Benjamin A. Engel

Yea, maybe they weren’t prepared for his antics. Says they are going to try again tomorrow and be more forceful

"윤, 바닥에 누워 체포 거부"…특검, 구치소 갔다 그냥 왔다 | 중앙일보 이날 예정됐던 조사도 미뤄졌다.

Yoon Suk Yeol refused today to be taken from his cell for questioning. Apparently he wasn’t wearing his prison uniform and stubbornly laid on the ground. Funny to imagine him lying in his underwear kicking and screaming like a child.

www.joongang.co.kr/article/2535...

Opposition party says Seoul made a lot of concessions in US trade deal - The Korea Times The main opposition People Power Party said the government had rushed to clinch a tariff deal with Washington and that a lot of concessions were made by agreeing to large-scale investments in the Unit...

Ah yes. Korean conservatives are infamously tough on the US and would have negotiated much harder and not, say, sung American Pie while waving Stop the Steal signs and throwing themselves at Trump.

www.koreatimes.co.kr/southkorea/p...

That’s what one of the many purposes of the soon-to-happen summit at the White House is for from Seoul’s view: to quell pro-Yoon demands for Trump’s intervention. Summit is Trump legitimating Lee, as he rightfully deserves.

The Korean left who they believe are in bed with North Korea and China.

Trump could walk this back at anytime, and the Korea far right won’t give up. But clearly Trump is making a distinction right now between Bolsonaro, he’s long time ally, and Yoon Suk Yeol, who was a close friend to Biden. I think it’s that personal history which defines the different reactions. End

Trump Escalates Fight With Brazil, Taking Aim at Its Economy and Politics

To top it off, Trump’s recognition of Lee’s electoral victory comes on the same day the Trump admin blasts Brazil with tariffs and sanctions its Supreme Court Justice for prosecuting Bolsonaro. Korea’s Stop the Steal movement appears to be floundering. 3/

www.nytimes.com/2025/07/30/w...

Trump clearly “congratulates” Lee Jae Myung on his “electoral success.” The curious inclusion of this remark 2 months after the election makes you wonder if the Korean negotiators demanded Trump explicitly recognize Lee’s win as part of the deal. 2/

Trump’s Truth Social post on the trade deal with South Korea. Lately I’ve been following the Korean far-right’s push to get Trump engaged in its election fraud conspiracy theories, but the trade deal actually seems to have squashed those efforts. 1/

A translation of the below Korean article I shared yesterday on Fred Fleitz threatening South Korean Natl Security Advisor not to "mistreat" Yoon Suk Yeol has been published for those interested.

www.chosun.com/english/nati...

Korean-born permanent resident of US seized at airport, trapped in detention for 8 days A Korean green-card holder and resident of Texas was detained by US federal agents at San Francisco International Airport and held for eight days without access

A Korean green-card holder and resident of Texas was detained by US federal agents at San Francisco International Airport and held for eight days without access to legal counsel, an advocacy group said Wednesday.

www.koreaherald.com/article/1054...

Tsunami threat alert issued by NOAA/PTWC following a magnitude 8.0 quake close to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia. https://www.tsunami.gov/?p=PHEB/2025/07/29/25210002/1/WEPA40

Trump won't 'idly stand by' if Yoon is unfairly prosecuted, warns former White House adviser Fred Fleitz, vice chairman of the America First Policy Institute (AFPI), warned that the White House would not stand idly by if it believed former President Yoon Suk Yeol was being persecuted or unfai...

Fleitz also told pro-Yoon Korean lawmakers Trump would not “idly sit by” if Yoon was persecuted by the Lee Jae Myung admin. Trump has publicly and forcefully come to Bolsonaro’s aid by and now Korea must worry about him doing the same here. End

koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2025-07...

[단독] 트럼프 측근 “위성락에도 ‘尹 부당한 대우’ 우려 입장 전달” 단독 트럼프 측근 위성락에도 尹 부당한 대우 우려 입장 전달 프레드 플라이츠 前백악관 NSC 비서실장 인터뷰 이달 초 위성락 실장 회동 정치적 박해 인식 우려 트럼프 진영, 한국 선거 後 상황 주의깊게 보고 있어 대만 문제 중요, 한·미·일 협력 한 치 오류 있어선 안 돼

Another person in Trump’s orbit, Fred Fleitz, with the American First Policy Institute, has seemingly taken up Yoon Suk Yeol’s case and warned National Security Advisor Wi Sung-rak against mistreating Yoon. 1/

www.chosun.com/internationa...

Migrant soldier claims racism in the barracks A conscripted soldier of the South Korean Army says he was the victim of racially charged bullying, leading to an official military police investigation, accord

More disturbing, yet unsurprising, anti-immigrant news. Racism towards non-Koreans in Korean military is pervasive. Although not Korean ethnically, to keep Korean citizenship men must serve in the military where they are harassed for not speaking perfect Korean.

www.koreaherald.com/article/1054...

Migrants face online harassment after posting gov’t aid coupons online - The Korea Times A naturalized woman who migrated to Korea through marriage has faced xenophobic backlash after sharing photos of government-issued cash handouts on social media. The incident comes amid the launch of....

Seeing a lot of anti-migrant news lately. Probably just coincidental but sad nevertheless. Immigrants pay just as much in taxes as Koreans so why shouldn’t they be entitled to the same benefits? I received 150,000 won myself and I’m definitely paying taxes.

www.koreatimes.co.kr/southkorea/s...

[속보] 강선우 결국 자진 사퇴 "국민께 사죄, 이 대통령께 죄송" | 중앙일보 각종 논란 끝에 자진 사퇴했다.

