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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 Trade Representative Jamieson Greer speaks to reporters during a tour of a manufacturing facility on April 9, in Warren, Michigan, the US. Photo: AP
United States

Editorial | US tariff threat over forced labour looks like old wine in a new bottle

With the latest escalation in Trump’s forever tariff war, Washington is alienating allies and adversaries alike.

Asia elections

South Korean protesters demand ‘election re-run’ after ballot shortage

US-China tech war

What does Washington’s latest AI chip guidance mean for Chinese tech firms?

Semiconductors

Chinese memory makers step up challenge to Korea’s chip champions

CXMT and YMTC are nearing public listings, giving China’s memory-chip sector fresh firepower in its pursuit of Samsung and SK Hynix.

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Analysts say CXMT’s IPO approval is further evidence that Chinese memory-chip makers are becoming increasingly competitive with their US and Korean rivals. Photo: Getty Images
Quadrilateral Security Dialogue

Past failures haunt the Quad’s US$20 billion critical minerals push

The initiative aims to break China’s near-monopoly, but private-sector caution and a history of unfulfilled pledges stand in the way.

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Seoul

Young South Koreans embrace ‘plogging’ to cope with climate anxiety

‘Plogging’ – a mix of the Swedish phrase for ‘picking up’ and the English word ‘jogging’ – has become a hot activity for eco-anxious youth.

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North Korea

Why North Korea’s Kim is doubling down on nuclear might as Xi visit looms

Kim Jong-un has vowed to ‘exponentially’ strengthen North Korea’s nuclear arsenal during a recent visit to a production facility.

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North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (centre, right) inspects a nuclear materials production factory at an undisclosed location on Wednesday. Photo: EPA/KCNA
US-China relations

Opinion | What does a ‘strong, quiet, clear’ US mean for China and Asia?

The US defence secretary’s speech at an annual defence forum had fewer China attacks, no mention of Taiwan and a nebulous vow to be ‘strong, quiet, clear’.

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US-China relations

How Chinese drink chains are testing the limits of soft power

New tea and coffee brands from China are winning customers across America, but their broader influence remains unclear.

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Environment

Asia’s marine pledges face credibility test at global ocean conference

Experts say even as momentum on ocean commitments grows in Asia, gaps in implementation and delivery remain.

A mangrove forest in Balikpapan, Indonesia. Photo: AFP
Adoption

They all seek their birth mothers. The park where adoptees leave tags of hope

More than 900 tags at South Korea’s Omma Poom Park form a quiet monument to years of mass child-parent separations in the country.

Lisa Robinson, a Korean adoptee from the United States, stands in front of The Wall of Names at Omma Poom Park in Paju, South Korea, on May 20, 2026. Photo: AP/Ahn Young-joon
Fame and celebrity

Meet Eunice Bae, who plays Barney’s wife Grace in Your Friends & Neighbors

The South Korean actress, currently in the hit Apple TV dramedy alongside Jon Hamm, briefly worked at Tiffany’s before booking her first on-screen roles.

China travel

China, South Korea agree to more flights per week as tourism to Japan dwindles

The additional flights are the first increase between the two countries since before the Covid pandemic.

China-North Korea relations

Xi heads to North Korea, tech transfer clampdown, inflation pickup

This week: China says President Xi Jinping to visit North Korea, new rules to curb tech transfers overseas, US threatens tariffs on 60 trading partners amid forced labour claims. Next week: China factory inflation may near three-year high, Kuomintang leader Cheng Li-wun visits Washington, SpaceX holds IPO and more.

Chinese President Xi Jinping with Kim Jong-un on his last visit to North Korea in 2019. Photo: Xinhua
India

Is US wielding new tariff threat to secure big bargain in India trade talks?

Additional 12.5 per cent levy over forced labour supply-chain concerns seen as leverage in negotiations, analysts say.

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US President Donald Trump has expressed confidence that a trade deal with India is nearing completion. Photo: AP
China-North Korea relations

Chinese leader Xi Jinping visit to North Korea confirmed for next week

Relations rebuilding after years of relative isolation due to pandemic, Beijing’s denuclearisation stance and closer Pyongyang-Moscow ties.

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Middle East

Asia-Pacific to lead global retail sales, weather Middle East conflict

The region is projected to contribute to two-thirds of global new retail sales over the next five years, fuelled by e-commerce.

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Weather

‘It’s annoying’: South Koreans sweat over US$779,000 prison cooling plan

‘Relieve the families of victims with that money,’ a social media user says amid backlash over the taxpayer-funded project.

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South Korea’s US$779,162 plan for prison corridor air conditioning has sparked public outrage. Photo: Shutterstock
Hong Kong stock market

Is Hong Kong losing its tech edge to the mainland’s AI boom?

Chinese investors are shifting from Hong Kong to mainland stocks, driven by AI opportunities and better returns.

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Lee Jae Myung

South Korea’s Lee scores ‘flawed’ poll win, setback for his property tax plan

The defeat in the Seoul election came after the incumbent mayor promised to act as a counterbalance to Lee’s administration.

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Artificial intelligence

Macroscope | How the AI chip boom made South Korea a victim of its own success

While tech giants are driving South Korea’s stock market higher, the country’s currency is struggling and foreign investors are pulling out.

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Currency dealers celebrate in front of a screen showing South Korea’s benchmark stock index during a ceremony celebrating it breaking 7,000 points at the Hana Bank headquarters in Seoul on May 6. Photo: AFP
US, Israel war on Iran

Opinion | How cooperating with the US on economic security could backfire

The conflict in the Middle East and the ensuing turmoil are testing the conventional concept of economic security.

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A drone view shows vessels anchored in the Strait of Hormuz, seen from Musandam in Oman, on May 30. Photo: Reuters
China-EU relations

Exclusive | EU and China set for Paris talks this week as trade war fears mount

Bloc puts ‘carrot-and-stick’ approach to test in high-stakes meeting with Beijing’s international trade envoy on sidelines of OECD meeting.

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Yoon Suk-yeol

South Korea’s ruling party set for local election gains

The vote is widely seen as an assessment of President Lee Jae-myung’s first year in office.

Diplomacy

Opinion | What Seoul must do to achieve peaceful coexistence with North Korea

South Korea needs to restore communication channels, end the policy see-saw and ensure official rhetoric is consistent with policy objectives.

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South Korean President Lee Jae Myung salutes the national flag at the first plenary meeting of the National Economic Advisory Council, at the presidential office in Seoul, South Korea, on April 9. Photo: EPA/Yonhap
North Korea

Tears in North Korea as Kim meets footballers after historic title win

Naegohyang Women’s FC became the first North Korean side to win Asia’s top club title last month.

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North Korean leader Kim Jong-un congratulates the football players who won the AFC Under-17 Women’s Asian Cup in Pyongyang on Monday. Photo: KCNA/KNS/AFP
China trade

China’s AI chip demand is surging – and South Korea is riding the wave

Strong demand for memory chips has reshaped South Korea’s exports to China – but analysts warn the gains could be short lived.

China-South Korea relations

South Korea and Japan eye military logistics pact. Should China be wary?

Northeast Asian neighbours signal closer security ties, but wartime history and Seoul-Beijing relations could stand in the way, analysts say.

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