Over 8.300 South Korean medical students will repeat a year due to a prolonged class boycott against increased enrollment quotas; despite government offers to reverse the policy if they returned by March, most persisted; 46 students were expelled

24 million barrels of crude oil from the UAE have been secured amid global energy tensions linked to the Iran conflict; The deal includes emergency purchase options and plans for closer supply chain cooperation to prevent disruptions

To boost rural tourism, a half-price travel subsidy program will be launched, offering government-backed discounts on accommodations and local experiences to encourage domestic travel and support struggling regional economies

Former President Yoon Suk Yeol was sentenced to life in prison, charged with leading an insurrection as he imposed martial law for a few tumultuous hours on 3 December 2024; some argue it is a sign of a healthy democracy

Chief of the National Office of Investigation reportedly visited China to finalize crime-response cooperation, including tackling phishing and tracking fugitives, extraditing a former Coupang employee suspected of orchestrating a massive data breach