This isn’t the first time that the safety of the U.S. ambassador has been put at risk with protesters scaling the walls to get inside:

The government requested Friday that law enforcement authorities beef up security around the US Embassy and the residence of the top American diplomat in Seoul after nearly 20 university students trespassed in his residence.

Earlier in the day, 17 students and members of a progressive civic group broke into the residence of US Ambassador Harry Harris in central Seoul by climbing over its wall using a ladder. 

They staged a surprise protest criticizing Washington’s demand for a hefty rise in Seoul’s share of the cost for the upkeep of the 28,500-strong US Forces Korea. Police took the 17 and two others attempting to join them into custody for investigation.

Korea Herald

You can read more at the link, but the government says they will deal sternly with for the break in, which I doubt.

Please leave anything you want to discuss in the comments section.

It will be interesting to see what happens with this meeting. With President Moon greatly sliding in the pools I expect he will turn to nationalism to try and stop the slide. Cutting a deal with the Japanese would then not be in his political interest. Could Lee be going to Japan to offer Abe a deal they know he will not accept just for the domestic political impact in South Korea?:

South Korea’s Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon is expected to meet Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe next Thursday in what would be the highest-level talks between the two countries since Tokyo imposed export curbs in a deepening trade and diplomatic spat, Seoul officials said on Friday.

Lee is scheduled to visit Tokyo for Oct. 22-24 to attend Japanese Emperor Naruhito’s enthronement ceremony on behalf of President Moon Jae-in.

Both sides are trying to finalize a meeting between Lee and Abe on Oct. 24 following a banquet hosted by Abe the day before, Lee’s office said in a statement.

Reuters

You can read more at the link.

The polling for President Moon just continues to get worse:

The approval rating for South Korean President Moon Jae-in hit a record low in a poll released just days after he issued a public apology for the resignation of a scandal-tainted minister who was a close political ally.

The support rate for Moon’s government was at 39%, according to data released Friday by Gallup Korea, which conducts regular tracking polls. The resignation of Cho Kuk — a former justice minister who resigned just five weeks after taking the job — added to Moon’s woes that include a tepid economy, a trade war with Japan, and North Korea snubbing his overtures for talks.

Bloomberg

You can read more at the link, but expect Moon to play to nationalism by promoting anti-Japanese sentiment and maybe even eventually anti-US sentiment depending on how cost sharing and North Korean denuclearization talks go.

Competition to get a coveted KATUSA slot is about to get more fierce as the ROK Army is set to greatly reduce the number of KATUSA soldiers:

The Republic of Korea (ROK) Army will drastically reduce the number of soldiers selected for the Korean Augmentation to the United States Army (KATUSA) starting next year, as fewer are needed due to the relocation of U.S. bases to the newly expanded U.S. Army Garrison (USAG) Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, according to ROK Army sources, Wednesday.

This is the first time for the Army to curtail its KATUSA selection.

Each year, the ROK Army selects around 2,000 troops to become KATUSAs, but that number will be slashed to 1,600 next year and continue to be reduced through 2022.

“The reduction in KATUSA selection is part of the nation’s ongoing defense reforms, and also in line with the decreasing number of conscripts and the realignment of personnel at the Eighth United States Army. The number will be reduced further in phases in the coming years,” a ROK Army official told The Korea Times.

There are currently about 3,500 KATUSAs, including commissioned and non-commissioned officers, but the ROK Army plans to reduce this by up to 900 by 2022, a decrease of over 25 percent. 

In late 2018, 2,026 KATUSAs were selected among 14,251 applicants to be conscripted this year, a competition rate of 6.9 to 1.

Korea Times

You can read more at the link, but instead of a 7 to 1 chance of getting a KATUSA slot, now applicants will face 10 to 1 odds.