January 2, 2026 – South Korea Headlines

Story gist: A South Korean political party expelled lawmaker Kang Sun-woo over allegations of receiving 100 million won in nomination donations. It requested a disciplinary trial for lawmaker Kim Byung-ki.

Bias summary: Left-leaning Hankyoreh employs dramatic phrasing like ‘sudden expulsion’ and labels it ‘1억 공천헌금,’ emphasizing decisive punishment. Center Daum highlights quirky details, such as 30 million won returned to Kim Byung-ki’s wife in a shrimp snack bag, focusing on oddity. Right-leaning Dong-A Ilbo uses softer ‘suspicions’ and stresses late-night emergency party meeting, implying internal urgency.

Story gist: South Korea’s Ministry of Employment and Labor announced resumption of a subsidy program after two years for companies converting non-regular workers to regular positions. The program offers up to 600,000 won per month per worker, with applications starting January 1, 2026.

Bias summary: Left-leaning outlets frame the story as a positive government initiative, urging applications from January 1 with promotional tone. Center outlets provide neutral facts on subsidy mechanics for companies converting workers. Right-leaning outlets emphasize urgency and direct financial gain for businesses via catchy title phrasing like ‘hurry to receive 600,000 won monthly.’

Story gist: Polls for South Korea’s upcoming local elections project the opposition Democratic Party with a clear overall advantage. The Seoul mayoral race remains closely contested.

Bias summary: Left-leaning Hankyoreh highlights Democratic Party’s strong nationwide lead while noting Seoul’s tight race. Center Daum emphasizes early competitiveness in Seoul between ruling and opposition parties, with ruling party’s advantage in Busan. Right-leaning outlets are absent, leaving perspectives that might stress ruling party strengths unrepresented.

Story gist: South Korea’s presidential office designated 2026 as the first year of the nation’s great leap forward. A multimedia video was released via the Republic of Korea Policy Briefing.

Bias summary: Left- and right-leaning outlets provided no coverage, leaving progressive critique or conservative skepticism absent. Center outlets, through official government channels, framed the announcement optimistically as a forward-looking national milestone, emphasizing promotional multimedia without analysis of feasibility, challenges, or political context.