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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 woman uses a fan to shelter from the sun on a street in Seoul Sunday. Photo: AFP
European Union

South Korea under emergency advisory as heatwave days increase

Scientists warn that extreme weather events such as heatwaves are becoming more frequent and intense as a result of human-induced climate change.

K-pop idols

South Korean ticket touts to face the music when new penalties come into play

Artificial intelligence

Macroscope | Don’t expect the rising tide of AI to lift all boats

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US-China relations

China accuses US of ignoring Trump, Xi rapport and targeting Chinese firms

Beijing claims US misused its power by blacklisting more than 60 Chinese companies after goodwill generated at Trump-Xi summit in May.

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Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump enjoy a friendly exchange after a visit to Zhongnanhai Garden in Beijing on May 15, 2026. Photo: AFP
China’s private sector

Chinese political journal calls for ‘patient capital’ amid AI investment frenzy

Communist Party journal runs three consecutive commentaries encouraging long-term perspective in funding for technological innovation.

Style Edit

Style Edit: Chanel’s Métiers d’Art’s dazzling second outing, in Seoul

The maison transported Matthieu Blazy’s dazzling Métiers d’Art debut to Seoul’s Centre Pompidou Hanwha, with Tilda Swinton, G-Dragon and Jennie in attendance.

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United States

US hopes South Korea can help turn the tide in fight for naval dominance

While the US has a technological edge, it lags behind China, which has the world’s largest commercial shipbuilding industry, in fleet size.

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A ship is under construction at Hanwha Ocean’s shipyard in Geoje, South Gyeongsang province. Photo: The Korea Times
Semiconductors

Chinese chipmaker CXMT set for US$4.3b IPO, riding memory boom

Listing would rank behind only SMIC’s on Shanghai’s Star Market, as AI demand boosts memory-chip market.

Hong Kong stock market

Hong Kong stocks retreat as regional tech volatility offsets short covering

Zhipu AI bucked the downward trend to surge over 11 per cent as volatility surrounding its recent IPO share unlocking began to ease.

US-China trade war

Is China’s biggest daily US soybean order confirmation of Xi-Trump summit pact?

The 472,000 tonnes sold were the most in a single day since November and a ‘positive signal’ of Beijing’s intentions, analysts said.

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Chinese buyers committed to 200,000 tonnes of new-crop soybeans from the US, according to USDA data to the end of June. Photo: AP
United States

Nato summit delivers unity and billions in defence deals, Rutte says

Secretary general says allies are strengthening the alliance after agreeing to higher spending, amid continued pressure from Trump.

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US President Donald Trump (left) and Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte attend the Nato summit in Ankara, Turkey, where allies highlighted new defence commitments and higher military spending targets. Photo: AFP
Nato

Nato, Indo-Pacific 4 vow defence, tech boost as China-Russia ties spark alarm

Nato chief Mark Rutte meets top officials from Australia, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea on sidelines of Ankara summit.

Banking & finance

Hong Kong stocks rise as rallies from Alibaba, SMIC, others lift market sentiment

The Hang Seng Index closed high on Wednesday as investors stood firm and held onto newly unlocked shares following post-IPO lock up expiries.

China stock market

Mainland China markets follow US in embracing tech stock dominance

AI boom sees long-time bellwether Kweichow Moutai cede top spot in CSI 300 Index weightings to Zhongjin Innolight.

Large screens display stock market and economic data in Shanghai last month. Photo: EPA
Defence

Why South Korea is celebrating a Canada submarine deal it lost

Coming a close second to Germany shows ‘K-defence’ can hold its own on the world stage, military experts say.

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The Royal Canadian navy hosts the South Korean navy’s Dosan Ahn Chang-ho during a welcome ceremony in Esquimalt, British Columbia, on May 25. Photo: The Canadian Press/AP
Aviation

South Korea’s Incheon airport hits 1 billion passengers in record-breaking time

The airport crossed the mark just 25 years and three months after its opening in March 2001 – outpacing all historic rival global hubs.

Vietnam

Vietnam bets on baby bonuses to get rich before it grows old

Hanoi is throwing cash and housing at its low birth rate, scrambling to protect an export boom that is fast running out of young workers.

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SCMP Highlights

Thai beer heir opens up, Philippine ube’s ‘purple gold rush’: 7 Asia highlights

From Hongkongers looking to Malaysia for housing to a Thai beer heir opening up, here are a few highlights from SCMP’s recent Asia reporting.

“Ubi kinampay” is especially prized for its distinctive taste and aroma. Photo: Facebook/National Museum of the Philippines Bohol
Malaysia

Australia’s Lynas partners South Korea’s JS Link for Malaysian magnet factory

The factory in Kuantan, which can produce 3,000 tonnes of magnets per annum, is expected to create ‌up to 400 jobs.

North Korea

‘Let me join’: North Korea flexes naval muscle ahead of China-Russia drills

Pyongyang’s new cruise-missile destroyers are built to project power far beyond home waters, analysts say.

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Canada

Canada picks German firm for new sub fleet deal, likely strengthening Nato ties

German firm TKMS beats Hanwha Ocean of South Korea to Canadian submarine agreement in a move expected to strengthen ties with Nato.

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Canada Prime Minister Mark Carney at HMC Dockyard in Halifax on Monday. Photo: The Canadian Press via AP
Autonomous vehicles

China’s lower tech costs poised to accelerate global robotaxi market: Morgan Stanley

The cost of parts per vehicle for Chinese-made robotaxis was expected to drop to between US$35,000 and US$40,000 in 2027.

A Pony.ai robotaxi on the road in Shanghai. Photo: Handout
Accidents and personal safety

At least 5 injured in crash between bus and luggage trailer at Hong Kong airport

Five people taken to North Lantau Hospital with minor injuries after a manually operated luggage trailer collided with a bus on airport’s south apron.

Food and Drinks

‘Don’t become a chef’: Napoli Matfia on Hong Kong, time off and more

Korean chef Kwon Sung-jun, winner of Culinary Class Wars season one, reveals why he bought a building in Seoul and his future Hong Kong plans.

Foreign exchange market

South Korean won holds steady as historic 24-hour trading begins

The round-the-clock trading is the centrepiece of South Korea’s years-long effort to improve foreign access to local markets.

South Korean Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol (centre), poses for a group photo during the launch of a 24-hour trading system for the won and US dollar on Monday. Photo: Yonhap/EPA
Hong Kong politics

Opinion | Anti-drug video fiasco not a vote of confidence in Hong Kong’s AI goals

If the authorities can’t use the technology appropriately for one video, one wonders how they can address other concerns posed by artificial intelligence.

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The Correctional Services Department twice pulled an anti-drug video featuring an AI-generated K-pop girl group after internet users said it looked more like a drugs promotion campaign. Photo: Facebook / Correctional Services Department
US-China relations

Why the Indo-Pacific might be on the back burner at the Nato summit

Immediate pressures over Ukraine, Iran and spending mean alliance’s concerns about China could be sidelined at Ankara gathering.

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Fifa World Cup 2026

South Korea’s World Cup loss spurs anger over ‘cartel’ of elites, favouritism

From the president to football fans, South Koreans are asking whether unfairness lies behind the national team’s World Cup collapse.

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