https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/rss/328404/feed en https://assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg Park Chan-kyong Park Chan-kyong The two Koreas appear to be coming closer to an armed clash along their poorly marked military dividing line after a series of increasingly hostile warnings from the North, observers say. Back-to-back statements on Wednesday and Thursday by Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, appear aimed at building a case for blaming Seoul for any future exchange of fire, they say. “The two sides appear to be edging closer to accidental armed clashes,” said Oh Gyeong-seob, a... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3371730/what-kim-yo-jongs-border-warnings-reveal-about-inter-korean-escalation-risk https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3371730/what-kim-yo-jongs-border-warnings-reveal-about-inter-korean-escalation-risk Thu, 22 Oct 2026 04:35:54 +0000 Sumnima Kandangwa Sumnima Kandangwa South Korean songstress Ejae, who found global fame after lending her voice to Netflix’s 2025 animated film, KPop Demon Hunters, recently tied the knot with her long-time partner, Samuel Kim, on October 17. Ejae, whose real name is Kim Eun-jae, wore a custom Danielle Frankel bridal gown for the ceremony, while her groom wore a classic tuxedo by Bhambi, a New York City-based custom tailor. The newlyweds’ nuptials were featured in Vogue and were reportedly held at Stage 28 in Seoul’s Gangdong... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3371638/kpop-demon-hunters-ejae-weds-samuel-kim-seoul-what-do-we-know-about-him https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3371638/kpop-demon-hunters-ejae-weds-samuel-kim-seoul-what-do-we-know-about-him Thu, 22 Oct 2026 02:07:43 +0000 SCMP’s Asia desk SCMP’s Asia desk South Korean social media posts displaying users’ running records to honour a local woman who died at a Seoul marathon have raised debate over the appropriateness of the gesture for mourning. Yoo Ji-won, a 25-year-old graduate student at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science Technology, collapsed just 500 metres (1,600 feet) from the finish line of the 2026 Seoul Race half-marathon on October 11, local media reported. The cause of her death has not been disclosed. Yoo was a running influencer,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/health-environment/article/3371629/mourning-run-or-clout-chase-south-korea-divided-over-runners-death-tributes https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/health-environment/article/3371629/mourning-run-or-clout-chase-south-korea-divided-over-runners-death-tributes Wed, 21 Oct 2026 07:50:48 +0000 The Korea Times The Korea Times A monthly trip to Costco has become routine this year for Kim Eun-young. The 42-year-old mother of two living in Seoul’s Gwangjin district used to pick up what she needed at a nearby supermarket, but rising prices prompted her to change her shopping habits. She said buying groceries and household essentials in bulk seemed more economical, at least for her family of four. “The bill is bigger each time, but buying in bulk works out cheaper for the same amount. I mainly buy food we eat regularly... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3371613/south-korean-bulk-buying-hits-record-us11-billion-shoppers-trim-food-bills https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3371613/south-korean-bulk-buying-hits-record-us11-billion-shoppers-trim-food-bills Wed, 21 Oct 2026 06:45:09 +0000 Ambrose Li Ambrose Li Despite a downturn in Hong Kong’s food and beverage sector, foreign enterprises are still betting on the city as a fine-dining destination, with a South Korean hydroponic ginseng grower and a 123-year-old Japanese confectioner choosing it for their first overseas ventures. Jack Kwon, founder and CEO of Seoul-based Biofx, signed a deal with Hong Kong hydroponics firm Farm66 last Thursday to grow Korean gourmet ginseng in the city and sell it to local consumers and restaurants. The deal marks the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3371385/why-foreign-companies-are-still-betting-hong-kongs-culinary-reputation https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3371385/why-foreign-companies-are-still-betting-hong-kongs-culinary-reputation Wed, 21 Oct 2026 00:30:06 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi The commander of the US Eighth Army in South Korea said his troops must be ready for deployment outside the Korean peninsula if ordered, arguing that it would be “irresponsible” to focus “myopically” on threats there. Lieutenant General Joe Hilbert said that while his command’s focus was on fulfilling US commitments under its mutual defence treaty with Seoul, the Eighth Army’s location did not limit the missions it could undertake. It would be “irresponsible to focus myopically” on threats on... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/article/3371562/us-troops-south-korea-must-be-ready-missions-beyond-peninsula-commander-says https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/article/3371562/us-troops-south-korea-must-be-ready-missions-beyond-peninsula-commander-says Tue, 20 Oct 2026 21:52:49 +0000 Park Chan-kyong Park Chan-kyong As South Korea seeks to attract more visitors to tap into the global popularity of K-pop, a lawmaker has warned that taxi overcharging of foreign tourists could tarnish the country’s image, with official figures pointing to a perceived lack of punishment against offenders. Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Mo Gyeong-jong cited Seoul city government data on Sunday showing only 204 of 6,481 complaints of taxi overcharging involving foreign tourists between 2021 and August this year resulted in... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3371437/south-koreas-seoul-wants-put-brakes-taxi-overcharging https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3371437/south-koreas-seoul-wants-put-brakes-taxi-overcharging Tue, 20 Oct 2026 01:30:08 +0000 Simpson Cheung,Jess Ma Simpson Cheung,Jess Ma Hong Kong police will conduct round-the-clock patrols in Wan Chai from Friday as part of enhanced security arrangements for the coming Apec Finance Ministers’ Meeting, as delegates begin arriving in the city, the South China Morning Post has learned. Delegates from the 21 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation member economies will travel to Hong Kong as early as Friday for preparatory work, although most ministers are not expected to arrive until Sunday at the earliest. They will stay at several top... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3371050/hong-kong-carry-out-24-hour-patrols-near-apec-meeting-venue-and-delegate-hotels https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3371050/hong-kong-carry-out-24-hour-patrols-near-apec-meeting-venue-and-delegate-hotels Fri, 16 Oct 2026 01:30:09 +0000 The Korea Times The Korea Times South Korea will continue supporting Ukraine “as a responsible member of the international community” despite a diplomatic dispute over the disclosure of two North Korean prisoners of war being repatriated to the South, a foreign ministry official said on Thursday. The official said Seoul would treat its help to Ukraine separately from the dispute, while continuing bilateral consultations to resolve outstanding issues. The remarks came after South Korean Ambassador to Ukraine Park Ki-chang was... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3371018/seoul-maintain-ukraine-aid-despite-spat-over-north-korea-prisoner-transfer https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3371018/seoul-maintain-ukraine-aid-despite-spat-over-north-korea-prisoner-transfer Thu, 15 Oct 2026 09:35:56 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Hong Kong has emerged as the third best city in the world for wealthy individuals seeking to make philanthropic contributions over the medium term, trailing New York and Seoul, according to a study by Altrata. The inaugural Giving Opportunity Index by the US-based group that tracks the world’s affluent population ranked 100 cities based on three criteria: wealth, donor affinity and philanthropic infrastructure. The study defined the “global wealthy” as individuals with a net worth of more than... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3371004/hong-kong-ranks-third-globally-philanthropy-hub-behind-new-york-and-seoul-study-finds https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3371004/hong-kong-ranks-third-globally-philanthropy-hub-behind-new-york-and-seoul-study-finds Thu, 15 Oct 2026 09:00:30 +0000 Park Chan-kyong Park Chan-kyong North Korea now has a museum for its bombs. The National Defence Revolution Museum, which opened on Sunday, is the country’s first dedicated exclusively to military hardware, from rifles to intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). Observers say it is also intended to send a message to Washington and Seoul, serve as a permanent showroom for the North’s arms exports and visibly enshrine its nuclear programme as an irreversible part of state policy. Third-generation ruler Kim Jong-un cut the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3370699/north-koreas-new-missile-museum-part-shrine-part-arms-bazaar https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3370699/north-koreas-new-missile-museum-part-shrine-part-arms-bazaar Tue, 13 Oct 2026 08:27:25 +0000 SCMP Style Reporter SCMP Style Reporter A Burberry coat has always promised more than protection from the elements. It carries the practical qualities of British all-weather dressing, of course, but also a certain style: think of a collar turned up against the rain or that signature checked lining caught in motion. For its 170th anniversary, Burberry returns to that enduring idea with 170: The Anniversary Portraits, a global campaign that places its outerwear not in a studio, but on the streets and in the cities where it is worn.... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/style/fashion/fashion-news/article/3369978/style-edit-burberry-marks-170-years-london-new-york-seoul-and-shanghai-campaign https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/style/fashion/fashion-news/article/3369978/style-edit-burberry-marks-170-years-london-new-york-seoul-and-shanghai-campaign Mon, 12 Oct 2026 02:00:17 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse North Korea on Monday fired multiple ballistic missiles off its east coast, Seoul’s military said, after weeks of mounting friction over a landmine explosion along the countries’ heavily fortified border. