December 31, 2025 – South Korea Headlines

Story gist: A leaked recording of a private conversation between South Korean Democratic Party lawmakers Kim Byung-ki and Kang Sun-woo surfaced, amid suspicions of 100 million won in improper nomination funds. Police assigned Kang Sun-woo’s case to the Seoul Public Crimes Investigation Unit and initiated an investigation.

Bias summary: Left-leaning outlets like Kyunghyang exclusively highlight police assigning Kang Sun-woo (Democrat) to a special unit for full investigation into bribe suspicions, emphasizing procedural action. Center sources like Daum neutrally note expanding ‘nomination donation’ allegations and police probe start. Right-leaning Munhwa portrays Democrats minimizing the ‘Kim Byung-ki incident’ while People Power Party pushes for special prosecutor amid spreading fallout.

Story gist: South Korean government warned e-commerce firm Coupang over a personal information leak and is evaluating potential business suspension. Coverage references Coupang’s concerns about US class action laws.

Bias summary: Left-leaning Hankyoreh frames the story critically, emphasizing Coupang’s fear of US laws and urging Korea to strengthen class action lawsuits for consumer protection. Center outlet Policy Briefing reports neutrally on the government’s warning and suspension deliberations, focusing on official actions without policy advocacy. Right-leaning coverage is absent, omitting conservative perspectives on business regulation or government intervention.

Story gist: South Korea’s ruling party intensified daily pressure on Coupang CEO Kim Beom-seok amid perjury allegations. Coupang claimed the National Intelligence Service directed an investigation, while the NIS stated it only requested a perjury complaint. Kim denied perjury, blaming an interpreter’s mistake.

Bias summary: Left-leaning outlets absent, omitting perspective critical of ruling party pressure. Center (ZDNet Korea) neutrally presents Coupang’s NIS directive claim versus NIS perjury request, balancing both sides. Right-leaning (Dong-A Ilbo) emphasizes CEO’s denial of wrongdoing and interpreter error, framing resistance to demands with assertive tone.

Story gist: Hwang Hana, suspected of drug use, appeared in South Korean court detained while wearing a luxury jacket worth several million won, drawing public attention. She returned from the US stating intent to take responsibility for her child.

Bias summary: Left-leaning outlets frame the story with ironic questioning of luxury wear by a criminal suspect, emphasizing extravagance. Center coverage uses sarcasm, mocking her ‘detention fashion’ as pose-worthy spectacle. Right-leaning sources highlight her child-responsibility claim while speculating on drug use during pregnancy, stressing moral and health risks. All focus on court appearance but vary in judgmental tone.

Story gist: South Korea’s People Power Party faces poaching of members described as ’empty house burglary’ by opponents, from lawmaker Lee Hye-hoon to local councilors. Lee Hye-hoon rebutted allegations of forcing a shaved-head protest; PPP’s Kim Eun-hye warned of confrontation at a hearing.

Bias summary: Right-leaning Chosun Ilbo depicts PPP as victim of ruthless poaching (’empty house burglary’) by 여당, emphasizing widespread losses. Center Daum highlights PPP’s Kim Eun-hye’s aggressive retort threatening hearing accountability, neutral tone. Left-leaning JTBC focuses on scandalous allegation against Lee Hye-hoon for protest coercion and her defensive rebuttal, stressing internal controversy.