Chun Ha-ram Predicts Han Dong-hoon Will Target Daegu Over Busan

▷ Representative Chun Ha-ram (천하람) analyzed that former PPP leader Han Dong-hoon (한동훈) is likely to run in Daegu, following the “Hong Joon-pyo model” to secure a stable political foothold in a conservative stronghold.

▷ Regarding Cho Kuk (조국), Shin Jang-shik (신장식) stated that the party is considering multiple locations, including Gunsan and Busan, to maximize the impact of their “strategic asset” in the upcoming by-elections.

▷ Political experts noted that the Busan mayoral race between Park Heong-joon (박형준) and Jeon Jae-soo (전재수) remains highly competitive, warning that the ruling party should not view the region as a safe zone.

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Iran Pursues Long-Term Strategy to Increase War Costs and Pressure U.S. Withdrawal

▷ Iran is adopting a strategy of “asymmetric patience” to force Donald Trump (도널드 트럼프) to withdraw by intentionally increasing military casualties and global energy prices.

▷ Experts such as Vali Nasr (발리 나스르) explain that Iran aims to disrupt the Persian Gulf economy and block the Strait of Hormuz to trigger global inflation and test the political will of the U.S. government.

▷ While the International Crisis Group (국제위기그룹) notes that Iran is willing to spread pain to neighboring countries, this strategy risks prompting those nations to cooperate more closely with U.S. military operations.

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Chief Justice Accepts Resignation of Court Administration Minister Park Young-jae

▷ Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae (조희대) accepted the resignation of Court Administration Minister Park Young-jae (박영재) on the 4th, who will now return to his duties as a Supreme Court justice.

▷ Minister Park reportedly expressed his intent to resign following the ruling party’s push for the “Judicial Reform 3 Acts” and facing political pressure related to his past judicial rulings.

▷ Vice Minister Gi Woo-jong (기우종) will serve as the acting minister until a successor is officially appointed to lead the National Court Administration.

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North Korean Newspaper Found in Unidentified Wooden Boat on Jeju’s Udo Island

▷ An abandoned wooden boat containing the North Korean newspaper ‘Rodong Sinmun’ was discovered on the coast of Udo Island, Jeju, on the morning of April 4.

▷ Investigating authorities are currently examining the 4-meter-long vessel to determine if there are any espionage links or evidence of illegal entry.

▷ The boat, which was found in a severely decayed state with holes in its hull, is believed to have washed ashore during the recent rough seas over the March 1st holiday.

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DPK Nominates Former Floor Leader Park Chan-dae as Sole Candidate for Incheon Mayor

▷ The Democratic Party of Korea has officially nominated Park Chan-dae (박찬대), the former floor leader, as its sole candidate for the upcoming Incheon mayoral election.

▷ Nomination Committee Chair Kim Yi-su (김이수) praised Park as the right person for the city, noting his history of winning in a challenging district and his leadership during the 2024 martial law crisis.

▷ Park stated his commitment to pioneering the innovative policies of the Lee Jae-myung (이재명) administration in Incheon and expanding that success model across the country.

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Potential Succession of Khamenei’s Second Son Portends Prolonged Conflict

▷ Following the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei (아야톨라 세예드 알리 하메네이), Iran’s Assembly of Experts is reportedly considering the official appointment of his second son, Mojtaba Khamenei (모즈타바 하메네이), as the next leader.

▷ Experts analyze that the rise of Mojtaba, a hard-line figure with strong ties to the Revolutionary Guard, indicates a shift toward a more defiant stance against the U.S. and Israel, potentially leading to a prolonged war.

▷ This move conflicts with the hopes of President Donald Trump (도널드 트럼프) for a moderate regime change, suggesting that intense military operations and internal instability in Iran may continue.

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President Lee Denounces Prosecution for Alleged Evidence Manipulation

▷ President Lee Jae-myung (이재명) strongly condemned the prosecution, stating that manipulating cases using investigative powers is a more heinous crime than kidnapping or murder.

▷ The remarks came after a recording surfaced in which Kim Seong-tae (김성태), former chairman of Ssangbangwool Group, claimed he never gave money to Lee and that the prosecution was “playing games” with their power.

▷ As this recording contradicts Kim’s previous testimony regarding the payment of North Korea visit expenses, the Democratic Party is now calling for a parliamentary investigation and the withdrawal of the indictment.

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Iran Prepared Strategic Retaliation Scenarios Since Last Year to Counter Leadership Loss

▷ Analysis suggests that Iran has been preparing specific military response scenarios since June last year under the guidance of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (아야톨라 알리 하메네이) and military commanders.

▷ The strategy focuses on forcing a halt to U.S. and Israeli attacks by escalating regional tensions and disrupting global energy markets, targeting not only military bases but also civilian infrastructure in neighboring countries.

▷ To prevent military paralysis in the event of leadership removal, Iran decentralized its decision-making process, allowing field units to strike back immediately according to pre-arranged protocols.

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KOSPI and KOSDAQ Trading Halted as Circuit Breakers Triggered by 8% Plunge

▷ Trading on the KOSPI and KOSDAQ markets was suspended for 20 minutes on the morning of the 4th after both indices plummeted by more than 8% due to the escalating Middle East crisis.

▷ This marks the fourth time in history that dual circuit breakers have been activated in both markets, following major shocks such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2024 recession fears.

▷ The drastic measure was taken as the market crash continued despite the earlier activation of sell sidecars, recording the 7th circuit breaker for KOSPI and the 11th for KOSDAQ since the system’s inception.

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Oil Prices Could Hit $108 and US Inflation May Exceed 3% Amid Middle East Conflict

▷ Bloomberg reports that a prolonged blockade of the Strait of Hormuz could push oil prices up by 80% to $108 per barrel, potentially driving US inflation above 3%.

▷ This situation places the Fed in a dilemma between rising prices and demands for rate cuts from Donald Trump (트럼프), while China and Europe also face significant economic burdens.

▷ Meanwhile, the South Korean won surged past 1,500 per dollar for the first time in 17 years, and domestic stock markets plummeted over 8%, triggering dual circuit breakers.

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