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.

코레일 노사, 성과급 정상화 등 잠정 합의…열차 정상 운행

Hankyung | Local Language | News | Dec. 12, 2025 | Strikes and Work Stoppages

Korail and the nationwide railway workers' union have reached a tentative agreement on wage negotiations, including the normalization of performance bonuses, leading to the provisional suspension of the railway workers' general strike. As a result, train operations returned to normal on December 11, avoiding the anticipated commuting disruptions. Initial negotiations began late on the 10th but broke down after 30 minutes; however, resumed talks overnight resulted in the union's decision to suspend the strike to minimize public inconvenience while continuing discussions on detailed wage issues.

The union’s key demands included normalizing performance bonuses, integrating high-speed rail operations, and enhancing safety measures. A major contention point centered on the criteria for performance bonuses, which currently reflect only 80% of base pay. The union criticized the Ministry of Economy and Finance for its unresponsiveness and highlighted repeated wage arrears totaling hundreds of billions of won for Korail employees. Although the strike has been suspended, the union’s right to industrial action remains, with a general strike still possible if the Ministry does not address the bonus normalization at the Public Institution Management Committee meeting scheduled for December 24.

Korail announced it had prepared extensive countermeasures for the potential strike, including a 24-hour emergency response headquarters, but normal train service was maintained due to the union’s last-minute suspension of industrial action. The ongoing negotiations reflect heightened tensions over wage and compensation management within public institutions.

Bae, Kim & Lee LLC | English | AcademicThink | Dec. 12, 2025 | Regulation

The Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) has amended its Consumer Protection Guidelines in Electronic Commerce Transactions, effective October 24, 2025. The amendments establish detailed standards and recommendations concerning regulations on six types of online dark patterns under the Act on Consumer Protection in Electronic Commerce. These include hidden renewal, drip pricing, pre-selected options, false hierarchy structures, obstructing cancellation or withdrawal, and nagging.

The amended Guidelines clarify that businesses must obtain explicit consumer consent at least 30 days prior to increasing recurring payments or converting free trials to paid services. They define the initial price display page and the total mandatory price, which must include all compulsory fees but exclude optional or circumstance-specific costs. The Guidelines provide concrete examples of prohibited practices relating to pre-selected options, false hierarchy, obstructing cancellation, and nagging to enhance clarity and market predictability.

Recommendations within the Guidelines advise businesses to clearly disclose pricing conditions, notify consumers of possible additional charges from optional selections, ensure consumers can decline these options, and prominently display cancellation or withdrawal buttons. These changes signal the KFTC's intent to strengthen enforcement against dark patterns, urging businesses to review and comply with the updated regulations to avoid violations.