South Korea

Yonhap | English | News | Jan. 2, 2026 | Geopolitical Conflict and Disputes

Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Jin Yong-sung urged South Korean troops to remain ready to respond promptly and according to established principles in the event of enemy provocations. He made these remarks during the military’s first situation assessment meeting of 2026 and in video talks with units stationed in remote areas, including a general outpost near the North Korean border and a Marine unit on Yeonpyeong Island, the site of a deadly North Korean shelling in 2010.

Gen. Jin was also briefed by commanders of overseas contingents and emphasized the importance of maintaining operational readiness while ensuring the safety of deployed personnel. Currently, 1,005 South Korean troops are deployed in 13 overseas regions, mainly engaged in United Nations peacekeeping and multinational security missions, with key units stationed in Lebanon, South Sudan, and waters off Somalia for anti-piracy operations.

“가전제품 사면 보조금 줄게”…돈 쏟아부은 중국, 제조업 일단 반등

Maekyung | Local Language | News | Jan. 2, 2026 | UndeterminedEconomic Growth

China's manufacturing sector entered expansion territory in December 2025, with the official Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) rising to 50.1, surpassing market expectations and ending eight months of contraction. Both manufacturing and non-manufacturing sectors showed growth, with the composite PMI reaching 50.7, the first simultaneous expansion in manufacturing and services in 2025. Private-sector data also confirmed this positive momentum, indicating broad improvement across manufacturing, including small and medium-sized enterprises.

Despite these encouraging signs, some analysts caution that the rebound may be influenced by temporary factors such as year-end fiscal spending and policy effects, making it premature to declare a structural economic recovery. Indicators like investment, consumption, and industrial production remain weak. Price trends are mixed: the Consumer Price Index rose by 0.7% year-on-year driven by increasing food prices, marking a shift from previous deflation, while the Producer Price Index continued to decline, indicating persistent deflationary pressures on producers.

The Chinese government plans to sustain its growth-supporting policies in 2026, including subsidies for home appliance, electronics, and electric vehicle purchases. Initial funding of 62.5 billion yuan in special treasury bonds has been announced to support these efforts, following a record 300 billion yuan in subsidies in 2025. Additional fiscal measures include value-added tax exemptions on certain property sales and electricity price reductions in major industrial provinces like Jiangsu and Guangdong to reduce costs for businesses. Further subsidy allocations will depend on evolving economic conditions throughout the year.

Bae, Kim & Lee LLC | English | AcademicThink | Jan. 2, 2026 | Regulation

On 10 December 2025, Vietnam's National Assembly enacted the Law on Artificial Intelligence, effective from 1 March 2026. This legislation is the first in Vietnam to specifically regulate AI-related activities and applies to domestic and foreign entities involved in AI systems within Vietnam, excluding those related solely to national defense, security, or cryptography.

The law defines key terms such as AI, AI Systems, Developers, Providers, and Deployers, and establishes a risk-based classification system for AI applications: high risk, medium risk, and low risk. High-risk AI systems pose significant harm to individuals, organizations, national interests, or security. Medium-risk systems may mislead or manipulate users, while low-risk systems do not fall into the other categories.

Transparency obligations require Providers and Deployers to label AI-generated content and inform the public when content may be misleading or replicates real events or individuals. Specific guidelines for labeling and notification will be issued by the Vietnamese government.

High-risk AI systems must undergo conformity assessments before deployment, with some requiring third-party certification by recognized bodies. Foreign Providers of high-risk systems must maintain a legal contact in Vietnam and establish a commercial presence if certification is mandatory. Medium-risk AI systems must adhere to transparency and accountability requirements, and low-risk systems face minimal regulatory burdens but must provide accountability upon request by authorities.

Liability provisions place responsibility for damages caused by high-risk AI systems on the Deployer, who may seek reimbursement from Providers, Developers, or other parties. Liability may be exempted under certain conditions, including intentional fault by the injured party or force majeure. Third parties causing damage via illegal interference are also liable, with joint liability possible if the Deployer or Provider is negligent.

The law provides transitional periods for existing AI systems to comply: 18 months for systems in healthcare, education, and finance, and 12 months for others. During this time, AI systems may continue operating unless suspended by authorities due to significant risk of harm.