May 13, 2026 – South Korea Headlines

Story gist: South Korea’s appellate court increased former Interior Minister Lee Sang-min’s prison sentence from seven to nine years and confirmed a two-year sentence for Noh Sang-won in a case involving illegal martial law tolerance and perjury.

Bias summary: Left-leaning Hankyoreh frames the story with accusatory headline emphasizing ‘tolerating illegal martial law’ and ‘perjury without remorse,’ highlighting lack of regret. Center KBS provides neutral, factual reporting on exact sentence changes without emotive language. No right-leaning coverage noted, suggesting potential omission or downplaying of the conviction’s significance from that perspective.

Story gist: South Korea’s Supreme Prosecutors’ Office requested disciplinary action against prosecutor Park Sang-yong after confirming he demanded confessions and provided conveniences to suspects.

Bias summary: Left-leaning Hankyoreh neutrally reports the discipline request and confirmed misconduct of confession demands and conveniences. Center newsis emphasizes the ruling party’s praise of the suspension as an ‘appropriate measure.’ Right-leaning JoongAng Ilbo highlights omission of the ‘salmon soju party’ incident, implying selective or incomplete disciplinary framing.

Story gist: People Power Party’s election campaign committee faced internal backlash over appointments made without consent. Senior members declined to join amid the friction.

Bias summary: Left-leaning outlets like Kyunghyang frame it as PPP’s ‘capital avoidance strategy’ by Jang Dong-hyuk, emphasizing selective engagement in welcoming areas to imply weakness. Center outlets like Yonhap highlight unity with images of candidates shaking hands, focusing on harmony. Right-leaning Dong-A stresses committee discord, unauthorized appointments, and recruitment failures, underscoring operational friction without mitigation.

Story gist: Kim Yong-beom mentioned a ‘citizen’s dividend’ from South Korean semiconductor firms’ profits. The People Power Party claimed it forcibly seizes corporate profits, prompting accusations of red-baiting.

Bias summary: Left-leaning OhmyNews dismisses People Power Party claims as ‘false,’ defending the proposal. Center Yonhap neutrally covers the debate, quoting PPP’s ‘Communist Party’ attack and counter ‘red-baiting’ response. Right-leaning Chosun highlights Kim promoting dividend from vital semiconductor profits, using skeptical tone to emphasize potential corporate harm and economic risks.

Story gist: Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon unveiled the ‘Garden of Gratitude’ in a plaza previously hosting a Sewol ferry memorial. The project features a ‘rifle salute’ element, drawing criticism from Jeong Won-oh as a conservative election tactic ahead of local elections.

Bias summary: Left-leaning Kyunghyang frames Oh Se-hoon’s unveiling as controversial push amid ‘rifle salute’ row, quoting opposition on ‘election ploy’ and conservative maneuvering (negative tone). Center Daum emphasizes Sewol memorial displacement and pre-election controversy growth (factual, sensitivity-focused). Right-leaning absent; such outlets likely omit criticism or highlight patriotic ‘gratitude’ theme positively.