Here is a name I haven’t heard from in a while and it is back in the headlines again for giving up his Korean citizenship:
Hwang Woo-suk, a former Seoul National University professor who was dismissed over fabricated research, appears to have acquired United Arab Emirates citizenship and lost his South Korean citizenship, according to immigration officials.
A list of people who lost their South Korean citizenship, published by the Cheongju Immigration Office on Aug. 13, included a man named Hwang Woo-suk, born in 1953, who acquired Emirati citizenship on April 9.
The man’s birthdate, registered domicile in Buyeo, South Chungcheong Province, and other personal details matched those of the former professor, who is currently conducting research in the UAE.
Under Article 15 of Korea’s Nationality Act, South Korean nationals automatically lose their citizenship when voluntarily acquiring foreign citizenship.
Hwang is currently CEO of UAE Biotech, a research institute based in Abu Dhabi, where he leads research into animal cloning, stem cells and genome editing, with a focus on animal health and biodiversity.
You can read more at the link.
Just another example of the growing defense cooperation between the U.S. and South Korean defense companies:
Hanwha Aerospace Co.’s Chunmoo multiple rocket launchers are deployed during a South Korean Army field exercise in Incheon, west of Seoul, on Oct. 15, 2026. (Yonhap)
Hanwha Aerospace Co. said Monday its U.S. subsidiary plans to conduct two test-firings of missiles from its Chunmoo multiple rocket launcher system in the United States as part of its effort to adapt the land-based system for naval use.
The missiles will be launched from a vessel off the southern U.S. coast later this month to assess the system’s suitability for shipboard deployment.
The tests follow an April agreement between Hanwha Defense USA (HDUSA) and Florida-based Magnet Defense to develop a containerized Chunmoo launcher for the H38 medium unmanned surface vessel (MUSV).
HDUSA has been expanding its presence in the U.S. maritime defense market. It is in talks to acquire Austal USA, the U.S. subsidiary of Australian shipbuilder Austal, with negotiations under way over key terms of the deal.
Yonhap
You can read more at the link.
My prediction is they probably have a brief handshake and explain pleasantries and not actually discuss any deal at the upcoming APEC summit in China. I just do not see any reason for North Korea to cut any deal now when their needs are being met by the Russians currently:
The chances of another summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un could increase following last week’s midterm elections, as Pyongyang may view Trump as a weaker and easier negotiating target following a major Republican defeat, a U.S. expert assessed Monday.
“I do think that chances go up of a meeting after the midterm elections,” said Victor Cha, Korea chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), during a press briefing held to preview potential agendas and meetings during Trump’s upcoming trip to Asia.
“They see Trump as weaker and therefore perhaps more vulnerable and easier target,” Cha said.
He also pointed to Trump’s desire to build his diplomatic legacy as another factor that could increase the prospects of renewed engagement with North Korea.
“I think the president will be focused on many things, but one of them will be building his legacy,” he said.
You can read more at the link.
This is the perfect example of how average South Koreans today view North Korea today more as an odd curiosity than an actual threat:
More than 13,000 people visited Aegibong Peace Ecopark in Gimpo, Gyeonggi Province, over a 10-day period, to catch a rare glimpse of a North Korean self-propelled howitzer visible from the observatory.
Despite the heightened tensions between the two Koreas, a total of 13,243 people visited the park from Oct. 26 to Nov. 4, up 7.5 percent from 12,321 during the same period last year, according to Gimpo city, Sunday.
The increase came after images published by local media showing a North Korean self-propelled howitzer stationed along the North Korean coast, about 1.5 kilometers from the observatory, went viral.
You can read more at the link.
President Lee seems to be facing the same trend of just about every other Korean President where they have strong initial approval ratings that continuously become lower the longer they are in office:
President Lee Jae Myung’s approval rating fell to 35.9 percent last week likely due to an intense political standoff over legislation and stock market volatility, a pollster said Monday.
Positive assessments of Lee’s job performance dropped by 1 percentage point from the previous week in the poll conducted on 2,528 adults from last Monday to Friday, according to Realmeter.
Negative assessments rose by 0.5 percentage point to 60.6 percent, while 3.4 percent of respondents said they were not sure.
You can read more at the link.
