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Benjamin A. Engel

@benjaminaengel.bsky.social
9.4K followers 519 following 1.9K posts

Assistant Professor of Korean Studies at Dankook University. Research interests: Korean modern history, US-Korea relations, democracy and human rights

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Benjamin A. Engel @benjaminaengel.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
AI hallucinations in legal filings in Korea. In the end, the amount of time being saved by AI may being wasted in trying to verify whether AI is actually telling the truth... www.koreajoongangdaily.com/korea/no-pre...
koreajoongangdaily.com
No precedent for this: Courts deal with AI hallucinations in legal filings
Judges are finding nonexistent precedents in legal filings as more lawyers use AI without verifying content, causing lawmakers to consider harsher penalties and AI disclosure rules.
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Benjamin A. Engel @benjaminaengel.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
In 2020, Walter Mebane wrote a paper using incomplete data from a "secret person" claiming Korea's general election was fraudulent. Despite obvious methodological flaws, he "doesn't care" that he'd been cited endlessly by conspiracy theorists in Korea as "proof" www.votebeat.org/national/202...
votebeat.org
A warning from Korea
How an American professor’s contested work was used to fuel election doubts in South Korea.
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Benjamin A. Engel @benjaminaengel.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
The US is now more unpopular among Koreans than it was in the wake of the Yangju Highway Incident in 2002 when a US armored vehicle accidentally ran over two young Korean girls.
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Benjamin A. Engel @benjaminaengel.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
I happened to be at this museum the day NYT photographers and reporters were coming thru. If you come to Seoul and are interested in history this *must* be on your list of places to go. I cannot stress enough how important it is to visit this place. www.nytimes.com/2026/08/26/w...
nytimes.com
Confronting South Korea’s Violent Past and Its Echoes Today
The National Museum of Korean Democracy, which opened last year, documents an era of brutal suppression. But that dark history has resurfaced in troubling ways.
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Benjamin A. Engel @benjaminaengel.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
Seoul public transportation is amazing. Clean, quiet, air conditioned, and cheap. I take it for granted daily but when you think about it, it’s amazing.
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Benjamin A. Engel @benjaminaengel.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
This report makes it sound like Trump's call for downsizing joint military exercises with South Korea is less out of a desire to open negotiations with North Korea and more because he and his administration are displeased with South Korea slow-walking investments 1/ www.politico.com/news/2026/08...
politico.com
‘Not the way it works’: Korea’s miscalculation on trade may cost them on security
The president’s decision to scale back military exercises with South Korea reflects a broader frustration with the country over investment pledges, military spending and its response to the Iran war.
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Benjamin A. Engel @benjaminaengel.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
Lee can very easily break this logjam and push for constitutional amendment by simply stating he will abide by the constitution and not seek reelection. Or at the very least he'll expose the conservative PPP has obstructionist without cause. www.koreajoongangdaily.com/korea/ppp-di...
koreajoongangdaily.com
PPP divided over Lee's term limit proposal
Some senior opposition lawmakers are open to constitutional reform talks, breaking with party leaders who call President Lee Jae Myung’s proposal a bid to extend his power.
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Benjamin A. Engel @benjaminaengel.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
Trump’s post about downsizing joint military drills with South Korea is pretty bonkers from a Korean domestic political angle. The downsizing is very helpful to Lee Jae Myung who just days ago called for reopening talks with North Korea. 1/ www.koreatimes.co.kr/foreignaffai...
koreatimes.co.kr
Trump orders Pentagon chief to 'substantially' reduce S. Korea-US military drills - The Korea Times
U.S. President Donald Trump said Sunday that he has instructed the Pentagon chief to "substantially" reduce joint U.S.-South Korea military exercis...
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Reposted by Benjamin A. Engel
Mark Russell @markrussell.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
Good going, wingnut Starbucks marketing guy.
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Benjamin A. Engel @benjaminaengel.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
Over the last week or so Lee Jae Myung had been lending more support to amending the constitution so Korean presidential terms are reduced to 4 years with the possibility of a single reelection similar to the US system. 1/ www.koreajoongangdaily.com/korea/blue-h...
koreajoongangdaily.com
Blue House backs 4-year, re-electable presidency
The presidential office said a four-year, multiple-term system likely capped at two terms, paired with stronger National Assembly powers, could win the broadest public support.
