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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
Despite warming sentiment towards the US, nearly 90 per cent of those polled back Beijing taking trade countermeasures against Washington. Photo: AFP
US-China relations

Chinese public warms to US while strongly backing Beijing’s trade stance: survey

‘Substantial’ uptick in favourability towards America compared with previous year, but still lower than scores for Britain, the EU and Asean.

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China trade

China’s diplomatic divide: red carpet for Seoul, cold shoulder for Tokyo firms

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China-South Korea relations

South Korea’s Lee to ‘push denuclearisation, end to culture ban’ in China

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IPO

Biren surges, China military drills, CES technology show

This week: Biren Technology jumps on Hong Kong debut, PLA holds drills off Taiwan and factory activity returns to expansion. Next week: Chinese tech firms at CES, December CPI release, HSBC-Hang Seng Bank buyout vote, and more.

Photo: handout
The Philippines

Why the Philippines’ military is betting on South Korean defence systems

The US$27.7 million contract covers combat management systems for two next-generation Philippine Navy frigates.

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North Korea

‘More than a beloved child’: palace visit renews debate on Pyongyang succession

State media has released images of the first recorded visit of Kim Ju-ae, the teen daughter of Kim Jong-un, to the country’s most sacred site.

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Hong Kong stock market

Hong Kong stocks jump into 2026 with biggest surge since May

Investors expect Beijing’s ‘policy pivot’ to continue, with a focus on demand-side stimulus and stabilising the housing market, analyst says.

A view of Exchange Square in Central, where Hong Kong’s bourse operator is based, on December 30, 2025. Photo: Sun Yeung
North Korea

Why North Korea’s Kim is hailing ‘invincible’ Russia ties in new year message

Kim praised North Korean troops fighting in the Ukraine war for their unwavering bravery for the sake of ‘the brotherly Russian people’.

Hong Kong

Chinese and Asian suppliers in limbo over fashion chain Claire’s bankruptcy

Suppliers across Asia pursue legal action, but debt recovery prospects remain uncertain.

Investing

Opinion | Rising markets, falling interest rates and more: 5 investment myths for 2026

Investors must be careful in following conventional wisdom this year as several seemingly sure bets might be anything but.

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A pedestrian walks past a stock market indicator board on the final trading day of the year in Tokyo on December 30. Notable outperformers for 2025 included the Nasdaq, Japan’s Nikkei 225, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index and South Korea’s semiconductor-rich Kospi. Photo: EPA
Music

BTS are back! A new album and tour are coming after their military service

South Korea’s top act has been on hiatus since 2022 for military service. Their new album is the first since 2022’s record-breaking ‘Proof’.

K-pop boy band BTS visit the “Today” Show at Rockefeller Plaza in February 2020 in New York City. Photo: Getty Images
China-South Korea relations

China’s Wang Yi takes aim at Japan in call with South Korean foreign minister

In countdown to summit, Wang and Cho Hyun talk Taiwan, Tokyo and the Korean peninsula.

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Tourism

Asian travellers brace for ‘chilling’ US social media scrutiny

The proposal, which requires visa-exempt visitors to provide five years of social media history, comes amid moves to toughen US borders.

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Semiconductors

US grants TSMC annual licence to import American chipmaking tools into China

The approval ‘ensures uninterrupted fab operations and product deliveries’, according to the world’s largest contract chipmaker.

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Washington has granted TSMC’s Nanjing operation an annual licence to import US chip manufacturing equipment into China. Photo: Shutterstock
North Korea

Ramen, drinks, fan zones: how North Korea clones K-culture while hating Seoul

From food to photo booths, Pyongyang is imitating South Korean culture through what analysts call ‘subjective adaptation’.

Fireworks explode as North Koreans usher in the new year at Kim Il-sung Square in Pyongyang on Thursday. Photo: AP
Defence

Will ‘Made in Europe’ threaten South Korea’s arms export boom?

Observers urge South Korea to integrate itself into European supply chains by increasing production localisation to maintain competitiveness.

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United States

World welcomes 2026 with fireworks, lightshows and hopes for peace

From Paris to Dubai to Sydney, crowds ring in the new year with exuberant celebrations.

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Australia

‘Not cowed’: Australia sees defiant start to 2026 after mass shooting

Many police officers openly carried rapid-fire rifles, a first for the popular annual fireworks display over Sydney’s Harbour Bridge.

Fireworks explode over Sydney Harbour Bridge to mark the New Year. Photo: Reuters
Lee Jae-myung

South Korea ends bear bile industry, but 200 moon bears in limbo

As the ban takes effect January 1, disputes over farmer compensation and limited shelter space leave hundreds of captive bears with nowhere to go.

China-South Korea relations

South Korea’s Lee Jae-myung to visit China on economic and nuclear mission

The pragmatic president is seeking to balance relations with Beijing while keeping Washington onside.

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Hong Kong stock market

Hong Kong stocks edge higher on last full trading day of year

Hang Seng Index edges higher as Chinese yuan surpasses 7 against US dollar for first time since May 2023.

People walk past Exchange Square in Central, home of Hong Kong’s bourse operator, on March 28, 2025. Photo: Matthew Miller
Yoon Suk-yeol

Probe into South Korea’s Kim Keon-hee ends with ‘unresolved issues’

Analysts say the findings have raised questions about whether South Korea’s laws can deal with alleged abuses of power by a president’s spouse.

South Korea’s former first lady Kim Keon-hee leaves the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho district on August 12, after attending a court review on her arrest. Photo: Korea Times
Asia housing and property

The View | How AI helped Asia’s real estate sector pass the tariff stress test

While multiple factors are at play, this year’s tech exuberance helped the region’s property markets stay afloat.

North Korea

North Korea tests long-range cruise missiles after nuclear submarine progress

Days after unveiling a near-complete hull of a nuclear-powered submarine, North Korea shares photos of missiles being fired and hitting a target.

Ageing society

South Korea’s record low birth rate leads to mass school closures

With student counts half of 1980 levels, South Korea confronts a crisis of empty classrooms and abandoned sites, raising worry over wasted assets.

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An empty classroom in a South Korean high school, with rows of desks and a blackboard. Photo: Shutterstock
Food and Drinks

How Netflix’s Culinary Class Wars season 2 stays ‘true to the original essence’

Amid off-screen scrutiny on one of the show’s judges, season two of Culinary Class Wars returns with a focus on its intense cooking battles.

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A poster for Netflix’s cooking show Culinary Class Wars season two. The Netflix hit cooking competition returned on December 16. Photo: Netflix
Hong Kong society

Letters | Why lapses in the Tai Po tragedy are both shocking and familiar

Readers discuss Hong Kong’s light-touch culture, the city’s struggling retail sector, and meeting the emotional needs of men.

China-South Korea relations

South Korean president set to visit China next month, with North Korea on agenda

Exchange of visits by two countries’ leaders within months underscores their commitment to deepening ties, analysts say.

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