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff confirmed in a statement that it had detected several ballistic missiles launched from the Pyongyang area, adding that its military “has stepped up surveillance and vigilance against possible additional launches”. One of the missiles flew more than 900km (559... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3370521/days-after-ai-missile-test-north-korea-fires-another-projectile https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3370521/days-after-ai-missile-test-north-korea-fires-another-projectile Mon, 12 Oct 2026 01:01:42 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse South Korea said on Thursday it would recall its ambassador to Ukraine in response to a deepening diplomatic row over the transfer of North Korean prisoners of war to Seoul. The two countries have been at loggerheads since Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky last month disclosed the prisoner transfer, sparking anger in Seoul, which said it had placed their families in North Korea at risk. The recall also comes days after a media report alleged more than 176,000 tonnes of fuel, mostly diesel,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3370190/south-korea-recall-ambassador-ukraine-amid-pow-dispute https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3370190/south-korea-recall-ambassador-ukraine-amid-pow-dispute Thu, 08 Oct 2026 09:36:55 +0000 Reuters Reuters Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday ⁠he believed Russia ⁠may have shared jet-drone technology ⁠with its long-standing ally North Korea. In recent weeks, Russia has sharply increased its use of jet-drones against Ukraine, which so far has no effective means of countering them other than using ‌combat aircraft. Earlier in the war, North Korea supplied Russia with millions of artillery shells and it has since provided ballistic missiles that Moscow regularly uses to attack... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3369727/ukraine-believes-russia-shared-jet-drone-technology-north-korea-says-zelensky https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3369727/ukraine-believes-russia-shared-jet-drone-technology-north-korea-says-zelensky Sun, 04 Oct 2026 16:45:32 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse US President Donald Trump has announced US$200 billion in energy investments from South Korea, including US$54 billion towards a long-discussed liquefied natural gas project in Alaska and more than US$100 billion in planned longer-term nuclear power investments. Besides the Alaska LNG project and pipeline and the nuclear plants, the Trump administration announced a US$22.3 billion natural gas-fired power project in Texas that would be supported by Seoul. “The colossal package of investments we... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3369401/trump-touts-us200-billion-south-korean-energy-deal-ahead-us-midterms https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3369401/trump-touts-us200-billion-south-korean-energy-deal-ahead-us-midterms Thu, 01 Oct 2026 01:44:09 +0000 SCMP’s Asia desk SCMP’s Asia desk Residents of a district in the South Korean capital of Seoul are up in arms over plans to build a permanent school for North Korean defectors in their neighbourhood. The dispute escalated to the point where the school’s principal dropped to her knees to beg protesters to “embrace the children”, the Korea JoongAng Daily reported. Yeomyung School, which educates middle and high school students who fled North Korea or are children of North Korean defectors, has been unable to afford its own... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/people/article/3369326/seoul-residents-arms-over-school-north-korean-defectors https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/people/article/3369326/seoul-residents-arms-over-school-north-korean-defectors Wed, 30 Sep 2026 08:35:55 +0000 Park Chan-kyong Park Chan-kyong An escalating diplomatic row over Ukraine’s disclosure of a North Korean prisoner-of-war transfer is threatening to jeopardise South Korea’s future ties with and support for Kyiv, analysts say, even as it hands fresh ammunition to the political opposition in Seoul. South Korea’s presidential official issued a statement late on Sunday demanding an official explanation and apology for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s disclosure about the POWs at last week’s UN General Assembly. Seoul said... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3369055/south-koreas-pow-row-ukraine-puts-ties-and-aid-risk https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3369055/south-koreas-pow-row-ukraine-puts-ties-and-aid-risk Mon, 28 Sep 2026 08:50:03 +0000 The Korea Times The Korea Times A proposal to upgrade meals for foreigners awaiting deportation at Incheon International Airport has divided immigration officials, with frontline officers raising safety concerns and some questioning whether better food is appropriate for those ordered to leave South Korea for violating the law. According to immigration authorities on Sunday, the Incheon Airport Immigration Office under the Ministry of Justice is considering providing in-flight meal boxes to foreign nationals awaiting... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3368987/south-korea-plan-serve-deportees-airline-meals-splits-officials https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3368987/south-korea-plan-serve-deportees-airline-meals-splits-officials Mon, 28 Sep 2026 01:55:05 +0000 Reuters Reuters South Korea’s presidential office has demanded an official explanation and apology from Ukraine, accusing Kyiv of disclosing the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea and then falsely denying ‌that the two sides had agreed to keep the move confidential. “The presidential office expresses strong regret over Ukraine’s unilateral disclosure and its subsequent false announcement that there had not been a non-disclosure agreement,” Seong Ghi-hong, senior presidential secretary... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3368983/south-korea-demands-apology-ukraine-over-disclosure-north-korean-pow-transfer https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3368983/south-korea-demands-apology-ukraine-over-disclosure-north-korean-pow-transfer Sun, 27 Sep 2026 21:56:09 +0000 Alyssa Chen Alyssa Chen Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said she and Donald Trump had reaffirmed their collaboration on issues relating to Beijing in a phone call on Saturday. The call followed the US president’s nostalgic invocation of the World War II alliance with China during his summit with Xi Jinping, remarks that sent shock waves through Tokyo. Trump made the references as he welcomed the Chinese president to the White House on Thursday for his first state visit to Washington in over a decade. In a social... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368878/will-trump-xi-wartime-ally-nostalgia-prompt-japanese-rethink-china-ties https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368878/will-trump-xi-wartime-ally-nostalgia-prompt-japanese-rethink-china-ties Sat, 26 Sep 2026 03:00:10 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings A three-day public holiday used to be a big deal in China. Then came “golden weeks”, which would sometimes stretch to nine days, sending millions of people in search of new sights across the country and further afield. Now an alignment of the Mid-Autumn Festival and the National Day holiday will give many Chinese students and office workers up to a record 13-day break, potentially pushing tourist traffic to new heights. “The more interesting change this year is not simply higher volume, but the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3368623/skydiving-whale-watching-and-burst-bookings-holidays-extend-millions-china https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3368623/skydiving-whale-watching-and-burst-bookings-holidays-extend-millions-china Thu, 24 Sep 2026 07:33:29 +0000 David D. Lee David D. Lee In Silicon Valley and beyond, the architects of artificial intelligence are increasingly warning about the risks it poses to humanity. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei wants the industry to slow down. A former engineer at his company, who also worked at its rival OpenAI, told reporters after quitting earlier this month that he was “genuinely frightened” unchecked AI development might mean “we could all die in the immediate future”. Even Geoffrey Hinton, the Nobel Prize-winning computer scientist known... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/economics/article/3368031/south-korea-wants-free-ai-all-society-ready-it https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/economics/article/3368031/south-korea-wants-free-ai-all-society-ready-it Sat, 19 Sep 2026 00:00:14 +0000 Sam Beltran Sam Beltran Poland’s delivery of Black Hawk helicopters to the Philippines has given Warsaw a foothold in Manila’s defence market as it seeks to expand exports from its growing defence industry, with analysts saying drones, air defence and potentially co-production could pave the way for a broader partnership. Polish deputy foreign minister Wladyslaw Bartoszewski said on Tuesday that Warsaw was keen to pursue further defence partnerships with the Philippines, as Poland has poured US$50 billion into... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3367900/poland-eyes-deeper-philippines-defence-ties-following-black-hawk-deal https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3367900/poland-eyes-deeper-philippines-defence-ties-following-black-hawk-deal Fri, 18 Sep 2026 00:00:17 +0000 Raissa Robles Raissa Robles Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jnr has won a burst of online support among Filipinos who see him as one of Manila’s most outspoken senior officials against China, with some already asking whether it could give him enough political momentum to carry him into the 2028 elections. His latest boost came after a viral moment at the Seoul Defence Dialogue on September 8, where he read out a handwritten note reiterating Beijing’s rejection of the 2016 South China Sea arbitration ruling... