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Edition of Sunday, 25 October 2026English edition
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The Geopolitician

Country risk, from the local press

South Korea · Country watch

Record Surplus Boosts Korea, LIG D&A Faces Sanctions

South Korea posts a record current account surplus, while LIG D&A faces potential sanctions affecting its defense contracts.

· · 5 articles read

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South Korea's record current account surplus boosts its economic standing, but potential sanctions on LIG D&A may disrupt defense contracts. Safety issues persist with foreign-language emergency calls.

Flare-up watch: Calm (−0.3) · How this is judged → · All South Korea briefings →

In this briefing LIG Defense & Aerospace · Defense Acquisition Program Administration · Park Ju-min · Korean National Police Agency · Bank of Korea · International Monetary Fund

Regulation

  • Defence

LIG D&A Faces Potential Sanctions Over Bribery

a telescope on top of a building overlooking a valley
Alicja Podstolska / Unsplash

The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) is considering revoking LIG Defense & Aerospace's (LIG D&A) designation as a defense contractor due to allegations of bribery and cost irregularities, according to eDaily. LIG D&A has already been barred from bidding on contracts for two years. If the designation is revoked, the company will face further restrictions, including limitations on sole-source contracts for small unmanned aerial vehicle systems.

Impact Defense contractors and partners of LIG D&A face potential disruptions in ongoing and future contracts.

Sources: eDaily ↗

Safety & health

  • Public sector
  • Tourism

Foreign-Language Emergency Calls Double in Korea

Foreign-language emergency calls to South Korea's 112 hotline more than doubled to 21,252 in 2025 from 10,348 in 2024, according to police data reported by The Korea Herald. The surge in calls reflects a record number of international tourists visiting Korea. However, budget constraints have limited the recruitment of professional interpreters for languages other than English and Chinese, creating challenges for police in responding to emergencies involving foreign nationals.

Impact Tourism operators and expatriates face potential communication challenges in emergency situations due to limited interpretation services.

Sources: Korea.net ↗, The Korea Herald ↗

Markets

  • Finance
  • Technology

Korea's Q2 Surplus Surpasses Germany, Japan Combined

exterior of the Bank of Korea Museum
exterior of the Bank of Korea Museum — Sean Young, CC BY 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

South Korea's current account surplus reached $116.63 billion in the second quarter, surpassing the combined surpluses of Germany and Japan, according to data from the Bank of Korea and the International Monetary Fund. This marks the first time since 1996 that Korea's surplus has exceeded those of the two manufacturing giants combined. The surplus was driven by robust semiconductor exports and increased overseas investment returns.

Impact Exporters and investors benefit from Korea's strong trade performance and increased global economic standing.

Sources: Korea.net ↗, The Korea Herald ↗

Nothing significant reported today in Disruption · Internal tension · Companies · Trade · Politics.

Also today in the local press

Sources in this briefing

Sources: each headline links to the original article on the publisher's site.

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