Advertisement
Advertisement
South Korea
TOPIC
 / location

South Korea

Related Topics:
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
Women sit and eat rice noodles on the sidewalk in Hanoi, Vietnam, on April 14. Photo: AFP
Food and agriculture

Asia braces for food shortages as ‘super El Nino’ and Iran war collide

A precarious planting season looms amid suppressed rainfall and soaring fertiliser costs threatening the region’s harvests.

Artificial intelligence

Anthropic’s Mythos is stoking cybersecurity fears. What does it mean for China?

4
Hong Kong stock market

Hong Kong stocks drop as war uncertainty lingers after ceasefire extension

Pacific nations

Pacific Islanders skip food, medicine amid global fuel shortage from Iran war

Pacific nations are the most reliant on diesel for power generation worldwide. They imported about 2.2 million tonnes of fuel in 2025.

Boats ply the waterway in Buka, Papua New Guinea. Many Pacific Island communities rely on boat transport for movement. Photo: AFP
China shipbuilding

The Iran war’s unlikely winner: China’s shipyards

China already dominates global shipbuilding orders – and the Strait of Hormuz crisis appears to be boosting demand.

20
Crime

South Korean police seek arrest warrant for Hybe’s Bang after travel request

The US embassy in Seoul reportedly asked authorities to allow Bang to travel while under investigation for fraudulent stock trading.

videocam
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Japan

Japan’s Takaichi sends Yasukuni shrine offering, South Korea expresses ‘regret’

Seoul urges Japan’s leaders to ‘face history squarely’ and show through action ‘a sincere remorse for its past’.

Japanese nationalists visit Tokyo’s Yasukuni shrine during the 79th anniversary of Japan’s surrender in World War II in 2024. Photo: dpa
SCMP Highlights

India’s nuclear breakthrough, Southeast Asia’s Balikatan snub: 7 Asia highlights

From Southeast Asian nations skipping Balikatan drills to India’s nuclear breakthrough, here are a few highlights from SCMP’s recent Asia reporting.

Lee Jae Myung

After Xi, South Korea’s Lee brings Modi into ‘selfie diplomacy’ frame

Lee’s Samsung selfie with the Indian leader also highlights tech pride, contrasting with his earlier Xiaomi photo taken with the Chinese president.

videocam
North Korea

‘Intelligence leak’ claims expose trust gap in US-South Korea ties

Unification Minister Chung Dong-young rejects accusations he leaked sensitive information about North Korea’s Kusong nuclear facility.

The test-fire of an improved Hwasongpho-11 Ra surface-to-surface tactical ballistic missile at an undisclosed location in North Korea on Sunday. Photo: EPA/KCNA
Music

A stroke paralysed pianist’s right hand. Now he wows crowds with just his left

Inspired by his music teacher, South Korean pianist Lee Hun now plays left-hand music only after a stroke paralysed his entire right side.

videocam
South Korean pianist Lee Hun, who plays with only his left hand after his right side was paralysed by a stroke, is now preparing for a new challenge: his first joint performance with an orchestra at an international music festival next month. Photo: AP
Singapore

Man vs Mythos: Asian financial bodies sound alert on AI hacking model

Anthropic held back a wider release after finding Mythos was capable of discovering security holes that had gone undetected for years.

Japan

‘Dragon Ball’ diplomacy: Japan’s Takaichi builds rapport with personal touches

Japan’s first female prime minister uses expressive gestures, thoughtful gifts and music to connect with foreign leaders.

videocam
Lee Jae Myung

South Korea targets India, Vietnam in ‘co-prosperity’ push for trade and tech

President Lee embarks on a strategic trip to New Delhi and Hanoi, boosting economic ties and supply chains amid the Middle East chaos.

videocam
5
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung delivers a speech during a ceremony at the National Cemetery in Seoul on Sunday. Photo: EPA/Yonhap
North Korea

North Korea launches ballistic missile as UN warns of nuclear advances

The two short-range missiles fired from the Sinpo of North Korea flew about 140 kilometres (87 miles) each towards the country’s eastern waters.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un speaks during the expanded meeting of the first plenary meeting of the Ninth Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK), in Pyongyang, North Korea, on February 23. Photo: Reuters
Artificial intelligence

Asia’s supply chains could give it edge over US in AI race: Granite Asia’s Foo

Asia’s industrial ecosystem could deliver faster deployment of robotics and embodied AI systems, veteran venture capitalist says.

Artificial intelligence

In hi-tech South Korea, AI shamans take place of traditional human practitioners

The technology, which combines voice recognition with a generative AI chatbot, uses a centuries-old belief system to interpret fates.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Hong Kong tourism

Tourism Board invited 1,730 influencers with 1.6 billion followers over 2 years

Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau says influencers’ itineraries were tailored to their markets and audiences.

TikTok star Khaby Lame was among those who visited Hong Kong as part of the promotion push. Photo: AP
China's military weapons

Will South Korea’s ‘Goldilocks’ missile dent China’s Middle East arms ambitions?

The Cheongung-II has reportedly achieved a 96.7% intercept rate against Iranian drones and ballistic missiles.

videocam
7
Food and Drinks

South Korean police investigate mother for feeding rice cake soup to infant

The case went viral after the mother posted a photo on social media and admitted to giving her infant son some of the ‘tteokguk’ broth.

US, Israel war on Iran

US oil floats to top as Asia looks for Middle Eastern alternatives amid Iran war

Buyers from Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Thailand have helped push May sales to over 60 million barrels, the highest in three years.

videocam
Tankers dock at the Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Tuesday. Photo: EPA
North Korea

Nuclear defiance: North Korea’s Kim signals he won’t be the next Iran

Kim Jong-un’s increased appearances at military drills show his confidence in Pyongyang’s nuclear deterrence, analysts say.

videocam
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visits to observe the test launches of missiles at an undisclosed place on Sunday. Photo: KCNA/KNS/AP
European Union

Europe running low on jet fuel, stoking fears of flight cancellations

IEA executive director Birol said the Hormuz blockade-induced energy crisis will hit nations including Japan, China and India harder.

videocam
Malaysia

‘New normal’: Malaysia and Australia strike energy supply pledge amid Iran war

The deal creates a mutual spillover valve, allowing the partners to swap surplus energy once domestic demand is satisfied.

videocam
Taiwan

Hong Kong, mainland China equities see largest US investor inflows in 3 years

Asia now accounts for 24 per cent of all US investors’ foreign holdings – the highest share in over a decade.

Hang Seng Index closing data is displayed at the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong, March 2, 2026. Photo: Dickson Lee
Tourism

BTS comeback drives record 2.06 million tourists to South Korea

Foreigners who went to South Korea for the K-pop group’s concerts spent US$38 million in purchases between January 1 and April 12 ‌.

videocam
A BTS fan takes a photo of the band’s poster outside the stadium before the “Arirang” World Tour concert in Goyang, South Korea, on April 9. Photo: AP
Semiconductors

Chinese investors cheer Tesla’s AI chip progress, boosting shares of suppliers

Shanghai Beite Technology saw the largest share spike among suppliers, up as much as 4.6 per cent on Thursday morning.

Semiconductors

ASML boosts 2026 sales forecast despite shrinking China sales

The Dutch chipmaker expects annual net sales of €36 billion (US$42.5 billion) to €40 billion after releasing its first-quarter results.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Help preserve 120 years of quality journalism.
SUPPORT NOW
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement