South Korea

Yonhap | English | News | Dec. 12, 2025 | Epidemics and Pandemics

South Korea reported two additional cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza on December 10, 2025, bringing the total number of infections at poultry farms this season to 10. The new infections were confirmed at a layer chicken farm in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province, and another in Anseong, Gyeonggi Province.

Agricultural authorities are implementing follow-up measures including entry controls, culling of affected poultry, and epidemiological investigations. The agriculture ministry has called on farms to strengthen quarantine measures to prevent further spread of the disease, particularly in the Gyeonggi and South Chungcheong provinces where multiple cases have been reported this season.

Disinfection efforts are underway near affected farms, including a duck farm in Yeongam County in the southwest, following an outbreak there on December 9, 2025.

Yonhap | English | News | Dec. 12, 2025 | UndeterminedInflation

The Bank of Korea (BOK) monetary policy board is closely monitoring the inflationary risks posed by the weakening Korean won. Board member Kim Jong-hwa highlighted concerns over how the won-dollar exchange rate could influence inflation, emphasizing that price stability remains the central goal of monetary policy. Consumer prices rose 2.4 percent year-on-year in November, maintaining a mid-2 percent range for the second month, while the won has stayed below the key level of 1,450 won per U.S. dollar due to increased U.S. stock investments by local individuals, the National Pension Service (NPS), and offshore investors’ profit-taking.

Kim noted that core inflation is stable, domestic demand has yet to fully recover, and global oil prices are relatively steady. Around 70 percent of the recent pressure on the exchange rate is attributed to supply-demand factors driven by expanded overseas investment from the NPS and individual investors. The board is considering various short-term measures to address these dynamics. On the global monetary outlook, Kim mentioned that uncertainty is high, with global interest rates potentially remaining elevated but any future cuts likely varying by economy depending on specific financial and economic conditions.

In their November meeting, the BOK kept its benchmark interest rate at 2.5 percent for the fourth consecutive time, stressing the importance of maintaining financial stability amid the weaker currency and an unsettled housing market. While three board members supported the possibility of further rate cuts within the next three months, this was fewer than the previous meeting, and Governor Rhee Chang-yong stated that the current rate is close to neutral.

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.