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Benjamin A. Engel @benjaminaengel.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
Not sure what I'm going to say at my tenure review next March. I can write all the articles I want but if they aren't getting peer reviewed then... 🤷‍♂️ not only is academic publishing broken, but so is the tenure review system at Korean universities predicated on academic publishing... 1/
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Benjamin A. Engel @benjaminaengel.bsky.social · 08/08/2026
It’s interesting watching the Trump administration feign interest in these “human rights issues” brought up by Korean conservatives. Just like US policy in the 1970s and 80s. We’ll pretend to care so long as it doesn’t mess with our security interests 1/ www.koreajoongangdaily.com/korea/pastor...
koreajoongangdaily.com
Pastor Son Hyun-bo meets Trump at White House
Busan's Segero Church leader said he held an hourlong meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in which he raised concerns over religious freedom in Korea.
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Benjamin A. Engel @benjaminaengel.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
Honestly I prefer the mask-off imperialism. It’s evil but at least it’s honest. And if you support him you have to be honest about supporting imperial foreign policy.
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Benjamin A. Engel @benjaminaengel.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
It should be so easy for the DPK to be the pro-democracy party in Korea given the insanity that persists in the People Power Party and the far-right, but they just can't help themselves. They fuel their own criticism with this sort of talk. www.chosun.com/english/opin...
chosun.com
Editorial: National Assembly Speaker Labels Incumbent Re-election 'Public Choice'
Editorial: National Assembly Speaker Labels Incumbent Re-election Public Choice Speaker Chos remarks contrast with constitutional limits, party denials on re-election amendment
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Benjamin A. Engel @benjaminaengel.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
This is a very accurate dissection of US-South Korea relations at the moment. The hysteria in DC about Coupang and the old-guard American Korean watchers' obsession with painting Lee Jae Myung as anti-American is frankly idiotic when viewed from Seoul. www.koreatimes.co.kr/opinion/colu...
koreatimes.co.kr
Seoul isn't drifting away from Washington - The Korea Times
A particular narrative has taken hold in Washington policy circles: that Korea’s current government and the ruling party represents an ideological...
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Benjamin A. Engel @benjaminaengel.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
Interesting that X would be a progressive space in the Korean context. And honestly had no idea anybody actually used Threads. 아저시 다 됐나봐 www.koreajoongangdaily.com/korea/x-vers...
koreajoongangdaily.com
X versus Threads: Is Korea’s political divide deepening online?
As X is seemingly becoming the domain of the DP and the PPP appears to be gravitating toward Threads, experts warn that online discourse may harden into separate echo chambers.
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Benjamin A. Engel @benjaminaengel.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
I shared some thoughts with the Korea Herald on prosecutorial reform in Korea. The DPK is accused of pursuing reform because its leaders have been accused of crimes, but I point out that conservatives have partisan interests in preserving the prosecution's powers www.koreaherald.com/article/1082...
koreaherald.com
History of Democratic Party's decadeslong prosecution reform
The ruling Democratic Party of Korea's push for the complete removal of the prosecution's investigative power is now in its final stretch, despite a range of co
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Benjamin A. Engel @benjaminaengel.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
Ah yes. Making the war even more unpopular as US troops die for no explicable reason will surely give the president tons of leverage thehill.com/policy/defen...
thehill.com
Ret. Gen. Kellogg calls for ground troops in Iran, new negotiating team
Retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg on Monday called for U.S. ground troops in Iran as well as a new American negotiating team in the conflict. “Look, there’s about five things we ought to be doin…
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Benjamin A. Engel @benjaminaengel.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
Lee Jae Myung and the Korean govt put a lot of effort into rerouting oil shipments through the Red Sea during the initial phase of the war only for this to happen. Constantly impressed with how Trump finds new ways to screw everyone www.nytimes.com/live/2026/07...
nytimes.com
Iran War Live Updates: Iran-Backed Houthis Expand Conflict With Red Sea Blockade
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Benjamin A. Engel @benjaminaengel.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
Trump now expects the world to literally pay for his blunder. This is insane www.koreaherald.com/article/1080...
koreaherald.com
Trump says US will charge 20% fee on all cargo shipped through Strait of Hormuz
US President Donald Trump said Monday that the United States will serve as the "guardian" of the Strait of Hormuz and be "reimbursed" at a 20 percent rate on al
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Benjamin A. Engel @benjaminaengel.bsky.social · 05/07/2026
The World Cup was so much fun…and then Trump touched it and it turned to shit. Like everything else he touches. The US team was so fun to watch. Likable. And now Trump has tainted any achievements they make moving forward. www.nytimes.com/2026/07/05/u...
nytimes.com
Trump Asked FIFA to Review U.S. Player’s Suspension. Now He’s Eligible to Play.
