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South Korea

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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
US President Donald Trump's description of wartime China as an ally is “striking”, according to a Japanese analyst. Photo: AFP
2026 Xi-Trump summits

Trump, Takaichi reaffirm US-Japan ties in phone call after Xi state visit

They exchanged views on various issues surrounding China, Japanese leader’s post says, after World War II references spark concern in Tokyo.

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Thailand

Thailand has had enough of foreign tourists behaving badly

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2026 Xi-Trump summits

Trade, Taiwan and ‘strategic stability’: key Xi-Trump takeaways overall

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North Korea

Ukraine’s POW transfer reveal deals propaganda blow to North Korea

Zelensky’s UN disclosure punctures Pyongyang’s soldier-loyalty narrative, but risks damaging ties with Seoul and endangering POW families.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks at the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Wednesday. Photo: EPA
2026 Xi-Trump summits

In Focus | What Xi’s letter to old friends in Iowa means in an altered America

The personal thread may be intact, but the US agricultural partnership that once gave it weight is not.

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Mainland China

China’s sulphur imports dive 65% as prices surge 3.5 times

Country pays more for less of the key fertiliser ingredient, potentially pressuring the spring planting season, analyst says.

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2026 Xi-Trump summits

Exclusive | Chinese CEOs fly to US on own, await invites to Trump’s state dinner for Xi

Sources say executives did not fly with Xi’s official party or aboard his aircraft, unlike Trump’s CEO-heavy entourage for May China visit.

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Chinese President Xi Jinping and first lady Peng Liyuan arrive to a ceremonial red carpet welcome from their US counterparts, Donald and Melania Trump, at Joint Base Andrews on September 23. Photo: Xinhua
US President Donald Trump speaks to Xi Jinping following the Chinese president’s arrival at Joint Base Andrews on September 23. Photo: AFP
2026 Xi-Trump summits

What a 2-month trade-truce extension reveals as US-China rifts persist

Analysts say that the relatively short window, while a positive sign, could also raise pressure on both Beijing and Washington.

What to do in Hong Kong

5 of the best things to do in Hong Kong this weekend, September 25-27

Lantern carnivals, fire dragon dances, a Korean food extravaganza and more await Hongkongers this Mid-Autumn Festival weekend.

China travel

Next-level travel: how up to 13 days off could push China’s tourism to new highs

An alignment of Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holidays stretches time off for millions of Chinese, with breaks reaching up to 13 days.

Tourists visit Tangqi town in Hangzhou, eastern China’s Zhejiang province. Photo: Xinhua
Banking & finance

Morgan Stanley leak of confidential deal pipeline alarms Hong Kong market

Morgan Stanley says it ‘promptly took steps to address this inadvertent sharing of information’ and that it is engaged with relevant parties.

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The US investment bank was the second largest bookrunner in IPOs and other equity fundraising in Hong Kong in the first half of this year. Photo: Shutterstock
North Korea

South Korea has plan for phased denuclearisation. But will North bite?

The South Korean president’s proposal reflects the reality that North Korea already has significant nuclear capabilities, analysts say.

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2026 Xi-Trump summits

‘Deep respect’: analysts weigh in on Trump’s red carpet welcome for Xi

Elaborate greeting ceremony immediately preceded by extension of tariff truce, both positive early signs for Chinese leader’s trip.

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2026 Xi-Trump summits

Warm welcome, trade truce extended: the takeaways as Xi arrives in US

Donald Trump greets Chinese leader on the tarmac in rare gesture ahead of their summit.

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US President Donald Trump greets Chinese leader Xi Jinping at Joint Base Andrews on Wednesday. Photo: AFP
Iran

Can South Korea solve the US military’s ammunition shortage?

Depleted stockpiles from the Middle East and Ukraine wars are spurring South Korean arms makers to build US production hubs.

South Korean K9 Thunder 155mm howitzers during a live-fire drill in Pocheon. South Korea’s leading defence company Hanwha Aerospace has announced a US$2.2 billion investment to make 155mm shells in the US. Photo: AFP
2026 Xi-Trump summits

Bessent announces 2-month extension of US-China trade truce

Scott Bessent and He Lifeng held an unscheduled meeting in Washington on Wednesday following Sunday’s productive trade talks.

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Trending in China

Korean dating show featuring AI and human contestants sparks China fascination

Some question if AI provides an almost perfect partner will people still be able to accept friends and family who have flaws.

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China stock market

AI trade rallies on falling oil and Meta’s Muse agent ahead of Xi-Trump meeting

Nasdaq-100 hits record high while chip stocks in China and South Korea rebound, with investors betting that AI earnings can weather higher interest rates.

A trader works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on Monday. The Nasdaq-100 Index hit a record high on Tuesday. Photo: EPA
2026 Xi-Trump summits

Trump praises Takaichi for doing ‘tremendous job’ ahead of Xi’s visit to US

Two leaders hail their good working relationship, with Sanae Takaichi saying the United States and Japan can look forward to deepening ties.

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Jeong Seong-ho

South Korean graduates protected from deepfake abuse by new photo tech

The alumni-built technology embeds photos with signals that confuse AI generators to prevent images from being manipulated.

2026 Xi-Trump summits

US tightens Japan, South Korea ties ahead of Trump-Xi summit

Days before Chinese President Xi Jinping’s arrival in Washington, the US underscored relations with Japan and South Korea.

From left, South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi. Photo: Reuters
Education

Big pay from chip boom shakes South Korea’s university-obsessed culture

‘When I think about the pay I’ll be getting at Samsung, I’m not worried at all,’ a student at a semiconductor school says.

Students learn about the semiconductor manufacturing process at Chungbuk Semiconductor High School in South Korea in July. Photo: Kyodo
SCMP Highlights

South Korean killer’s escape foiled, Duterte trial looms: 7 Asia highlights

From Singaporean minister’s Mandarin diplomacy to Indonesia’s Whoosh debt burden, here are a few highlights from SCMP’s recent Asia reporting.

2026 Xi-Trump summits

Rare earths friction threatens to stall trade truce extension ahead of Xi summit

US trade representative blames China for creating ‘uncertainty’ but observers point to benefits for both sides in delaying agreement.

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Style Edit

Style Edit: Fashion Asia Hong Kong 2026 explores the future of design

This year’s programme debuted the 10 Asian Designers to Watch runway, featuring labels from Hong Kong, mainland China, South Korea, Thailand, and the Philippines.

SCMP Hearst managing director and publisher Sophia Yu onstage with Longchamp Asia-Pacific general manager Samy Redjeb. Photo: Handout
China technology

Consumer MLCC frenzy cools in China, but AI server demand remains high

Shenzhen distributors say speculative buying in consumer MLCCs is fading, but demand for AI server parts continues to strain supply.

Shops inside a mall in the Huaqiangbei commercial district in Shenzhen. Photo: Getty Images
Art

Bukhara Biennial spearheads cultural blossoming of the city as well as the wider Uzbekistan

With site-specific artwork displayed in restored or adapted historical structures, the inaugural Bukhara Biennial heralded the development of a cultural district designed for residents and visitors alike.

North Korea nuclear crisis

Opinion | Why Trump-Xi summit must put Korean peninsula back on the agenda

US and Chinese indifference risks reinforcing North Korea’s calculation that the world will settle for merely managing its nuclear threat.

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