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3367820/teodoro-president-philippine-defence-chief-draws-2028-election-buzz-after-china-clash https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3367820/teodoro-president-philippine-defence-chief-draws-2028-election-buzz-after-china-clash Thu, 17 Sep 2026 07:18:33 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse The powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said on Thursday that the country’s nuclear-armed status was “absolute”, calling those hoping for its denuclearisation “idiots”. North Korea has legally enshrined its status as a nuclear weapons state, with its leadership declaring the country’s nuclear arsenal permanent and irreversible. US President Donald Trump recently said Pyongyang possessed 57 “very powerful” nuclear weapons, with Seoul putting the figure at between 80 and 120. “The... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3367785/only-idiots-expect-north-korea-give-nuclear-weapons-kim-yo-jong https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3367785/only-idiots-expect-north-korea-give-nuclear-weapons-kim-yo-jong Thu, 17 Sep 2026 00:33:54 +0000 Daisy Wu Daisy Wu Hong Kong has retained its status as Asia’s top financial hub for a fourth consecutive edition of the Global Financial Centres Index (GFCI), even as many of the world’s leading centres saw their scores slip slightly amid rising geopolitical headwinds. The city also ranked third globally in the 40th edition of the twice-yearly report, released on Wednesday amid a remarkably tight race at the top of global finance. Hong Kong scored 756, just one point behind London and a point ahead of Singapore.... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/banking-finance/article/3367656/hong-kong-rated-asias-top-financial-hub-4th-straight-year-report https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/banking-finance/article/3367656/hong-kong-rated-asias-top-financial-hub-4th-straight-year-report Wed, 16 Sep 2026 06:00:06 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse A Seoul court ordered Pyongyang on Wednesday to pay roughly US$32.5 million for blowing up in 2020 an office in North Korea that was intended to foster relations between the two Koreas, Yonhap news agency reported. The lawsuit over the destruction of the Inter-Korean Liaison Office marks the first time the South Korean government has sought damages directly from the North, according to media reports. South Korea’s previous conservative government, led by former president ‌Yoon Suk-yeol, filed... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3367655/south-korean-court-orders-pyongyang-pay-us325m-destroying-border-office https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3367655/south-korean-court-orders-pyongyang-pay-us325m-destroying-border-office Wed, 16 Sep 2026 02:23:49 +0000 Khushboo Razdan,William Zheng,Dewey Sim Khushboo Razdan,William Zheng,Dewey Sim Rising tensions over artificial intelligence are shaping the final preparations for Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to the United States. Washington and Beijing are discussing the possibility of folding a long-awaited AI dialogue into a broader economic meeting in the days before Xi meets US President Donald Trump, according to several people familiar with the arrangements. The two leaders agreed in Beijing in May to launch an intergovernmental dialogue on AI. For months, that channel was... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3367242/ai-fight-shadows-final-preparations-xi-jinpings-white-house-visit https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3367242/ai-fight-shadows-final-preparations-xi-jinpings-white-house-visit Fri, 11 Sep 2026 22:00:10 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Former South Korean president Yoon Suk-yeol was acquitted on Friday in a case related to a marine’s drowning death in a rare reprieve in one of the criminal cases brought against him following his ousting for imposing martial law. The independent counsel’s indictment had alleged Yoon deliberately appointed former defence minister Lee Jong-Sup as his ambassador to Australia to help him leave the country and evade a criminal investigation into the death of Corporal Chae Su-geun, who drowned during... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3367225/yoon-suk-yeol-acquitted-case-linked-south-korean-marines-death https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3367225/yoon-suk-yeol-acquitted-case-linked-south-korean-marines-death Fri, 11 Sep 2026 10:12:31 +0000 Laura Zhou Laura Zhou China has accused Philippine officials of “grandstanding and lying” after Manila’s defence secretary publicly read aloud a Chinese diplomat’s note on the South China Sea that the Philippine minister described as “coercion, bullying and aggression”. “We urge certain people in the Philippines to stop this grandstanding and lying, and to protect China-Philippine relations and the peace and stability in the South China Sea,” Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said. Mao was responding to a... