In January, South Korea's domestic politics were dominated by the entry into a decisive phase of reckoning for the December 2024 coup attempt, including the demand for the death penalty against former President Yoon Suk-yeol and further sentences against senior officials of the former administration. Simultaneously, President Lee Jae-myung's administration presented its priorities for 2026. In foreign policy, an intensification of the so-called head of state diplomacy was evident, from a visit to China to deepening cooperation with Japan. In inter-Korean relations, Seoul consistently signaled a readiness for dialogue and de-escalation, although this was accompanied by North Korea's missile tests. Download the full January news and commentary here.