South Korea

트럼프 “푸틴에 ‘우크라 토마호크 지원’ 경고할수도”…러 “극단적 우려”

Maekyung | Local Language | News | Oct. 14, 2025 | Geopolitical Conflict and Disputes

U.S. President Donald Trump indicated that he may supply Ukraine with Tomahawk long-range cruise missiles, which have a range of 2,500 km and could potentially strike Moscow from Ukrainian territory. He made these remarks on October 12 while en route to Israel, stating that if the war in Ukraine does not get settled, he plans to send the "incredibly" and "very aggressive" Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine.

This is the first time President Trump has publicly suggested providing Tomahawks to Ukraine, following Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's earlier request for the missiles. Currently, the U.S. has supplied Ukraine with shorter-range ATACMS missiles (about 300 km), and European countries have provided Storm Shadow missiles with a range of 250 km. U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance confirmed the Trump administration is reviewing Ukraine’s request, with the final decision resting with President Trump.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed serious concern about the potential delivery of Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, warning on October 2 that such a move could cause a "completely new and qualitatively new level of deterioration" in Russia-U.S. relations.

Joongang Ilbo | English | News | Oct. 14, 2025 | Regulation

The South Korean government faces criticism for swiftly approving a cross-border service agreement between Starlink Korea and its U.S. parent company SpaceX without conducting thorough evaluations of the market impact, service stability, and data protection. The Ministry of Science and ICT approved the agreement in May 2025, but only commissioned a related research project in September aimed at assessing LEO satellite communication services and regulatory measures. This gap has raised concerns about inadequate preparatory work despite satellite communications being classified as critical infrastructure.

The ministry defended its decision, asserting the approval was based on the absence of technical issues and emphasizing the need to accelerate adoption of non-terrestrial networks, which facilitate direct satellite-to-device communication and support future technologies such as 6G. The ministry also revised regulations in April 2025 to simplify procedures for satellite terminal approvals, expediting Starlink’s entry into Korea.

Starlink's LEO satellites offer faster connectivity and lower latency compared to traditional geostationary satellites, positioning the service as foundational for emerging industries like urban air mobility and autonomous vehicles. In Korea, Starlink aims to initially cover connectivity gaps in maritime and aviation sectors, while the government plans to invest approximately $209 million to launch two domestic LEO satellites by 2030. Starlink already operates about 7,000 satellites globally, placing Korea behind in this technology sector.

Concerns persist over data privacy and national security risks linked to foreign LEO operators, as highlighted in a September 2025 National Assembly Research Service report. Foreign operators process data overseas, limiting government access to security audits, which could result in defense data vulnerabilities. Defense industry representatives warn that dependence on foreign LEO providers like SpaceX could create strategic risks in emergencies, while others suggest early adoption of LEO services is necessary for Korea to gain technological experience and competency.

공정위, 쿠팡이츠·배민 불공정 약관 시정권고

ZD Net Korea | Local Language | News | Oct. 14, 2025 | Regulation

The Fair Trade Commission (FTC) reviewed merchant service terms on the delivery apps Coupang Eats and Baemin, recommending corrections to 10 unfair contract terms. The FTC identified that Coupang Eats charged brokerage fees based on pre-discount prices rather than the actual consumer payment, resulting in merchants incurring commissions on discount amounts they absorbed themselves. The FTC deemed it reasonable to charge commissions on the post-discount transaction amount and recommended amending or deleting the relevant provision.

Both Coupang Eats and Baemin faced criticism for allowing unilateral restrictions on delivery distance and store exposure without prior merchant notification or predictable procedures. The FTC also highlighted issues in payment settlement withholding or changes without clear reasons, excessive exemptions of operator liability, inadequate review deletion procedures, and refund restrictions on advertising fees. The two companies have revised terms on these 10 points in response.

Coupang Eats stated that their brokerage fee method has been consistent and clearly communicated to merchants since the service's inception and promised detailed explanations during FTC procedures. Baemin’s operator, Woowa Brothers, committed to ongoing review and improvement of terms and systems to protect merchants' rights and support stable service operations.