"Winter is Coming: South Korea, Lee Jae-myung, and the Invisible Energy Trap"

Amid the prolonged conflict in the Middle East and possibly crude oil prices surpassing USD 100 per barrel, South Korea is on the verge of an energy, fiscal, and political crisis. Under the new leadership of President Lee Jae-myung—more nationalist and skeptical of the U.S.—the country faces a perfect storm: imported inflation, capital flight, an emerging recession, and a public opinion that could turn explosive in the colder months. This article offers a comprehensive analysis of possible scenarios and the cascading risks that could trigger a broader collapse.