https://www.scmp.com/rss/522278/feed The Asan Institute for Policy Studies: A prominent Seoul, South Korea-based independent, non-profit think tank, the Asan Institute is dedicated to undertaking policy-relevant research to foster peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and beyond. Established in 2008, its main areas of focus include foreign policy, national security, international relations, and global governance. The Institute conducts extensive research, provides policy recommendations, and hosts significant forums like the... en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Park Chan-kyong Park Chan-kyong South Korea has spent a decade and billions of dollars trying to build a world-class fighter jet. Now that the finish line is drawing near, it’s nearly time to find out who will buy one. The first mass-produced KF-21 Boramae, developed jointly with Indonesia since 2015, was unveiled by Korea Aerospace Industries in Sacheon on March 25. Analysts say the aircraft could pave the way for South Korea, already one of the world’s top 10 arms exporters, to grab an even bigger slice of the global... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3348971/south-korea-and-indonesias-kf-21-fighter-jet-ready-will-it-sell?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3348971/south-korea-and-indonesias-kf-21-fighter-jet-ready-will-it-sell?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 04 Apr 2026 02:00:09 +0000 Park Chan-kyong Park Chan-kyong Efforts by South Korea and France to secure safe passage for vessels through the Strait of Hormuz are likely to be centred on a post-war defensive armada with other countries. Analysts also say both nations are wary of joining the Middle East conflict at this point in time and antagonising Iran. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Friday revealed he had agreed with French counterpart Emmanuel Macron to cooperate on safety in the strategic oil supply strait. Lee made the remarks after a... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3348983/why-south-korea-france-prefer-diplomacy-over-force-hormuz?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3348983/why-south-korea-france-prefer-diplomacy-over-force-hormuz?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 04 Apr 2026 01:00:14 +0000 Alyssa Chen Alyssa Chen While K-pop has conquered almost every corner of the globe, South Korea’s entertainment industry remains largely locked out of the Chinese market due to a geopolitical chill that has lingered for a decade. China unofficially banned South Korean entertainment products in 2016 after Seoul deployed the US Terminal High Altitude Area Defence system (THAAD) despite Beijing’s objections. K-pop concerts were cancelled, South Korean dramas disappeared from Chinese streaming platforms, and South Korean... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3344205/k-pops-big-freeze-are-cracks-chinas-cultural-blockade-thaw?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3344205/k-pops-big-freeze-are-cracks-chinas-cultural-blockade-thaw?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Feb 2026 22:00:14 +0000 Park Chan-kyong Park Chan-kyong South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi have pledged to deepen bilateral cooperation after Japan’s ruling coalition secured a landslide victory in the lower house election, even as analysts warn that sharpening China-Japan rivalry and unresolved historical disputes could complicate Seoul’s regional diplomacy. The result, which consolidates the Liberal Democratic Party’s grip on power, has strengthened Takaichi’s political position – but also revived... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3343056/south-korea-japan-eye-deeper-ties-after-takaichis-landslide-win-it-feasible?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3343056/south-korea-japan-eye-deeper-ties-after-takaichis-landslide-win-it-feasible?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Feb 2026 00:00:13 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi South Korean President Lee Jae Myung’s back-to-back visits to China and Japan suggest a “pragmatic approach” to reset ties with both countries as tensions soar between Beijing and Tokyo, analysts said. Lee met Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Tuesday during a two-day trip to Japan. Speaking to reporters after their summit in Nara – Takaichi’s hometown – Lee said there was “unprecedented turmoil” in the global political landscape and trade order. He stressed the need for South Korea and... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3339989/south-korean-leader-lee-takes-pragmatic-approach-reset-ties-china-japan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3339989/south-korean-leader-lee-takes-pragmatic-approach-reset-ties-china-japan?