Lee Surprises Again

<이 한반도에도 언젠가는 혼란과 적대의 비정상이 극복되고, 서로 존중하며 공존공영하는 날이 오겠지요. 북측에도 새해 복 많이 내리기를..>

만나라, 뽀재명과 뽀정은

https://t.co/UJBYAYx2vh

— 이재명 (@Jaemyung_Lee) January 7, 2026

The post is in Korean but the translate button worked...

One day, the abnormality of chaos and hostility will be overcome on this Korean Peninsula as well, and a day will come when we respect each other and coexist and co-prosper. I hope the northern side also receives much New Year's fortune...

Man-nara, Ppo Jae-myung and Ppo Jeong

Penguin Lee and Penguin Kim, Meet!

Simon Chun picked up on this twitter post by President Lee Jae-myung. Lee is referring to a an article dated January 7, on Daum.net, discussing the cultural and potential political significance of a jointly produced animated film that circulated worldwide.

"Pororo the Little Penguin" is an animated film created in 2003 by the combined wisdom and technology of North and South Korea. It tells the story of Pororo the penguin overcoming obstacles and forming friendships with his friends. Immediately after its release, Pororo became a beloved friend to children, ascending to the adorable throne of "President Pororo."

The article notes the significant restraint exercised by Kim Jong-un during provocative actions by the Yoon Seok-yeol administration. The impeached former president of South Korea tried to set the stage for martial law by provoking the North Korea with drone violations of North Korean territory among other things.

The browser translate function readily produced a good English translation. I would have posted more but there was a stern copyright warning.

Meet, Pojaemyeong and Pojeong

Byeokrando Spirit

Korean old style diplomacy: Will it work?

Japan's PM Takaichi (right) watches with discomfort South Korea's President Lee and his "splendid parade" of commercial representatives who accompany his diplomatic mission to China. The leaders of the industrial chaebol Samsung, Hyundai, SK, LG, etc., included in his delegation spur her sense of isolation. The latter a self imposed disadvantage due to her innate contempt for China, and ahistorical extremist nationalism (make Japan great again).

Graphic of "old Korea" ostensibly the Goryeo Dynasty-Song Dynasty trade routes. Korea was threatened by the "barbarian" Khitan Empire in the north (a tribal nomadic dominion in present day Manchuria, part of North Korea, and northern China) while the prosperous classical Chinese Song Dynasty existed to the southeast. Solution? Pay tribute to the Khitan to satisfy security needs and at the same trade with the Song Dynasty from the Byeokrando trading port on the Yellow Sea north of Gangwha island and east of Kaesong (in present day North Korea). The Byeokrando principle being that national security interests (placating the Khitan) need not and should not preclude the profitable trade with the Song, an advanced civilization.

Graphics source- 이재명 '벽란도'에 중국은 환호하고 일본은 통곡하고 있다ㄷㄷ B급정치 1.05.2026 youtube