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South Korea
South Korea
Latest news, in-depth features and opinion on South Korea, covering politics, economy, society, K-pop and Seoul’s relationships with North Korea, Japan, China and the United States.
Capital
Seoul
Head of State
Lee Jae-myung
Lee Jae Myung
Head of Government
Prime Minister Kim Min-seok
A food seller prepares dishes at a restaurant in Shanghai on January 21. Photo: AFP
China travel

China’s visa-free waivers spark Korean travel boom, underpin tourism revival

Shanghai bookings surge as visitors flock to cosmopolitan streets and affordable dining, with analysts predicting the trend will spread inland.

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Korean peninsula

SKY’s the limit: behind push to end academic elitism in South Korean hiring

Hong Kong

2016 trends from Pokemon Go to poke bowls amid viral internet nostalgia

Trip Inspiration

From devil-mouth caves to deer-filled parks, these sites deserve more love

From ancient temples in Bali to royal tombs in Korea, Asia’s World Heritage sites reveal rich histories beyond the spotlight.

The lavish stonework and proximity to other landmarks have long drawn tourists to the 17th century Ruins of Saint Paul, in Macau. Photo: Ronan O’Connell
North Korea

Kim Jong-un set to signal stronger nuclear deterrence posture at congress

After viewing a test of a multiple rocket launcher system, Kim is likely to unveil ICBM plans capable of hitting the US, analysts say.

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Japan

Video | South Korea and Japan’s defence ministers face off in table tennis

The defence ministers of Japan and South Korea agreed to strengthen cooperation with the United States amid growing security risks, particularly with North Korea.

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Japan

Japan and South Korea bolster defence ties amid regional tensions

Defence chiefs agree to joint AI, space, and drone development, aiming to stabilise the region against growing missile threats.

Japan’s Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi (right) and South Korea’s Defence Minister Ahn Gyu-back shake hands before their meeting at Japan’s Yokosuka naval base near Tokyo on Friday. Photo: AFP
Cambodia

South Korea forced to act after Cambodian worker’s death in freezing dorm

Seoul has apologised and pledged to improve foreign worker housing following the woman’s death in a makeshift dwelling in 2020.

Hong Kong stock market

Hong Kong stocks end 7-day rally as investors resort to profit-taking

Despite the setback, the Hang Seng Index is set for its best monthly performance since September 2025.

Parenting: newborns to toddlers

Rich South Korean mums face ‘worst nightmare’ over European baby food recall

Parents fret over ‘Gangnam formula’, a brand associated with wealthy families, after French firm Danone recalled it over toxin fears.

Aptamil’s recall in Europe over toxin fears has alarmed South Korean parents. Photo: AFP
Japan

Japan child suicides reach record high as experts warn of mounting pressures

The rise in child deaths contrasts with a broader decline in suicides, prompting scrutiny of school pressure and mental health support.

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Japan recorded a record 532 child suicides in 2025, according to preliminary government figures. Photo: Shutterstock
Fame and celebrity

Meet Son Sook, grandma to Bridgerton’s Yerin Ha and award-winning actress

The war survivor fell in love with acting in high school and has won numerous awards, including South Korea’s equivalent of the Oscars.

Korea Times

Why South Korea’s Gen Z steer towards bus driving as job market shifts

Bus driver licenses for people in their 20s and 30s rose 43 per cent in three years, driven by better pay, job security, and changing attitudes.

China-EU relations

How Europe, not the US, became China’s No 1 trade headache

Electric vehicles, critical minerals and chips have become flashpoints in the relationship, survey shows.

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China and the EU have faced mounting trade disputes in recent years, spanning electric vehicles, rare earths, chips and agricultural goods. Photo: Shutterstock
Art

Remembering Korean artist Chung Sang-hwa, master of monochrome

Korean modern art icon Chung Sang-hwa was known for his ‘dansaekhwa’ paintings, which demanded ‘foolishly endless repetition’.

Artist Chung Sang-hwa in his studio in Yeoju, Gyeonggi province, South Korea, in 2023. The artist died on January 28, 2026, after a prolonged illness. Photo: courtesy of Gallery Hyundai
Trade

Macroscope | Trump weaponises trade as globalisation becomes more fractured

As recognised by Canada, the fracturing of the global economy is in full swing. Policymakers and businesses should expect it to continue.

Crime

Jewellery store heists sweep South Korea amid soaring gold prices

Teenagers and adults are stealing gold to convert it into cash, with one robbery turning fatal in Bucheon.

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Asean

Just 1 visa to rule them all? How European-style pass could help Asean tourism

While Asean members such as Malaysia and Vietnam have shown strong post-pandemic growth, tourist numbers have lagged in the Philippines.

Tourists have fun in the Cambugahay Falls on the Philippine island of Siquijor on December 10 last year. Photo: AFP
Hong Kong stock market

Hong Kong stocks rise for seventh day, briefly cross 28,000 mark

Zijin, CNOOC, PetroChina, Longfor and China Overseas Land lift Hang Seng Index from early slump.

Japan

Why more Japanese than ever support strengthening the military

A record-high survey result reflects how the war in Ukraine and regional tensions have reshaped Japan’s once cautious security outlook.

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United States

US Treasury chief Bessent warns Canada on trade fights, slams EU-India deal

Official urges calm from Ottawa ahead of trade talks, says EU put trade ahead of Ukraine by easing pressure on India over Russian oil.

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US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent last week in in Davos, Switzerland. Photo: Reuters
Hong Kong weather

How AI model predicts heavy rainstorms 4 hours in advance

Hong Kong and mainland Chinese researchers have developed a pioneering AI model.

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Hong Kong issued five black rainstorm warnings, the highest alert level, in 2025. Photo: May Tse
Defence

Why US defence strategy may hurt leaders in South Korea, Japan

The National Defence Strategy states that the US will provide ‘more limited’ support to its allies in line with the ‘America-first’ policy.

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Jobs

‘Poisoned chalice’: Seoul’s ‘metropolitan visa’ for foreign labour faces backlash

Debate grows whether the visa helps rival China’s dominance or is a dangerous fix for wage-driven shortages in the shipbuilding sector.

Yoon Suk-yeol

South Korea’s ex-first lady gets 20 months’ jail for corruption

A court sentenced Kim for receiving luxury items from an official linked to the Unification Church.

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A supporter stands in front of a banner showing South Korea’s former president Yoon Suk-yeol and his wife Kim Keon-hee near the Central District Court in Seoul on January 16. Photo: AFP
North Korea

North Korean ex-envoy on Kim Jong-un’s ‘decapitation’ fears after Maduro’s fall

Kim will ‘overhaul the entire system regarding his security and countermeasures in case of an attack against him’, Lee Il-kyu says.

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North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inspects a test firing of a rocket launcher system on Tuesday. Photo: KCNA via KNS/AFP
Hong Kong stock market

Hong Kong stocks maintain momentum to hit 4.5-year high

Busy Ming Group, China’s largest snack and drinks retailer, gains 69 per cent on its Hong Kong debut.

New Openings

Hong Kong’s hottest new openings, from matcha lattes to Japanese dipping noodles

Cult Korean brand Hetras and Japanese noodle shop Tsukemen Gyorai open their first Hong Kong outposts, and Matchali adds another location.

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