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3366935/beijing-tells-manila-stop-lying-after-minister-exposes-south-china-sea-note https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3366935/beijing-tells-manila-stop-lying-after-minister-exposes-south-china-sea-note Wed, 09 Sep 2026 11:31:04 +0000 Simpson Cheung Simpson Cheung A cluster comprising Hong Kong and two mainland Chinese cities has been ranked the world’s top innovation hub for the second consecutive year by a United Nations body. The Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou cluster retained its crown in the 2026 Global Innovation Index released by the World Intellectual Property Organization on Tuesday. Tokyo-Yokohama, San Jose-San Francisco, Seoul and Beijing followed in the rankings. A government spokesman welcomed the ranking, saying it reaffirmed the Greater Bay... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3366805/shenzhen-hong-kong-guangzhou-retains-crown-worlds-top-innovation-hub https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3366805/shenzhen-hong-kong-guangzhou-retains-crown-worlds-top-innovation-hub Tue, 08 Sep 2026 11:41:48 +0000 Enid Tsui Enid Tsui Frieze Seoul’s fifth edition opened in a subdued art market, where prolonged uncertainty has made collectors more cautious and galleries more attentive to affordability. Held from September 2 to 5 at the Coex centre in Gangnam, the fair introduced new sections aimed at attracting buyers in a more austere market. Patrick Lee, director of Frieze Seoul, said the slowdown in the art market had been protracted, with established collectors taking a more measured approach amid broader macroeconomic... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3366249/seoul-art-week-2026-sees-galleries-change-tactics-woo-buyers-cooler-market https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3366249/seoul-art-week-2026-sees-galleries-change-tactics-woo-buyers-cooler-market Sun, 06 Sep 2026 10:15:05 +0000 Chris Tsang Chris Tsang A foreclosure sale in Hong Kong’s Lan Kwai Fong area and a cancelled shop transaction in North Point reflect the impact of weak consumer spending on Hong Kong’s retail property market, which will remain under pressure through the end of the year, according to analysts. The Lan Kwai Fong property, home of well-known bar Insomnia until it closed in 2024, recently changed hands for 60 per cent less than its value in a 2015 sale. Meanwhile, the deal for the large street shop on King’s Road in North... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3366330/bargain-sale-collapsed-deal-reflect-hong-kongs-struggling-retail-property-market https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3366330/bargain-sale-collapsed-deal-reflect-hong-kongs-struggling-retail-property-market Fri, 04 Sep 2026 10:00:11 +0000 Reuters Reuters South Korea’s chief presidential policy adviser has resigned, the presidential Blue House said on Tuesday, after President Lee Jae ‌Myung reshuffled his cabinet and senior aides amid a drop in his approval rating. Kim Yong-beom was a key adviser to Lee on economic policy, including on housing and ⁠stock market issues. Kim had offered to step down from the post on Monday, which oversees the administration’s economic and domestic policy agenda. During his term, Kim had drawn criticism over the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3365912/south-koreas-top-presidential-aide-resigns-following-cabinet-reshuffle https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3365912/south-koreas-top-presidential-aide-resigns-following-cabinet-reshuffle Tue, 01 Sep 2026 02:15:05 +0000 David D. Lee David D. Lee South Korea is the epicentre of the Asian art calendar this week, with Frieze Seoul and the Korea International Art Fair converging alongside the opening of the Busan and Gwangju biennales. Yet behind the art-week frenzy – with some 300 galleries courting buyers at the two art fairs – questions remain about the depth and prospects of the Korean art market. The Korea Art Authentication and Appraisal Institute’s midyear report notes that local auction sales nearly doubled to 111 billion won (US$81... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3365814/seoul-art-week-2026-korean-collectors-their-passion-artists-watch-shows-catch https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/arts/article/3365814/seoul-art-week-2026-korean-collectors-their-passion-artists-watch-shows-catch Mon, 31 Aug 2026 11:15:45 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse A South Korean court sentenced the leader of the secretive and powerful Unification Church on Monday to two years in prison on charges of bribing officials, including the then-president’s wife. Han Hak-ja, 83, was accused of providing luxury items, including a designer handbag, to former first lady Kim Keon-hee while her husband, Yoon Suk-yeol, was president, in an attempt to secure policy favours. She arrived for sentencing at court on Monday in a wheelchair, wearing pyjamas and a surgical... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3365824/south-koreas-unification-church-leader-han-hak-ja-jailed-2-years-bribing-officials https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3365824/south-koreas-unification-church-leader-han-hak-ja-jailed-2-years-bribing-officials Mon, 31 Aug 2026 07:22:10 +0000 dpa dpa Seoul is one of the most populous cities in the world, home to some 10 million people in the centre plus 25 million in the wider metropolitan area. And yet Seoul is not a city that overwhelms visitors. If you are looking for a diverse travel destination in Asia, the South Korean capital is the perfect spot. The city is well-organised and easy to navigate, nestled among mountains and steeped in history – a history found not only in museums but out on the streets, on city walls and in palace... