January 1, 2026 – South Korea Headlines

Story gist: South Korean ruling party faces questions over whether 100 million won nomination donations were returned amid candidate cut-off reversals and single nominations. Police launched a full investigation into the allegations.

Bias summary: Left-leaning outlets like Hankyoreh emphasize unclear returns and demand probe into cut-off reversals and single nominations, adopting a suspicious tone. Center sources like Daum focus on candidate Kang Sun-woo’s denial of receiving funds and return confirmation, quoting neutrally. Right-leaning Dong-A Ilbo depicts ruling party trapped in scandal ‘quagmire,’ stressing police’s formal investigation.

Story gist: Coupang’s former and current executives testified they did not remember details but were involved in concealing industrial accidents at each stage. CEO Rogers responded to lawmakers’ criticism by stating he fears no perjury charges and challenging an assemblyman to work night shifts at a logistics center.

Bias summary: Left-leaning Hankyoreh highlights executives’ ‘I don’t remember’ claims and deep involvement in accident cover-ups, using accusatory framing. Center outlet Daum notes lawmakers’ ‘arrogant’ criticism and CEO’s bold rejection of perjury fears. Right-leaning Munhwa Ilbo emphasizes CEO’s proactive challenge to lawmakers for night shifts, portraying defiance positively; no major omissions across lanes.

Story gist: South Korea plans to transfer operational control of Marine Corps 1st and 2nd Divisions from the Army to the Marine Corps after 50 years. The government is also considering establishing a Marine Corps operational command.

Bias summary: Left-leaning outlets provide no coverage, leaving progressive perspectives absent. Center outlets frame it neutrally as an official ‘quasi-4th army’ reorganization briefing, emphasizing policy direction. Right-leaning Chosun Ilbo highlights the historic 50-year shift and new command creation, stressing operational independence from the Army with a tone of significant change.

Story gist: South Korean media preview institutional changes effective January 2026, including 10 a.m. work start times for parents with young children. Coverage appears in outlets like MBC News and BBC.

Bias summary: Left-leaning MBC highlights family-friendly perks like ’10 a.m. start if young children,’ with positive, benefit-focused tone. Center BBC uses neutral, factual question title without emphasis or specifics. Right-leaning outlets absent; perspectives on costs, burdens on employers, or skepticism toward regulations missing.

Story gist: Former Justice Minister Cho Kuk called writings attributed to politician Han Dong-hoon’s family ‘trash level.’ A dispute arose over whether the posts were by his actual relatives or homonyms amid a ‘party gate’ controversy.

Bias summary: Left-leaning outlets like Hankyoreh lead with Cho Kuk’s attack on Han’s family writings as trash, emphasizing opposition criticism. Center outlets like Yonhap neutrally report Lee Jun-seok questioning Han’s involvement. Right-leaning outlets like Munhwa Ilbo spotlight Hong Joon-pyo’s sharp rebuke of Han’s denial, focusing on intra-conservative accountability. No major omissions across lanes.