Kang Sun-woo has finally resigned her nomination as Minister of Gender Equality. Makes sense and sets the right tone at the beginning of the Lee administration.

www.joongang.co.kr/article/2535...

Lee Jae Myung’s political honeymoon shaken by backlash over personnel picks - The Korea Times Controversies surrounding President Lee Jae Myung’s picks for ministers and secretaries are negatively affecting public approval of the president and the new administration’s policy agenda, fueling sp...

It’s starting to feel bigger than just one minister nominee. If Lee won’t acknowledge deep outcries from progressive civil society on personnel, what are the chances this administration makes any meaningful reforms to the constitution to deepen democracy?

www.koreatimes.co.kr/southkorea/p...

[사설] 강선우 두고 ‘오기’ ‘불통’ 비판 나오는 상황, 엄중히 봐야 이재명 대통령이 22일 강선우 여성가족부 장관 후보자에 대한 인사청문 경과보고서를 오는 24일까지 재송부해줄 것을 국회에 요청했다. 장관 후보자는 재송부 시한까지 경과보고서가 송부되지 않으면 대통령이 임명할 수 있다. 사실상 이번주 안에 강 후보자에 대한 임명을 강행하

Progressive newspaper Hankyoreh published an editorial calling on Lee Jae Myung to reconsider Kang Sun-woo’s nomination after noting the widespread dissatisfaction with Lee’s apparent intention to ram through her appointment

www.hani.co.kr/arti/opinion...

Not as big as it once was and I think it now has more members in Japan than Korea actually. I think that's why its even more powerful in Japan, but still throws its weight around in Korea.

[단독] 김건희 6천만원 ‘다이아 목걸이’ 영수증, 통일교 본부서 나왔다 김건희 여사 관련 의혹을 수사 중인 민중기 특별검사팀이 통일교 본부를 압수수색하며 ‘그라프 다이아몬드 목걸이’ 영수증을 확보한 것으로 전해졌다. 그간 통일교 쪽은 김 여사 청탁 의혹이 전직 고위 간부의 ‘개인 일탈’이라고 선을 그었지만 교단 차원의 개입 여부에 대한 수사가 불가피할 것으로 보인다. 22일 한겨레 취재 결과, 특검팀은 지난 18일 통일교

Special counsel investigating former first lady Kim Keon-hee has found a receipt for a 60 million KRW diamond necklace in the offices of the Unification Church. At this point, how stupid does any politician have to be to have anything to do with the Unification Church?

v.daum.net/v/2025072214...

Presidential secretary resigns over controversial remarks defending martial law - The Korea Times Kang Jun-wook, the presidential secretary for national integration, stepped down Tuesday, the presidential office said, amid controversy over his remarks defending former President Yoon Suk Yeol's fai...

Really like to know how this guy got nominated in the first place. His views certainly didn't seem to be a secret. Makes you question just who else Lee Jae Myung surrounds himself with.

www.koreatimes.co.kr/southkorea/p...

역대 정권 흔든건 '인사 고집'…강선우 갑질, 李지지율 흔들다 | 중앙일보 이 대통령의 최근 인사에 여론은 부정적으로 반응하고 있다.

A former Minister of Gender Equality under Moon Jae-in has also piled on the negative press. At this point it’s unclear who Lee is trying to satisfy by keeping Kang other than Kang herself and other close political allies. End

www.joongang.co.kr/article/2535...

민주노총 “강선우 지명은 차별 철폐 내세운 이 대통령 약속과 어긋나” 강선우 여성가족부 장관 후보자에 대한 시민사회의 반대 목소리가 확산하고 있다. ‘보좌관 갑질’ 의혹이 공론화된 이후 줄곧 침묵을 지켰던 민주노총도 성명을 내어 “중대한 결험이 있는 후보자”라며 지명 철회를 요구했다. 특히 민주노총은 지명자인 이재명 대통령을 정조준했다.

The powerful Korean Federation of Trade Unions is now also calling for Lee Jae Myung to withdraw the nomination of Kang Sun-woo for the Ministry of Gender Equality. 1/

www.hani.co.kr/arti/society...

Man apprehended after allegedly shooting son, installing bomb at apartment A man in his 30s died after being shot by his father in Incheon. The father, who fled the scene immediately after the shooting, was apprehended by police about three hours later. An explosive device t...

“'The suspect, a Korean national, fired multiple shots at the victim and was apprehended in Seoul. This is not a case involving a foreign national,' a police officer said."

Why is this necessary? Gun violence = foreigner?

koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2025-07...

Big election in Japan which may have significant consequences for Korea, especially if Ishiba is forced out following a loss. Should definitely follow!

The media has been covering the controversial nominees a lot over the last two weeks. And people in positions of power mistreating subordinates is a very touchy issue in Korea. Accusations against Kang aren’t perhaps “nut rage” level but it’s something almost all Koreans can identify with. End

Given the Democratic Party made a huge deal of former First Lady Kim Kun-hee’s plagiarism, it would have been a horrible case of hypocrisy. But will refusing to cancel the nomination of Kang Sun-woo who is accused of mistreating staffers result in Lee’s first slide in approval ratings? 2/

It appears at the moment Lee Jae Myung is going to pull only one of the two controversial minister nominees. Lee Jin-suk’s nomination has been cancelled after various allegations of plagiarism involving her graduate student advisees. 1/

m.koreaherald.com/article/1053...

The issue I followed closely was the accusation he sent money to North Korea and several people were convicted in relation to that charge. So definitely fire. But the entire issue just disappeared when the courts suspended the proceedings. It was fairly surprising how quickly it became a dead issue