Author: GIKorea

Before President Lee’s trip to China he is making sure to say all the right things to appease Emperor President Xi:

President Lee Jae Myung said Friday that South Korea’s position to respect the “one-China” policy regarding Taiwan issues remains unchanged, as he is set to pay a state visit to China for talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping next week.

Lee made the remarks in an interview with China’s CCTV as tensions between China and Taiwan have flared anew after Beijing staged military drills near the self-ruled island earlier this week following Washington’s announcement of a large-scale weapons package for Taipei.

“I can clearly say that I, myself, respect ‘one China,’ and that peace and stability is very important regarding Northeast Asia and surrounding issues, including cross-strait matters,” he said.

He added, “When it comes to the Taiwan issue, which is the biggest pending issue for China, there is no change in (South Korea’s) position to respect the one-China (policy).”

Yonhap

You can read more at the link, but the major issue with China is not the “One China” policy, it is them saying they reserve the right to forcibly make Taiwan rejoin mainland China. If there is any country in the world that should speak out against being forcibly annexed by a Communist attack it is South Korea. The ROK was first attacked by North Korea and then attacked again by China during the Korean War to Communize the entire peninsula. I wish someone in the media would ask President Lee what his position is on China attacking Taiwan? If he is indifferent to it then a reporter should follow up by asking him if international forces should have been indifferent to South Korea’s plight during the Korean War?

The only government showing leadership on this issue is the Japanese with Prime Minister Takaichi recently speaking out against attacking Taiwan which has drawn condemnation and retaliation from Beijing. If everyone in the region and beyond spoke out against a Chinese attack on Taiwan they can’t condemn and retaliate against everyone and would actually make war less likely. If China senses international weakness and feel they can get away with attacking Taiwan with little repercussions they would likely do it.

It is hard to believe that it is already 2026. I hope everyone is having a great New Year!

I did not realize that the ROK Marine Corps fell under the control of the ROK Army. Well that is about to soon change:

Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back gives a red name tag to a conscript at the Marine Corps Education and Training Group in the southeastern port city of Pohang on Dec. 26, 2025, in this photo provided by his office. (Yonhap)

The operational control of two Marine divisions, now governed by the Army, will be restored to the Marine Corps for the first time in 50 years as part of a military overhaul, the defense ministry said Wednesday.

The move is designed to ensure the independence of the Marine Corps by fully restoring its operational control over its military units.

Under the plan, the operational control of the 1st Marine Division and the 2nd Marine Division will be returned to the Marine Corps by the end of 2026 and 2028, respectively.

The operation control of the 1st Marine Division currently lies with the Army’s commander of the 2nd Operation Command, while that of the 2nd Marine Division is subject to control of the Army’s Capital Corps.

Yonhap

You can read more at the link.

That is a question the Korea Times decided to look into and this is what was determined:

Navy officer Lee Jee-ho, center, is seen with his father Lee Jae-yong, right, executive chairman of Samsung Electronics, and his grandmother Hong Ra-hee, director of Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art, during the commissioning ceremony held at the Naval Academy in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, on Nov. 28. Yonhap

Another factor that may have influenced the choices of chaebol heirs is the changing social image of Korea’s military institutions. In recent years, the Army has been embroiled in repeated political controversies and organizational challenges which have taken a toll on its public standing. Issues related to soldiers’ rights, problematic remarks and issues with leadership accountability have fueled criticism that political considerations are increasingly overshadowing the core principles of military professionalism.

By contrast, the Navy has largely remained insulated from such controversies, preserving a stable organizational culture centered on professionalism and international cooperation. This distinction naturally leads chaebol families, who tend to weigh service conditions carefully and consider long-term implications, to view the Navy favorably.

For chaebol offspring, serving as a naval officer can therefore be seen not merely as the fulfillment of an honorable duty, but as an opportunity to accumulate skills and experience essential for future business leadership. In today’s global business environment where collaboration with international clients, partners, and governments is indispensable, international awareness, organizational management capability and crisis leadership are critical assets.

Naval service offers hands-on exposure to complex operational planning, coordination among diverse teams and sustained interaction with foreign counterparts, allowing these competencies to develop organically. For heirs expected to one day lead major corporations or expand global networks, such experience constitutes invaluable real-world training.

Korea Times

You can read more at the link, but I tend to agree with the analysis that the many global engagements the ROK Navy does compared to serving in the other military branches is probably what makes it more appealing to these chaebol heirs. With that said I think it is pretty cool that these heirs are doing their mandatory service and not trying to skip out on it.

This is exactly the behavior Trump has been trying to create with his tariff policy. Would these automakers have increased sales of U.S. made cars and even import them to Japan without Trump’s pressure?:

Workers are seen assembling an Ioniq 5 vehicle at the Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America in Ellabell, Georgia on March 27. [HYUNDAI MOTOR]

Toyota’s decision to resume sales of the Camry through reimporting comes two years after halting its domestic sales and is seen as an effort to improve trade relations with the United States. Trump has repeatedly expressed dissatisfaction with Japan’s trade surplus with the United States. 
  
Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda announced a $10 billion investment plan in the United States last month and appeared at a car event wearing a red MAGA hat, signaling his continued outreach to the United States.

Honda and Nissan are also reportedly considering reimporting U.S.-built models. Honda may bring in its Ridgeline pickup truck, Passport SUV and some Acura-branded electric vehicle models, according to Japanese business daily Nikkei. Nissan is weighing reimports of its Altima midsize sedan, Murano SUV and Pathfinder SUV. 
  
For Korean carmakers, reimporting U.S.-made vehicles is less viable due to high labor costs, added logistics expenses and unfavorable currency exchange rates. Instead, they are focusing on ramping up production within the United States. 
  
Hyundai Motor Group aims to increase the local production share of vehicles sold in the U.S. market from the current 43 percent to 80 percent by 2030. It also plans to boost annual North American sales from 834,000 vehicles last year to 1.44 million by the end of the decade. 
  
In a recent interview with Automotive News, Hyundai COO Jose Muñoz said that the company’s goal is not only to raise local production to 80 percent but also to increase the share of local suppliers from 60 percent to 80 percent, outlining plans to target the midsize pickup truck, SUV and commercial vehicle segments — including electric vans and medium-duty trucks. 
  
Industry experts see Trump’s MAGA policy as a catalyst for a shift in global production strategies within the automotive sector.

Joong Ang Ilbo

You can read more at the link.