tesolo is positioning itself at the forefront of the emerging “physical AI” era, betting that its multi-joint robotic hand can become a core component of next-generation humanoids. The company plans to accelerate commercialization through partnerships with major Korean manufacturers and global humanoid robotics startups. In an interview, CEO Kim Young-jin said Tesolo’s competitive edge lies in its ability to generate high-quality AI training data through advanced manipulation. “We aim to leverage our strengths in AI data collection to elevate our status in the robot automation market,” he said. Founded in 2019 after Kim’s research tenure at the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology, Tesolo specializes in robotic grippers — an essential technology that enables robots to grasp and manipulate objects with human-like dexterity. Its flagship product, the DG-5F (Delto Gripper-5F), features five fingers and 20 active joints, allowing precise, delicate movements modeled after the human hand. Kim said the company is now focused on deploying its technology in industrial settings. “Although we’re currently in the sample market, we have completed all verification for field use,” he said, adding that Tesolo plans to introduce the DG-5F to automotive production lines. Tesolo has also accelerated its global push. The DG-5F made its international debut at CES 2025 in Las Vegas, where it won an innovation award in robotics. Kim said the company held “successful meetings” with U.S. humanoid developers and advanced academic collaborations with Stanford University and ETH Zurich, contributing to roughly $2 million in exports this year. The company will also showcase its technology at the “K-Humanoid” booth at CES 2026. Tesolo is expanding further into China, where it already operates three dealerships in Beijing and Shanghai and collaborates with PND Robotics. “We are focusing on robot-hand platform development to showcase a variety of convergent technologies,” Kim said. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-04 08:41:31

PHOTOS: One year after martial law, citizens return to the streets SEOUL, December 03 (AJP) - On December 3, marking one year since the declaration of martial law, groups from both the progressive and conservative blocs held separate rallies in Yeouido, Seoul. Progressive groups, including the Emergency Action for Ending Insurrection and the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, gathered around National Assembly Station, calling for the dismantling of martial law. Participants held light sticks and candles, recalling the night the declaration was issued. The KCTU held an additional rally starting at 4 p.m. At the same time, conservative groups organized by Liberty University and Youth for Liberal Democracy assembled in front of the People Power Party headquarters and at Exit 2 of National Assembly Station, arguing that the declaration had been justified. Participants waved Korean flags and said they planned a separate performance at 10:27 p.m., the exact time martial law was declared last year. Later this evening, President Lee Jae-myung has joined a civic march — an unusual move for a sitting president. 2025-12-04 08:01:36

North Korea-U.S. Summit without denuclearization: a 'Korea passing' When South Korea’s new Democratic Party president took office in June, his administration moved quickly to explore the possibility of a summit between North Korea and the United States. During his first meeting with the U.S. president, President Lee Jae Myung described himself as a “pace maker” and the American president as a “peace maker,” signaling his intention to shepherd the two sides toward dialogue. His approach echoes the Moon Jae-in government’s diplomacy in 2018, when Seoul sought to revive inter-Korean engagement. But the track record since then is sobering. Pyongyang demolished the inter-Korean liaison office, scrapped the Sept. 19 military agreement and formally labeled South Korea an enemy state. Those actions severely eroded trust, yet the Democratic Party continues to favor engagement—a stance that many critics argue risks repeating the mistakes of the past. Given today’s geopolitical landscape, a North Korea–U.S. summit remains unlikely, at least until the war in Ukraine reaches some resolution. Former President Donald Trump recently suggested a Ukraine peace deal might be possible “with adjustments,” but the realities are far more complicated: territorial claims, security guarantees and an international order tested by revisionist powers. Meanwhile, Seoul is reportedly considering a shift from confronting North Korea’s “hostile two-state theory” to embracing a “peaceful two-state theory” centered on coexistence. This would align with President Lee’s three guiding principles: acknowledge the North Korean regime, avoid hostile acts and reject any notion of absorption unification. The Unification Minister has gone further, advocating recognition of “two states” and the institutionalization of a peace regime—ideas that could eventually require constitutional reinterpretation. He argues that South Korea must adjust its legal and political frameworks to reflect the long-term reality of division on the Korean Peninsula. Still, the administration remains hopeful it can help facilitate a North Korea–U.S. dialogue. But the memory of 2018—when Seoul found itself sidelined even after brokering the initial breakthrough—serves as a warning against excessive optimism. Some of the recent attempts underscore the challenge. Efforts to deliver a letter from Mr. Trump to Pyongyang reportedly went nowhere. Though U.S. and North Korean officials have held quiet, working-level conversations in recent weeks, North Korea’s demands were seen as unrealistic by Washington. Kim Jong-un has since declared that denuclearization is no longer on the agenda and that future talks should instead focus on peaceful coexistence and recognition as a sovereign nuclear state. He has also claimed that sanctions relief is no longer a priority, an assertion likely rooted in Pyongyang’s strengthened ties with China and Russia. Under these conditions, the prospect of a North Korea–U.S. summit during Mr. Trump’s planned visit to China next April appears remote. The U.S. ambassador to Seoul has noted that a second Trump administration may try unconventional approaches, but only if Washington sees clear strategic value. A turning point could come with the end of the Ukraine war. A shift in the global balance—particularly if it weakens the North Korea–China–Russia alignment—might create new space for diplomacy. Until then, Seoul would be wise to avoid making concessions on territorial claims and to maintain a pragmatic, clear-eyed approach toward Pyongyang. About the Author Joo Jae-woo is a professor at Kyung Hee University. He studied political science at Wesleyan University and international politics at Peking University. He has served as a visiting scholar at the Brookings Institution and a visiting associate professor at the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs at Georgia Tech. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-04 07:26:33