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South Korea
Intelligence for Better Decision Making
South Korea Responds to Intensifying Cold Wave and Heavy Snow Risks
Jan. 12, 2026 | Societal ResilienceSouth Korea is preparing for heavy snowfall, a severe cold wave and associated hazards that are expected to intensify through the weekend and into early next week.
**Prime Minister Kim Min-seok has ordered central and local authorities to prepare comprehensively for the incoming cold snap and heavy snow.**
The Korea Meteorological Agency forecasts significant accumulation in central inland regions and the southwestern Jeolla area until Monday, followed by persistently low temperatures and a heightened risk of black ice. Kim directed the Ministry of the Interior and Safety to activate emergency duty systems early, adopt flexible disaster response levels and reinforce controls in high-risk zones. Authorities must prioritize monitoring and assisting vulnerable populations, including the elderly and the homeless, disseminate clear safety information to the public and deploy equipment and personnel for preemptive snow removal.
**The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport will preposition snowplows and secure staging areas for clearing highways and major thoroughfares, while the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment will oversee rapid snow removal in national parks, regulate trail access under alert conditions and ensure prompt power restoration during outages.**
Officials cautioned local governments against administrative lapses during weekend schedules and early-year staffing changes, mandating proactive snow removal on residential streets, bridges and roads prone to icing. In Jeolla, where heavy snow may mix with rain, authorities will enforce enhanced traffic controls and conduct structural inspections to prevent collapses or community isolation. Agencies will coordinate region-specific advisories with media outlets to maintain timely public awareness.
**Over the recent weekend, heavy snowfall, strong winds and plunging temperatures caused multiple casualties and infrastructure damage.**
On the Seosan–Yeongdeok Expressway in North Gyeongsang Province, icy roads triggered a chain-reaction crash involving about 30 vehicles that claimed five lives. In Uijeongbu-si, Gyeonggi Province, gale-force winds toppled a 15-meter-wide signboard and fatally struck a pedestrian, who later died despite emergency response efforts. On January 10, strong winds ignited a wildfire in Bibong-ri, Uiseong-gun, North Gyeongsang Province; firefighters mounted a Level 2 response, and an ensuing snowstorm largely contained the blaze within three hours. Mop-up operations continue to prevent re-ignition, and no casualties were reported.
**In response to these compounding hazards, the government raised its disaster crisis alert from ‘interest’ to ‘caution’ and activated Level 1 of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters.**
Relevant ministries and local administrations have reinforced emergency protocols with expanded welfare checks and protective measures for at-risk groups. Meteorological authorities project that severe cold, heavy snow and strong winds will persist through January 11, and official guidance requires that heavy-snow response measures remain in effect until all secondary risks, notably black ice, are fully mitigated.
**Seoul district governments are intensifying efforts to safeguard vulnerable residents amid the ongoing cold wave.**
From November 15 through March 15, Songpa-gu has conducted 562 in-person visits and 1,462 phone checks for seniors living alone, along with additional outreach to other at-risk groups. Jungnang-gu operates a heated Dawn Job Rest Shelter for early-morning construction workers and delivers winter educational programs for students and parents. Gwangjin-gu has designated eight municipal libraries as daily cold-wave shelters until March 15, offering warm spaces, hand warmers, blankets and a ‘Libraries Are Hot’ cultural campaign to reduce heating costs. Dongdaemun-gu’s Climate-Vulnerable Cold Wave ZERO Campaign focuses on seniors around Cheongnyangni Station, distributing practical health information. Jung-gu assembled and dispatched 820 cold-wave prevention kits containing winter clothing and informational brochures through one-to-one visits by disaster prevention volunteers and staff, who also assessed residents’ housing and health conditions.
Washington Raises Objections to South Korea’s Digital Platform Law Revisions Amid Trade Talks
Jan. 12, 2026 | Geopolitics & DefenseSouth Korea’s recent amendments to its Information and Communications Network Act and the Online Platform Act have prompted significant concern in Washington.
**South Korea amended its digital platform laws to tighten oversight of content and curb false or fabricated information online.**
US officials warn that several provisions could force platforms to manage content more rigorously, impose fines, or require data localization, creating uneven compliance costs that disadvantage American firms such as Google and Amazon.
