South Korea

Yonhap | English | News | Jan. 19, 2026 | UndeterminedEmployment

The employment rate for people in their 20s in South Korea fell to 60.2 percent in 2025, marking the first decline in five years. This represents a 0.8 percentage point drop from the previous year and a continued decrease in the number of employed youths, which fell by 170,000 to 3.44 million. The decline has accelerated over the past three years, with job losses increasing from 82,000 in 2023 to 124,000 in 2024.

A shrinking population of young adults, which has dropped for five consecutive years since 2021, is a major factor behind the employment decline. However, employment has fallen at a faster rate than population, indicating broader labor market weaknesses. Experts note a trend where many individuals in their 20s are delaying job searches until their 30s in pursuit of better opportunities.

In contrast, employment at large conglomerates rose by 17,000 jobs in 2024 to a total of 4.43 million. However, job mobility remains limited, as the share of workers retaining the same job increased by 0.8 percentage points to 84.4 percent, suggesting a rigid labor market.

Joongang Ilbo | English | News | Jan. 19, 2026 | North Korea

Former U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Joseph Yun stated that North Korea would likely seek acknowledgment and acceptance of its nuclear weapons, similar to Pakistan's status, along with the lifting of sanctions if it agrees to dialogue with the United States. He suggested that these conditions represent North Korea’s bid to gain de facto nuclear state recognition outside the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) framework.

Yun noted that despite the Trump administration’s desire to resume talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, Kim remains unprepared for dialogue. He attributed this reluctance to North Korea’s close ties with Russia and China, Pyongyang’s financial gains from supporting Russia in the Ukraine conflict and engaging in cyber theft, and past unresolved diplomatic disappointments, such as the failed 2019 Hanoi summit with Trump.

Highlighting South Korea’s crucial role in facilitating U.S.-North Korea talks, Yun emphasized that successful dialogue depends significantly on Seoul’s cooperation. He expressed confidence that the U.S. would approve South Korea’s pursuit of nuclear-powered submarines and support its efforts to secure civil uranium enrichment and spent nuclear fuel reprocessing rights, referencing agreements made during a summit between South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Trump.

Regarding U.S. diplomatic staffing, Yun mentioned that the Trump administration is still seeking a senior envoy closely aligned with President Trump to serve as ambassador to South Korea, a position currently filled on an interim basis by Deputy Chief of Mission James Heller. Recalling his tenure as acting ambassador amid regional and political uncertainties, Yun affirmed that the U.S.-South Korea alliance remains strong despite recent challenges.

Yonhap | English | News | Jan. 19, 2026 | Geopolitical Conflict and Disputes

South Korea's military has begun deploying the Hyunmoo-5 ballistic missile, a high-power surface-to-surface weapon designed to target underground bunkers. The missile, nicknamed the "monster" due to its size, plays a critical role in South Korea's strategy to deter and respond to potential large-scale attacks from North Korea. The deployment started late last year and is expected to be completed by 2030, during President Lee Jae Myung's administration.

Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back emphasized the need for a "balance of terror" to counter North Korea's nuclear threats and called for a substantial buildup of conventional strike capabilities, including mass production of the Hyunmoo-5 missile. South Korea, as a Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty signatory, cannot possess nuclear weapons and therefore focuses on enhancing its missile arsenal. The country plans to field hundreds of advanced missiles, including upgraded variants of the Hyunmoo-5 currently under development.

The Hyunmoo-5 missile was first publicly revealed in 2023 but most details about its capabilities have remained classified due to strategic sensitivity. South Korea’s emphasis on strengthening conventional strike capabilities reflects its broader efforts to bolster deterrence against North Korea's nuclear and missile programs.