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Jan 2026 08:00:14 +0000 David D. Lee David D. Lee When Samsung Electronics chairman Lee Jae-yong took the stage at an Nvidia event in Seoul last month, his wry observation – “Why are there so many iPhones here?” – was met with knowing laughter from the assembled crowd. For a country that prides itself on the global success of home-grown brands like Samsung, South Korea is seeing an increasing number of its young people opt for American alternatives. A July poll by Gallup Korea found more than 60 per cent of respondents in their twenties used an... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3333733/apple-their-eye-why-south-koreas-gen-z-want-american-brands?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3333733/apple-their-eye-why-south-koreas-gen-z-want-american-brands?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 23 Nov 2025 00:00:10 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi China now has the largest naval fleet in the world, and its growing numbers of nuclear-powered submarines are an integral part of its efforts to project power beyond its coastal waters. But the view from Beijing is growing more complex as a handful of US allies in the Pacific also ramp up deployment of nuclear-powered subs. South Korea inched closer to attaining the technology on October 30 when US President Donald Trump said he had given the country approval to build a nuclear-powered... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3331891/us-pacific-allies-eye-nuclear-submarines-should-china-be-concerned?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3331891/us-pacific-allies-eye-nuclear-submarines-should-china-be-concerned?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 07 Nov 2025 22:00:24 +0000 Maria Siow Maria Siow The United States has given South Korea the green light to build nuclear-powered submarines – a landmark decision that could significantly boost Seoul’s naval capabilities and place it among a select group of nations with such assets. Analysts say the move could reshape Northeast Asia’s strategic landscape in ways that not only strengthen deterrence but also reduce the risk of open conflict, as Washington recalibrates its alliance priorities under President Donald Trump. Trump announced the... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3331790/how-us-nod-south-koreas-joining-nuclear-sub-club-could-reshape-strategic-landscape?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3331790/how-us-nod-south-koreas-joining-nuclear-sub-club-could-reshape-strategic-landscape?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 06 Nov 2025 10:30:14 +0000 Alyssa Chen Alyssa Chen For the first time in more than a decade, Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit South Korea next week, travelling to the historic city of Gyeongju for talks with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung as well as to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit. While the trip carries limited expectations for immediate breakthroughs, it is seen as a carefully calibrated step towards resetting strained China-South Korea ties, according to experts. Xi’s last visit in 2014, at the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3330223/beyond-apec-xis-south-korea-visit-signals-symbolic-restart-strained-ties-experts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3330223/beyond-apec-xis-south-korea-visit-signals-symbolic-restart-strained-ties-experts?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 25 Oct 2025 03:00:12 +0000 The Korea Times The Korea Times Indonesia’s renewed diplomatic engagement with North Korea has raised concerns in Seoul over the possible breach of sensitive technology related to the KF-21, a cutting-edge fighter jet jointly developed with the Southeast Asian nation. South Korean officials maintain that KF-21 data is protected under existing non-disclosure agreements with Jakarta. Still, critics point to Indonesia’s record on the joint project, including payment delays and leak scandals, which have undermined its... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3329385/indonesias-north-korea-ties-stoke-worries-seoul-over-fighter-jet-tech-leak?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3329385/indonesias-north-korea-ties-stoke-worries-seoul-over-fighter-jet-tech-leak?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Oct 2025 07:30:34 +0000 Maria Siow Maria Siow The death of a South Korean student in Cambodia, leading to Seoul summoning the Cambodian ambassador, is set to dent tourism and Phnom Penh’s reputation in the eyes of the Korean public, but ties between both sides may not be drastically affected, according to analysts. Last Friday, Foreign Minister Cho Hyun summoned the Cambodian ambassador in Seoul to protest the death of the student, linked to an employment scam in Cambodia. Cho also called for stronger measures to tackle the rising number of... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3328968/will-cambodias-scam-epidemic-cause-south-koreans-shun-country?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3328968/will-cambodias-scam-epidemic-cause-south-koreans-shun-country?