-
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
A US B-1B bomber, South Korean F-15K fighter jets, Japanese F-2 fighter jets and US F-16 fighter jets flying during a joint air drill in the airspace of the South Korean southern island of Jeju in 2024. Photo: AFP/US Air Force/South Korea’s defence ministry
Defence

Why US defence strategy may hurt leaders in South Korea, Japan

The National Defence Strategy states that the US will provide ‘more limited’ support to its allies in line with the ‘America-first’ policy.

videocam
Jobs

‘Poisoned chalice’: Seoul’s ‘metropolitan visa’ for foreign labour faces backlash

Yoon Suk-yeol

South Korea’s ex-first lady gets 20 months’ jail for corruption

videocam
North Korea

North Korean ex-envoy on Kim Jong-un’s ‘decapitation’ fears after Maduro’s fall

Kim will ‘overhaul the entire system regarding his security and countermeasures in case of an attack against him’, Lee Il-kyu says.

videocam
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inspects a test firing of a rocket launcher system on Tuesday. Photo: KCNA via KNS/AFP
Hong Kong stock market

Hong Kong stocks maintain momentum to hit 4.5-year high

Busy Ming Group, China’s largest snack and drinks retailer, gains 69 per cent on its Hong Kong debut.

New Openings

Hong Kong’s hottest new openings, from matcha lattes to Japanese dipping noodles

Cult Korean brand Hetras and Japanese noodle shop Tsukemen Gyorai open their first Hong Kong outposts, and Matchali adds another location.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
North Korea

North Korea fires ballistic missiles as US signals defence shift

As the Trump administration seeks to focus on the US homeland, it is urging South Korea to take the primary role in deterring Pyongyang.

videocam
A television screen showing a news broadcast with file footage of a North Korean missile test at a railway station in Seoul on Tuesday. Photo: AFP
Donald Trump

‘Taco Trump’ tally: US president carries out only 25% of tariff threats

Analysis finds Trump’s tariff threats often go unfulfilled, or retracted, with markets dismissing them as strategic bluster rather than firm policy.

US-China trade war

Xi Jinping meets foreign leaders: tracker 2026

World leaders are flocking to Beijing this year, seeking trade deals amid intensified Trump tariff threats.

Asian cinema: Korean films

The 10 most successful Korean art-house films of all time

As Yoon Ga-eun’s The World of Love hits Hong Kong cinemas, we look at Korean indie films that conquered the box office as well as festivals.

videocam
Seo Su-bin in a still from The World of Love. Korean director Yoon Ga-eun’s acclaimed film is scheduled to hit Hong Kong cinemas on January 29.
Donald Trump

South Korea tariff hike: is Trump ‘sending message’ to US court ahead of ruling?

Trump’s message appears more focused on pushing through the US-South Korean trade bill than on permanently raising tariffs, analysts say.

videocam
Protestors don masks of US President Donald Trump and Vice-President J.D. Vance at an anti-Trump rally outside the US Embassy in Seoul on Tuesday. Photo: Yonhap/EPA
SCMP Highlights

Okinawa loses longevity crown, Malaysian athlete threatened: 7 Asia highlights

From longevity in Japan’s Okinawa to proxy wars in Middle East, here are a few highlights from SCMP’s recent Asia reporting.

Japan

Why 25 years after Tokyo rail tragedy, ‘drunk passenger’ problem still persists

The 2001 tragedy, where two men died trying to rescue a drunk passenger, spurred a series of upgrades, including installation of platform doors.

US-China trade war

Trump raises tariffs on South Korea as country ‘is not living up’ to trade deal

South Korea’s tariffs had declined to 15 per cent but will jump back up to 25 per cent if the US president stays true to his word.

videocam
12
US President Trump on Monday said he is raising tariffs on South Korea because the nation has not yet approved a trade deal with the US that the two countries agreed to in October. Photo: AFP
Vietnam

South Korean democracy icon Lee Hae-chan dies from heart attack in Vietnam

The former prime minister had two cardiac arrests while in Ho Chi Minh City for a Peaceful Unification Advisory Council meeting.

Former South Korean prime minister Lee Hae-chan (left) shakes hands with President Lee Jae Myung during a New Year’s meeting at the presidential office in Seoul on January 2. Photo: Yonhap/EPA
Artificial intelligence

Google’s Gemini surges in South Korea, challenging ChatGPT, after latest launch

South Korea generated about US$21 million, or 11.4 per cent of Gemini’s cumulative revenue on Apple’s app store – second only to the US.

Hong Kong stock market

Hong Kong stocks search for direction amid geopolitical concerns

Gold crosses US$5,000 for the first time amid mounting geopolitical uncertainty and growing investor aversion to major currencies.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Tourism

How Seoul became the world’s esports capital and attracts fans from across Asia

Tickets at venues like LCK Arena sell out fast as fans travel to South Korea’s capital to see the best play games such as League of Legends.

People get ready to watch a League of Legends match at LCK Arena at LoL Park in Seoul, South Korea. Photo: visitkorea.or.kr
Law

South Korea withdraws budget minister nominee after allegations

Conservative Lee Hye-hoon’s appointment was viewed as an attempt by President Lee Jae Myung to promote national unity with cross-party appointments.

Elon Musk

South Korea begins investigation into Grok, sexually exploitative images

Grok is estimated to have generated around 3 million sexually explicit images between December 29, 2025, and January 8 this year.

China-Asean relations

Why China was so keen to get to alleged cybercrime boss Chen Zhi first

Young tycoon, who was indicted by the US in October, was extradited from Cambodia this month, accused of running a vast scam network.

videocam
5
Illustration: Henry Wong
Japan

Has Japan’s tourism peaked? Row with China set to slow arrivals from record high

A major travel firm says tourist arrivals in Japan are expected to fall this year from a record 42.7 million in 2025.

videocam
People walk along Takeshita Street, Harajuku, Tokyo. The number of tourist arrivals in Japan rose by 15.8 per cent to a record 42.7 million last year. Photo: EPA
North Korea

Pentagon shifts North Korean responsibility to ‘capable’ South

US officials have recently been pushing to allow American troops in South Korea more flexibility to operate outside the peninsula.

Cambodia

Video | South Korean scam suspects brought home from Cambodia

Seoul continues its crackdown on scam centres in Southeast Asia following the kidnapping and murder of a South Korean student in Cambodia.

Hong Kong transport

Air travellers are being urged to ditch power banks. Here’s why

Hong Kong tour operator says it has asked its clients to bring charging cables instead.

Passengers will no longer be allowed to charge their electronic devices using portable batteries while flying with Korean Air, Asiana Airlines, Jin Air, Air Busan and Air Seoul. Photo: Yonhap News
Cambodia

73 South Koreans repatriated from Cambodia face online scam probe

Arriving in handcuffs, the suspects allegedly scammed fellow South Koreans out of US$33 million.

videocam
Police officers escort South Koreans allegedly involved in scam operations in Cambodia at Incheon International Airport on Friday. Photo: Reuters
Indonesia

Indonesia’s defence deal with Bosnia signals Asian middle power’s clout

The deal is in line with Jakarta’s goal to pursue an ‘active and free’ foreign policy beyond its Western partners.

Fame and celebrity

K-drama star Cha Eun-woo’s ad campaigns pulled amid tax scrutiny in South Korea

The actor is contesting an additional tax assessment of more than US$13 million tied to a company registered under his mother’s name.

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