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Benjamin A. Engel @benjaminaengel.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
Took me a while to realize it, but this high school is where Syngman Rhee was educated back before the Japanese colonial era. They even have a statue of the dictator at their school. Have to wonder what these kids are taught...
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Benjamin A. Engel @benjaminaengel.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
This might be more shocking and disappointing than the initial "Tank Day" promotion by Starbucks. Sad to see young people think this is a joke. www.koreajoongangdaily.com/korea/when-h...
koreajoongangdaily.com
When hate goes viral: Meme culture takes ugly turn on the baseball field
Players from a Seoul-based high school mocked a team from Gwangju by using chants alluding to Starbucks Korea's controversial 'Tank Day' promotion.
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Reposted by Benjamin A. Engel
Lokman Karadag, PhD @drlokmankaradag.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
The Korean Peninsula and the Shifting Balance of Power in East Asia 🚨In this in-depth conversation, I sat down with @benjaminaengel.bsky.social engel to explore the historical, political, and strategic forces shaping the future of Korea and East Asia Full Record www.youtube.com/live/AEMHCK3...
youtube.com
The Korean Peninsula and the Shifting Balance of Power in East Asia
YouTube video by Dr Lokman Karadag
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Benjamin A. Engel @benjaminaengel.bsky.social · 12/06/2026
대한민국~~
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Benjamin A. Engel @benjaminaengel.bsky.social · 11/06/2026
If raiding the National Election Commission to search for evidence of malfeasance in the wake of the ballot shortage during last week’s election is this easy, why did Yoon need to declare martial law? www.koreatimes.co.kr/southkorea/2...
koreatimes.co.kr
Police raid election watchdog over ballot shortages during local elections - The Korea Times
Police on Thursday raided the National Election Commission (NEC) and some of its local offices in Seoul as part of an investigation into shortages...
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Benjamin A. Engel @benjaminaengel.bsky.social · 11/06/2026
Wow. Coupang assessed a record $410 million fine for its data breach last year. And another $132 million for unauthorized collection of users' data. Congress has been criticizing Korea on Coupang's behalf and we'll see what fallout this has in US-Korea relations. en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN2026...
en.yna.co.kr
Coupang fined record 624.7 billion won over massive data breach, unauthorized data collection | Yonhap News Agency
SEOUL, June 11 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's data protection regulator on Thursday fined ...
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Benjamin A. Engel @benjaminaengel.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
The PPP infighting has resumed in the wake of the ballot shortage fiasco. PPP leader Jang Dong-hyeok is beholden to the conspiracy theory end of the party and wants a new election. Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, who won the election, of course does not want to do it again. www.hani.co.kr/arti/politic...
hani.co.kr
오세훈 “중대 위법 아니면 재선거 못 해…장동혁 노선은 실패”
오세훈 서울시장이 장동혁 국민의힘 대표 등이 요구 중인 6·3 지방선거 ‘재선거’에 대해 “정치공학적인 이해관계는 이해하지만, 절차상 하자가 당락을 바꿀 만한 중대한 위법이 아니면 재선거는 치를 수 없도록 돼 있다”며 부정적 입장을 밝혔다. 오 시장은 9일 공개된 ‘조
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Benjamin A. Engel @benjaminaengel.bsky.social · 08/06/2026
This article focuses on the protesters and claims that the movement is seeking to be bipartisan, but I wish they'd do a deeper dive on the organizers and their political goals. I doubt it is as bipartisan as they claim. www.koreaherald.com/article/1076...
koreaherald.com
'This isn't about politics': Young Koreans push for election rerun
On Sunday morning in southern Seoul, the scene did not look like the election-related rallies South Korea has grown used to in recent years. A crowd had gathere
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Benjamin A. Engel @benjaminaengel.bsky.social · 07/06/2026
After the ballot shortage fiasco during the local election on June 3, President Lee Jae Myung and Prime Minister Kim Min Seok have both come out in favor of investigating the National Election Commission and have called for officials to resign. 1/ www.chosun.com/english/nati...
chosun.com
Prime Minister Kim Demands NEC Officials Resign, Backs Special Counsel
Prime Minister Kim Demands NEC Officials Resign, Backs Special Counsel Amid ballot shortage crisis, government supports investigations and accountability for National Election Commission
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Benjamin A. Engel @benjaminaengel.bsky.social · 04/06/2026
Democratic Party candidate Jeong Won-o conceded defeat in Seoul mayor race. Now the PPP has to decide whether or not to push for a new election that would nullify their own victory but keep their election fraud conspiracies alive. m-en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN2026...