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3365790/5-days-seoul-best-things-do-palaces-and-museums-dmz https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3365790/5-days-seoul-best-things-do-palaces-and-museums-dmz Mon, 31 Aug 2026 04:45:29 +0000 The Korea Times The Korea Times Navigating the intricacies of South Korea’s residential real estate market is notoriously complex even for long-time local residents. For the country’s steadily growing international population, however, steep language barriers, unfamiliar administrative procedures, and unique tenant laws make securing rental housing a particularly daunting endeavour – and one fraught with potential financial risk. To help bridge this informational divide and protect vulnerable foreign renters, Gangbuk, a... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3365796/seoul-district-offers-foreigners-multilingual-help-navigate-south-korean-rental-market https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3365796/seoul-district-offers-foreigners-multilingual-help-navigate-south-korean-rental-market Mon, 31 Aug 2026 03:56:05 +0000 Sam Beltran Sam Beltran The Philippines spent years dismantling Chinese-linked gambling compounds in dramatic, headline-grabbing raids. But all the while, and with far less scrutiny, South Korean syndicates were building a parallel industry worth billions of US dollars – one that a spate of recent arrests suggests is still very much intact. The most recent involved a 29-year-old Korean woman named Kim Young-sun, who authorities allege ran a network of 23 illegal online betting websites out of offices in Pasay and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/people/article/3365619/how-philippines-missed-korean-gambling-racket-worth-us38-billion https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/people/article/3365619/how-philippines-missed-korean-gambling-racket-worth-us38-billion Sat, 29 Aug 2026 02:30:12 +0000 Danny Mok Danny Mok American singer and rapper Post Malone has postponed his coming Hong Kong show, prompting complaints from disappointed fans in mainland China who said they had already booked holiday leave and hotels. Announcing the decision on social media on Thursday, concert organiser Live Nation Hong Kong said the September 16 show at Kai Tak Stadium had been postponed. The statement, which gave no reason for the move, outlined full refund arrangements for fans who bought tickets through official... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3365496/us-singer-post-malone-postpones-hong-kong-concert-sparking-fan-complaints https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3365496/us-singer-post-malone-postpones-hong-kong-concert-sparking-fan-complaints Thu, 27 Aug 2026 14:00:28 +0000 Julian Ryall Julian Ryall North Korea has stepped up its verbal attacks on Japan, issuing more than a dozen denunciations through state media since early July and hardening its rhetoric in recent days by accusing Tokyo of whipping up a “neo-militarist frenzy” and preparing for a “war of aggression”. Analysts said the latest broadsides from Kim Jong-un’s regime reflected both renewed confidence in Pyongyang as ties with Moscow deepen, and a desire to frame Asia-Pacific geopolitics as a contest between rival blocs –... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3365207/north-korea-sharpens-anti-japan-rhetoric-russia-ties-grow https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3365207/north-korea-sharpens-anti-japan-rhetoric-russia-ties-grow Wed, 26 Aug 2026 02:00:09 +0000 Shi Jiangtao Shi Jiangtao China’s muted response to North Korea’s latest missile launch, which came soon after top diplomat Wang Yi’s visit to Seoul, underscores how Beijing is prioritising Pyongyang’s stability over near‑term denuclearisation, according to analysts. North Korea started launching more than 10 short-range ballistic missiles just hours after Wang concluded his two-day visit on Thursday, the foreign minister’s first official trip to South Korea in nearly five years. South Korea and Japan condemned the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3365190/why-was-chinas-response-north-koreas-latest-missile-launches-so-muted https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3365190/why-was-chinas-response-north-koreas-latest-missile-launches-so-muted Tue, 25 Aug 2026 09:00:11 +0000 SCMP’s Asia desk SCMP’s Asia desk South Korea is preparing to overhaul the rules governing technical qualification exams after five candidates were caught using AI-powered smart glasses to cheat in just over two months. The five cases, reported between May and June, were disclosed in data submitted to the Human Resources Development Service of Korea by opposition politician Kim So-hee, according to a report by The Korea Herald on Monday. In two of the cases – in Gwangju and Daegu – the candidates were caught because examiners... