Earlier readings
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Posts
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What to make of the Olympic Park protests
On Media, culture and the public mood
The June 2026 Olympic Park protests may have ended up another fringe right-wing spectacle, but it has shown the deep grievance of Korean youth towards the status quo. The 1980s’ outburst of student activism may shine a light here.
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Pork-Barrel Chips and an Inner-Party Civil War
As President Lee’s honeymoon abruptly ends in one year, his administration is subordinating macroeconomic strategy—most notably by weaponizing critical semiconductor investments to secure regional votes—to brutal inner-party survival tactics.
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June 3 election: Minjoo’s Pyrrhic Victory
On Elections
Although the ruling Minjoo party secured a sweeping numerical victory in the local elections, its critical failure to capture Seoul and its growing alienation of young voters reveal deep systemic vulnerabilities.
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Whose fates will June 3rd seal?
On Elections
Who will lead the reinvention of the conservative party? One sentence grabbed my attention as I skimmed the official pamphlets for the June 3rd local election that arrived in my mailbox: “Party does not count; vote for the right person!”...
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an opined primer on Korean media landscape
On Media, culture and the public mood
I had several opportunities to talk about South Korea’s media landscape and freedom of the press recently. While preparing my talking points, it crossed my mind that I could use them for this newsletter too.
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