January 16, 2026 – South Korea Headlines

Story gist: A memorandum by National Assembly member Lee Hye-hoon surfaced, referencing phone calls between lawyer Chae Dong-wook and Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol in connection with resolving a political funds internal investigation. Her eldest son moved out immediately after a Ministry of Land investigation concluded.

Bias summary: Left-leaning Hankyoreh uses sensational headline emphasizing Lee Hye-hoon’s memo on alleged political funds probe cover-up linking Chae Dong-wook and Yoon Seok-yeol. Right-leaning Dong-A Ilbo highlights her son’s ‘meticulous’ post-investigation household separation as evasion tactic. Center Yonhap focuses neutrally on her agreement with past Lee Myung-bak government policies and caution toward Yoon administration, omitting scandal details.

Story gist: People Power Party lawmaker Jang Dong-hyuk began a hunger strike amid an expulsion controversy. Senior party members called for reconsidering Han Dong-hoon’s expulsion, delaying Jang’s disciplinary action by 10 days.

Bias summary: Left-leaning Hankyoreh frames Jang’s hunger strike as a transparent ‘event’ with obvious motives, using skeptical tone. Center Daum emphasizes procedural developments like reconsideration calls and delays, staying neutral. Right-leaning Munhwa Ilbo highlights Bae Hyun-jin’s criticism questioning if fasting resolves the expulsion issue, portraying it as ineffective internal drama.

Story gist: People Power Party lawmaker Jang Dong-hyuk began an indefinite hunger strike in South Korea’s National Assembly demanding passage of the ‘twin special prosecutor law.’ Democratic Party lawmaker Jeon Jae-su challenged Jang to stake his political career on bribery allegations against Jeon and advised against fasting for just a few days.

Bias summary: Left-leaning outlets like Kyunghyang emphasize Jeon’s (DP) provocative challenge mocking Jang’s strike as insincere. Center outlets like Daum neutrally focus on Jang’s (PPP) hunger strike action and bill demand without judgment. Right-leaning coverage is absent, omitting defenses of Jang or criticism of Jeon’s taunt.

Story gist: South Korea’s Prosecution Reform Promotion Team faced criticism at the ruling party’s general meeting over alleged interference with prosecutors’ roles. The Supreme Prosecutors’ Office sought opinions from local offices on proposed Public Prosecution Office and Central Investigation Office bills.

Bias summary: Left-leaning Newstapa frames prosecutors’ resistance as ongoing ‘turmoil,’ emphasizing systemic issues via column. Center KBS neutrally highlights reform team’s ‘sweating’ under pressure at the meeting, using the critical quote. Right-leaning Chosun Ilbo focuses on prosecutors’ proactive nationwide opinion-gathering, portraying them as organized without mentioning reform challenges or party tensions.

Story gist: South Korea’s National Assembly tabled the second comprehensive special prosecutor bill in its plenary session. Opposition parties initiated a filibuster.

Bias summary: Left-leaning MBC quotes filibuster leader criticizing the bill as ‘postmortem punishment of a dead regime’ and calling for a ‘double special prosecutor law,’ framing opposition resistance positively. Center outlet Daum predicts passage under Democratic Party leadership, emphasizing likely success. Right-leaning Chosun Ilbo neutrally reports the tabling and filibuster onset, highlighting opposition action.