South Korea

Joongang Ilbo | English | News | Dec. 12, 2025 | Communal and Religious Strife

President Lee Jae Myung has declared that any entity, including religious organizations, should be dissolved if found guilty of crimes or acts harmful to society. This statement is widely seen as an indirect targeting of the Unification Church amid allegations of the church's political interference, raising complex legal questions about the dissolution of religious foundations under Korean law. Lee emphasized that corporate bodies, including religious groups, can be legally dissolved if they commit serious violations, and instructed a strict investigation into illegal ties between religious groups and politicians regardless of political affiliation.

The remarks come amid a special prosecutor’s investigation into the Unification Church’s illegal political donations, including a 100 million won payment to a People Power Party (PPP) lawmaker, Rep. Kweon Seong-dong. The probe uncovered attempts by the church to influence PPP lawmakers and mass membership drives supporting a specific candidate. Allegations have also surfaced of the church’s financial links to the Democratic Party (DP), including the revelation that the church allegedly gave cash and gifts to two DP lawmakers. This has heightened political tensions, with both parties accusing each other of collusion and deflecting blame.

President Lee’s firm stance echoes his past confrontations with religious groups, such as the 2020 Shincheonji Church incident, suggesting a broader aim to enforce the separation of church and state and to challenge the longstanding alliances between conservative Protestant groups and the PPP. However, the prospect of actual dissolution proceedings remains uncertain given Korea’s legal framework, which involves administrative rather than judicial dissolution orders, likely leading to contentious legal battles and political fallout.

Lee also reiterated his commitment to reform despite inevitable resistance, aligning with ongoing judicial reform efforts pushed by his Democratic Party, including controversial bills aimed at prosecuting former President Yoon. His approach has drawn fierce criticism from the PPP, which accuses him of political threats and diversion tactics amid unfolding scandals. The situation continues to evolve amid heightened political and legal scrutiny over the influence of religious organizations in Korean politics.

Joongang Ilbo | English | News | Dec. 12, 2025 | UndeterminedReal Estate

Korea's heritage authorities and the Seoul Metropolitan Government have held initial talks to address disagreements over a proposed high-rise redevelopment project near Jongmyo Shrine, a UNESCO World Heritage site in central Seoul. Officials from the Korea Heritage Service (KHS), the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and Seoul city government met to discuss practical matters ahead of further coordination between central and local authorities. No consensus was reached on whether a heritage impact assessment is needed for the project.

The redevelopment plan involves Sewoon District 4, located directly across from Jongmyo Shrine, where the city has decided to double the building height limit to 145 meters. Heritage officials argue this could harm the shrine’s historic landscape, while the city contends the project would rejuvenate the area by adding new open green spaces. UNESCO has requested a heritage impact assessment, but Seoul has not yet responded. Additional preliminary talks and a full coordination meeting involving senior officials are planned to resolve the dispute.

Yonhap | English | News | Dec. 12, 2025 | Corporate Corruption or Fraud

The South Korean Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources announced the official end of mediation between Oxy Reckitt Benckiser and victims of the toxic humidifier disinfectant scandal, as no settlement was reached in an ongoing appeal case. Mediation efforts were led by the National Contact Point (NCP) for Responsible Business Conduct, a government body implementing OECD guidelines for multinational enterprises. The NCP has made three attempts to facilitate a settlement after individual consumers requested additional relief measures for victims whose injuries were not covered under the existing damage classification system.

The humidifier disinfectant scandal is considered one of South Korea's worst consumer product disasters, with Oxy, a Korean subsidiary of the British company Reckitt Benckiser, held responsible for selling products linked to deaths and illnesses starting in 2011. By 2023, 5,691 people were eligible for government-backed compensation, including 1,262 fatalities. Oxy maintains it cannot provide further compensation, having completed settlements and paid into a government-managed relief fund.

The NCP criticized Oxy for insufficient efforts to verify product safety and for making false safety claims. It urged the company to improve its internal policies, strengthen communication with victims outside the existing injury classification, and participate in the environment ministry-led relief efforts. The NCP also recommended that Oxy’s headquarters in Britain engage in these processes and submit a progress report within one year.