m-en.yna.co.kr
(URGENT) DP Seoul Mayor candidate Chong concedes defeat in local election race | Yonhap News Agency
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Benjamin A. Engel @benjaminaengel.bsky.social · 04/06/2026
Exit poll results from yesterday’s mayoral election in Seoul by generation and gender. The gender split in younger Koreans remains strong. Young men in their 20s voted for the conservative candidate at roughly 70% while young women were more evenly split. 1/
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Benjamin A. Engel @benjaminaengel.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
The Democratic Party dominated the local elections yesterday winning 12 out of 16 governorship and mayorships. But the victory wasn’t as resounding as expected actually and significant tension remains despite the elections having concluded in the Dems favor. 1/ www.koreatimes.co.kr/southkorea/p...
koreatimes.co.kr
DPK dominates local elections, wins 12 of 16 mayoral, provincial races - The Korea Times
The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) won 12 out of the country’s 16 mayor and provincial governor races in Wednesday’s local elections, accor...
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Benjamin A. Engel @benjaminaengel.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
Assuming these are real statements: “considering the number of people who cast ballots early, we only printed enough ballots for 50% of the voters in Songpa district.” Really stupid. n.news.naver.com/mnews/articl...
n.news.naver.com
[속보] 선관위 "송파구, 전체 유권자 수 50%만 용지 인쇄"
선관위 "송파구, 전체 유권자 수 50%만 용지 인쇄" 선관위 "사전투표 등 고려해 유권자 수 절반 인쇄" "사전투표율 낮은 곳 용지 부족 가능성…분석 필요" ▷ 자세한 뉴스가 곧 이어집니다.
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Benjamin A. Engel @benjaminaengel.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
Some precincts in Seoul ran out of ballots in the evening, leaving some voters unable to cast ballots. The PPP, which already the party of election fraud conspiracies, is calling for the results of today’s election in Seoul to be nullified. 1/ www.chosun.com/english/nati...
chosun.com
People Power Party Demands Suspension of Seoul Election Count
People Power Party Demands Suspension of Seoul Election Count Ballot shortages, rights violations spur call for Seoul election redo
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Benjamin A. Engel @benjaminaengel.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
Today local elections are being held in Korea. They are mostly seen as a referendum on the president and ruling party since local governments don’t have a ton of power. The two major parties are also regional parties so there isn’t much additional flavor to most races. The exit polls are out. 1/
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Benjamin A. Engel @benjaminaengel.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
Morse Tan, who has consistently supported election fraud conspiracies in Korea, may be banned from leaving Korea for not cooperating with police. He has been accused of defamation, a criminal charge, for saying President Lee committed murder as a young man. 1/ www.koreatimes.co.kr/southkorea/l...
koreatimes.co.kr
Police seek exit ban on Morse Tan over defamation allegations - The Korea Times
Police on Monday applied to the Ministry of Justice for an exit ban on Morse Tan, a Korean American professor and former U.S. ambassador at large f...
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Benjamin A. Engel @benjaminaengel.bsky.social · 30/05/2026
Not sure the Yoon Again protesters have read their history. The redcoats are the baddies…
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Benjamin A. Engel @benjaminaengel.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
Star Wars! I’ve heard the Mando movie is a bit cheesy and unremarkable (Andor has raised the bar impossibly high), but any day you get to go to the theater and watch a new Star Wars movie is a good day~
static.klipy.com
The Mandalorian and Grogu: This Is The Way
ALT: The Mandalorian and Grogu: This Is The Way
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Benjamin A. Engel @benjaminaengel.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
Interesting. Explosion of tourists coming to Korea has resulted in surges in passengers arriving at Korea's smaller airports as well. This bodes well for getting some of the tourist spending out of the capital and into the provincial regions. www.chosun.com/english/nati...
chosun.com
Cheongju Airport Sees 858% Surge in Foreign Arrivals
Cheongju Airport Sees 858% Surge in Foreign Arrivals Once a Ghost Airport, Cheongju Expands Routes as Foreign Arrivals Soar
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Benjamin A. Engel @benjaminaengel.bsky.social · 27/05/2026
“Schools are not places to impose a particular set of values. They should be places where children learn academic ability, character, responsibility and a sense of community.” You can't say these two sentences back-to-back. They are directly contradictory. www.koreaherald.com/article/1075...