**At the State Department, officials publicly cautioned that the changes may restrict freedom of expression and place disproportionate burdens on US platforms.**
The US House Appropriations Committee labeled the Onple Act’s obligations discriminatory toward American tech companies and urged the US Trade Representative (USTR) to consider trade remedies. USTR statements have signaled a willingness to use “all available means” against digital regulations modeled on the European Union framework if they harm US industry.
**Amid these objections and ongoing Korea-US tariff negotiations, Seoul briefly paused debate on the platform bills to avoid exacerbating bilateral tensions.**
Domestic pressure resurfaced after a high-profile incident at the e-commerce company Coupang, prompting lawmakers and consumer advocates to renew calls for tighter oversight of platform operations and stronger misinformation controls.
**On January 11, 2026, Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo, who also directs the Office for Trade Negotiations, departed Incheon for Washington, D.C.**
He will hold bilateral talks with USTR officials, testify before the House Appropriations Committee, and host private roundtables with industry stakeholders to address specific regulatory provisions and their potential impact on international platforms.
**Minister Yeo emphasizes that South Korea’s goal is to enhance transparency in digital content and protect consumers from misinformation, not to single out foreign companies or erect unnecessary trade barriers.**
He plans to clarify the legislative objectives and technical details—such as content moderation criteria, standards for identifying false information, and appeals processes for platform operators—to correct misperceptions and build a cooperative framework for digital regulation within the broader Korea-US trade relationship.
Monitored Intelligence for South Korea - Jan. 12, 2026
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N. Korea slams Japan's push to revise 3 key national security documents
Yonhap | English | News | Jan. 12, 2026 | North Korea
North Korea condemned Japan’s initiative to revise three critical national security documents: the National Security Strategy, the National Defense Strategy, and the Defense Buildup Program. These revisions are intended to enhance Japan's defense capabilities and are expected to be completed by the end of 2026. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi confirmed the review earlier this month, emphasizing the goal of protecting Japan’s independence, peace, and citizen safety.
North Korea’s Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) criticized the move as a manifestation of "neo-militarism," accusing Japan of denying its historical wrongdoings and attempting to resurrect its imperial past through increased militarization. KCNA warned that such actions would lead to Japan’s "complete self-destruction" and pointed to history to argue that militarism results in failure rather than strength.
Korea-based Green Climate Fund says recent U.S. withdrawal won't affect operations
Joongang Ilbo | English | News | Jan. 12, 2026 | Climate Change
The Korea-based Green Climate Fund (GCF) stated that the recent U.S. withdrawal from its board will not disrupt its operations or commitment to supporting developing countries in addressing climate change challenges. The GCF affirmed that the vacant board seat will be filled according to its policies and that the U.S. absence will not impact the functioning of the board or the fund's activities.
The withdrawal follows a U.S. presidential memorandum directing federal departments to exit multiple international organizations, including the UNFCCC, of which the GCF is a part. The GCF reaffirmed its role as the primary climate fund for developing countries under the UNFCCC and highlighted its ongoing support for affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy to foster economic growth and poverty reduction. It has approved $19.3 billion for 336 projects across 134 developing countries, with a record $3.26 billion approved in new projects.
The U.S. Treasury confirmed the withdrawal, citing a shift in U.S. policy that opposes funding what it described as “radical organizations like the GCF,” which it claims conflict with the administration’s focus on affordable and reliable energy. The GCF, headquartered in Incheon, South Korea, was established in 2010 under the UNFCCC, and plans to open regional offices worldwide were approved last year. The U.S. exit is part of a broader policy move to leave 66 international bodies deemed wasteful or contrary to U.S. interests by the administration.
North Korea slams Japan's push to revise 3 key national security documents
Joongang Ilbo | English | News | Jan. 12, 2026 | North Korea
North Korea has strongly criticized Japan's initiative to revise three major national security documents— the National Security Strategy, the National Defense Strategy, and the Defense Buildup Program—aimed at enhancing Japan's defense capabilities. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) warned that Japan's efforts would lead to its complete self-destruction.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced earlier in January 2026 that a review and revision of these documents would be conducted by the end of the year to protect Japan's independence, peace, and the safety of its citizens. However, North Korea condemned this move as a manifestation of "neo-militarism," accusing Japan of denying past wrongdoings and attempting to revive its imperial ambitions through rearmament.
KCNA emphasized that Japan's pursuit of militarization would ultimately result in failure rather than strength, citing historical evidence to support this claim. The statement portrays Japan’s military buildup as a dangerous path that will not strengthen the country but lead to its downfall.
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