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3365192/ai-smart-glasses-force-south-korea-rewrite-its-exam-rules https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3365192/ai-smart-glasses-force-south-korea-rewrite-its-exam-rules Tue, 25 Aug 2026 08:37:34 +0000 Reuters Reuters South Korea and the US agreed to maintain close coordination on efforts to revive dialogue with North Korea, days after Pyongyang rebuffed President Donald Trump’s overtures and launched a barrage of short-range ballistic missiles. South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun told US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in a phone call late on Monday that Seoul would work to ensure that Trump’s recent messages lead to renewed US-North Korea discussions and peace on the Korean peninsula, Seoul’s Foreign... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3365127/south-korea-pledges-help-trump-revive-talks-north-koreas-kim https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3365127/south-korea-pledges-help-trump-revive-talks-north-koreas-kim Tue, 25 Aug 2026 01:54:10 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Near the heavily fortified frontier dividing the Korean peninsula, the abandoned Woljeong-ri station is being recast as a symbol of South Korea’s hopes to reconcile with the North. But plans to reconnect South Korea’s northernmost station to the rail network come at an awkward moment, as Pyongyang ignores Seoul’s overtures while the South’s old ally Washington pursues its own talks with Pyongyang. A turbulent few days have raised doubts about the role of South Korea in any diplomatic push,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3364909/why-south-korea-wants-rebuild-dmz-railway-despite-kims-cold-shoulder https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3364909/why-south-korea-wants-rebuild-dmz-railway-despite-kims-cold-shoulder Sat, 22 Aug 2026 06:44:13 +0000 Xinlu Liang Xinlu Liang China-based Korean independence leader Sin Kyu-sik was the real mastermind behind his country’s provisional government in exile, according to new research that promotes him to a main player in the resistance against Japan’s occupation. The research was presented at a symposium in Seoul co-hosted by Gwangbokhoe, the official association for those who fought against Japan’s occupation. The academic exchange, which was backed by South Korea’s Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, underscored... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3364805/research-boosts-south-korean-chinese-links-wwii-resistance-against-japan https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3364805/research-boosts-south-korean-chinese-links-wwii-resistance-against-japan Fri, 21 Aug 2026 08:00:09 +0000 Alyssa Chen Alyssa Chen Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called on South Korea on Thursday to exercise “genuine strategic autonomy”, and urged Seoul to develop ties with Beijing and Washington in parallel, rather than taking sides in major-power rivalries. According to a statement by the Chinese foreign ministry, Wang told South Korean national security adviser Wi Sung-lac that Beijing hoped Seoul would “achieve strategic autonomy, refrain from bloc confrontation or taking sides, and develop relations with major powers... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3364699/seoul-meeting-wang-yi-south-korean-president-voices-hope-closer-china-ties https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3364699/seoul-meeting-wang-yi-south-korean-president-voices-hope-closer-china-ties Thu, 20 Aug 2026 09:37:45 +0000 Gabriela Bernal Gabriela Bernal South Korea’s security strategy has rested for more than seven decades on a single pillar: its alliance with the United States. That pillar has absorbed one blow after another during Donald Trump’s second term as US president. This week brought a fresh signal that has strained the relationship. In a social media post, Trump criticised joint US-South Korea military exercises, calling them “costly” and saying they send an “inappropriate and hostile” message to a North Korea he described as... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3364417/donald-trumps-blunt-remarks-offer-south-korea-opportunity https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3364417/donald-trumps-blunt-remarks-offer-south-korea-opportunity Wed, 19 Aug 2026 21:30:06 +0000 Associated Press,Reuters Associated Press,Reuters The South Korean and US militaries have agreed to shorten their drills at the US’ request, South Korean officials said on Wednesday, days after President Donald Trump ordered cuts to the exercises. The allies’ summertime Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises began Monday morning for an 11-day run, just after Trump ordered his Pentagon chief to “substantially reduce” them, citing what he said was a good relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and South Korea’s refusal to join the US war... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3364494/us-south-korea-slash-joint-military-drills-half-trump-eyes-kim-summit https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3364494/us-south-korea-slash-joint-military-drills-half-trump-eyes-kim-summit Wed, 19 Aug 2026 01:03:39 +0000