koreaherald.com
Seoul campaign roiled by banners opposing 'queer education'
Walking through Seoul, it is not hard to spot large election banners calling for "homosexuality education" to be expelled from schools, part of conservative Seo
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Benjamin A. Engel @benjaminaengel.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
People Power Party is so beleaguered they are rolling out disgraced former president Park Geun-hye on the campaign trail. Sort of like Trump did for George W. Bush, Yoon Suk Yeol was so terrible has managed to make Park look "not that bad" by comparison www.koreaherald.com/article/1075...
koreaherald.com
Park Geun-hye hits campaign trail for opposition candidates
Former President Park Geun-hye called on voters in the central Chungcheong region Monday to give People Power Party candidates “a chance to work,” stepping up h
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Benjamin A. Engel @benjaminaengel.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
Starbucks Korea cannot conclusively determine that the inappropriate "Tank Day" marketing campaign was done to intentionally belittle the May 18 Gwangju Democracy Movement. 1/ www.chosun.com/english/indu...
chosun.com
Shinsegae Finds No Intent in Starbucks Tank Day Probe
Shinsegae Finds No Intent in Starbucks Tank Day Probe Internal audit uncovers no evidence of malicious planning but faces constraints; five employees suspended, executives dismissed
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Benjamin A. Engel @benjaminaengel.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
Followed the Park Chung Hee and Chun Doo Hwan precedent when declaring martial law and when trying to justify it to the US. Crazy to see my research on US-Korea relations in the 1970s and 80s play out again koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2026-05...
koreajoongangdaily.joins.com
Korea's intelligence agency gave materials justifying martial law to CIA following insurrection
Investigators found that Korea’s intelligence agency sought to justify the Dec. 3, 2024, martial law declaration to the United States by delivering explanatory materials to the CIA.
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Benjamin A. Engel @benjaminaengel.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
Well Starbucks had a really good run in Korea... In all seriousness I'm sure Starbucks will get past this eventually because Koreans can't live with out it, but I wouldn't be upset to see fewer Starbucks in the country koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2026-05...
koreajoongangdaily.joins.com
Starbucks Korea's 'Tank Day' misstep prompts trolling from far-right online communities
A promotional misstep by Starbucks Korea on the anniversary of a pro-democracy uprising is snowballing into a political clash.
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Benjamin A. Engel @benjaminaengel.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
Lee Jae Myung is antagonizing Israel again after it detained Korean activists. He's threatened to publicly state Korea would execute the ICC warrant against Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu if he were to enter Korean territory. www.koreaherald.com/article/1074...
koreaherald.com
Lee questions legality of Israel’s seizure of Gaza-bound flotillas carrying Koreans
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Wednesday publicly questioned the legality and humanitarian implications of Israeli forces intercepting aid flotillas ca
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Benjamin A. Engel @benjaminaengel.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
Watching the rhetoric in DC about Coupang from Seoul is jarring. Coupang is literally the Amazon of South Korea with a monstrous market share. Almost 30% of the country has a subscription similar to Amazon prime, higher if you consider family shared accounts. 1/ www.koreaherald.com/article/1074...
koreaherald.com
US ambassador nominee vows to protect US firms in S. Korea from discrimination
The nominee for the United States' top envoy to South Korea vowed Wednesday to ensure that American companies operating in the Asian country are not discriminat
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Benjamin A. Engel @benjaminaengel.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
The plan to put the former hardline president back into power, a plan contrary to America’s own interests, was foiled because air strikes injured said former hardline president… I’d doubt the reporting but this is too stupid to make up www.nytimes.com/2026/05/19/u...
nytimes.com
Early War Goal Was to Install Hard Line Former President as Iran’s Leader
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Benjamin A. Engel @benjaminaengel.bsky.social · 08/05/2026
The conservative PPP is boycotting an amendment to the Korean constitution that would strengthen the countries identity as a democracy and put limits on presidential authority to declare martial law. 1/ www.koreaherald.com/article/1073...
koreaherald.com
Opposition boycotts 'indisputable' amendment to Constitution
The vote on the motion to amend the Constitution was rendered invalid on Thursday after the main opposition People Power Party boycotted the National Assembly's
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Benjamin A. Engel @benjaminaengel.bsky.social · 02/05/2026
In Korea, ambulances need a hospital’s permission before bringing in patients and this causes all sorts of horrible problems. Recently a 30-week pregnant woman went into labor and was moved from Cheongju all the way to Busan to find a hospital. The baby died 😔 www.chosun.com/national/reg...
chosun.com
29주 임신부, 병원 못찾아 청주서 부산까지…태아는 숨져
29주 임신부, 병원 못찾아 청주서 부산까지태아는 숨져
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