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Oct 2025 09:43:26 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi The US has deployed a new air defence system in South Korea – dubbed America’s Iron Dome – in what analysts see as an effort by Washington to counter Chinese or North Korean drone operations in the event of a conflict in the region. On Thursday, the Pentagon’s Defence Visual Information Distribution Service uploaded photos of US Army Chief of Staff General Randy George’s visit to South Korea last Monday for an engagement with US Forces Korea (USFK) soldiers and meetings with South Korean... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3327190/south-koreas-new-us-iron-dome-air-defence-system-seen-reply-china-north-korea?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3327190/south-koreas-new-us-iron-dome-air-defence-system-seen-reply-china-north-korea?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 29 Sep 2025 04:00:08 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi When North Korea unveiled a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) development a day before its leader visited China last week, it was sending a message to Beijing and Washington that it would not renounce its nuclear weapons, according to analysts. Last week, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un travelled to attend China’s military parade in Beijing and hold bilateral summits with Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. The trio stood side by side, looking out... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3325159/did-kim-use-attending-chinas-parade-chance-send-his-own-missile-message?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3325159/did-kim-use-attending-chinas-parade-chance-send-his-own-missile-message?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Sep 2025 08:27:55 +0000 David D. Lee David D. Lee In Seoul’s hip Hongdae neighbourhood, 19-year-old Choi Jae-eun is already deep in conversation with her friend about the latest anime drop on Netflix. The pair are making their way to Animate, a shop inside AK Plaza whose shelves overflow with Japanese manga, anime figurines and limited-edition merchandise. Pop-up stalls themed around blockbuster series lure teenagers and twenty-somethings who, until recently, might have been dismissed as otaku – a once-derogatory term for obsessive fans. But... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3322040/south-korea-and-japan-culture-bridges-historical-divides-quite-contrast?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3322040/south-korea-and-japan-culture-bridges-historical-divides-quite-contrast?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 17 Aug 2025 00:00:13 +0000 Maria Siow Maria Siow As South Korea’s troop numbers dwindle to levels unseen in decades, fears are growing that the country’s ability to deter Pyongyang and secure its heavily fortified border with the nuclear-armed North may be slipping at a moment of heightened regional uncertainty. According to a Defence Ministry report released last Sunday, the South Korean military has shrunk by 20 per cent over the past six years, with active-duty personnel now numbering around 450,000 – down from about 690,000 soldiers in the... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3322045/south-koreas-birth-rate-battles-erode-its-military-might?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3322045/south-koreas-birth-rate-battles-erode-its-military-might?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 16 Aug 2025 07:30:09 +0000 Maria Siow Maria Siow Vietnamese leader To Lam’s state visit to South Korea this week has offered a first glimpse of President Lee Jae-myung’s new foreign policy direction for Southeast Asia, as both countries seek to navigate US-China rivalry and Washington’s economic upheaval. The four-day visit began on Monday, with the two leaders pledging to deepen economic cooperation and expand bilateral trade to US$150 billion by 2030 – a big boost from the current US$86.8 billion. Lee noted South Korea’s heavy investment in... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3321662/south-korea-vietnam-join-forces-amid-us-china-rivalry?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3321662/south-korea-vietnam-join-forces-amid-us-china-rivalry?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 13 Aug 2025 03:50:20 +0000 Park Chan-kyong Park Chan-kyong America’s highest-ranking military officer has called for closer trilateral defence ties with South Korea and Japan in response to what he described as an “unprecedented” military build-up by North Korea and China. The remarks by General Dan Caine, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, come amid growing pressure on Seoul to shoulder more of the cost of hosting 28,500 US troops and to support their expanded role beyond the Korean peninsula – a move that could test South Korea’s willingness to... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3317928/us-calls-closer-south-korea-japan-defence-ties-amid-unprecedented-china-north-threat?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3317928/us-calls-closer-south-korea-japan-defence-ties-amid-unprecedented-china-north-threat?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 12 Jul 2025 02:00:21 +0000