Advertisement
Advertisement
-
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
Tanker traffic has largely halted on the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow passage connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman along Iran’s southern coast. The disruption is expected to hit global crude supply. Photo: Reuters
China-Middle East relations

Why the US-Israel war with Iran leaves Asian economies exposed

Mainland China imports vast amounts of oil from the Middle East but India, South Korea and others could fare worse, analysts say.

videocam
Iran

Why US strikes on Iran just made North Korea less likely to play ball

videocam
9
Artificial intelligence

That viral Tiffany Young-Byun Yo-han wedding shoot is not what it seems

Hong Kong stock market

Sell-offs sweep Hong Kong and Asian markets as gold, oil rise on Iran war

Crude oil jumps as much as 14 per cent to the highest level since January 2025, while gold gains 2.5 per cent on haven demand.

Hong Kong stocks fell on Monday. Photo: Jonathan Wong
China shipbuilding

Open Questions | Top shipbuilding voice Li Yanqing rebukes Washington’s ‘China threat’ narrative

China’s national shipbuilding association official calls US port fees ‘absurd’ and politically motivated, while asserting China’s market lead is solid despite global fluctuations.

7
Smartphones

China’s Xiaomi steps up global push with flagship smartphone 17 series launch

The launch ahead of MWC Barcelona showcases Xiaomi’s push into premium market with new phones, tablet, smartwatch and concept hypercar.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
World of performing arts

This award-winning playwright rejected Hollywood… for a Korean zombie musical

Jethro Compton shares why his choice to adapt musical The Last Man for UK viewers is about ‘experiences’ rather than advancing his career.

Jethro Compton attends the 2025 Laurence Olivier Awards after winning the best new musical award for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. The playwright says his new role, as a dramaturge on Korean zombie play The Last Man, is about “having new experiences and working with interesting people”. Photo: Getty Images
North Korea

North Korea unveils image of Kim’s daughter firing rifle at shooting range

Speculation has mounted that Kim Jong-un is grooming his daughter – believed to be named Kim Ju-ae and about 13 years old – as his successor.

China exports

Deals of steel: how China’s price-setting agreements are easing trade tempers

Chinese exporters agree to raise prices to avoid anti‑dumping duties, echoing earlier electric vehicle agreement with European Union.

Trending in China

K-pop star G-Dragon’s ‘Lunar New Year’ greetings divide China fans, ignite firestorm

Debate over ‘Chinese New Year’ versus ‘Lunar New Year’ arises annually, particularly when brands, celebrities share new year greetings on social media.

8
South Korean superstar G-Dragon was accused by some Chinese netizens of “insulting China” during a Dubai concert as he greeted the audience with “Lunar New Year,” instead of saying “Chinese New Year”. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/IG@hellogdkitty
TV shows and streaming video

In Korea, luxury goods are ‘like an ID card’. The Art of Sarah proves it

Netflix’s The Art of Sarah, following a woman running a counterfeit empire, is a harsh reflection of South Korea’s luxe goods fixation.

videocam
Shin Hye-sun as Sarah Kim in The Art of Sarah. The K-drama reflects South Korea’s real-world luxury obsession. Photo: Netflix
SCMP Highlights

Chinese tourists flock to Seoul, child shoved in Tokyo crossing: 7 highlights

From China tracking military moves near Iran to why tourists are ditching Tokyo for Seoul, here are highlights from SCMP’s recent reporting.

Hong Kong stock market

Hong Kong stocks cap worst month since October on AI disruption angst

Concerns over AI’s disruptive impact on traditional industries continue to unsettle investors.

Women and gender

‘Digital public shaming’: Chinese AI tools under fire for pornographic deepfakes

Grass-roots group warns AI platforms have ‘sacrificed women’s right to safety’ as non-consensual sexualised images proliferate.

videocam
Doubao has emerged as the main AI tool for generating pornographic deepfakes in China, according to a feminist media collective. Photo: Shutterstock
North Korea

North Korea’s Kim warns of ‘eternal confrontation’ without US dialogue

As long as Washington acknowledges Pyongyang as a nuclear power, there is ‘no reason not to get along’, the North Korean leader says.

videocam
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and daughter Ju-ae attend a military parade to commemorate the Ninth Workers’ Party congress on Wednesday. Photo: KCNA/AFP
Thailand

US, Thailand lead 30 nations in Southeast Asia’s largest military drill

Cobra Gold is necessary to address emerging threats and improve interoperability in the region, the US ambassador to Thailand says.

videocam
US-China trade war

Xi Jinping meets foreign leaders: tracker 2026

World leaders are flocking to Beijing this year as Trump’s trade war spurs US allies to look for new ties.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Hong Kong stock market

Hong Kong stocks retreat as Nvidia earnings fail to sustain AI momentum

Hang Seng Index drops 1.4 per cent, led by tech losses, after US chip giant’s results disappoint investors betting on perpetual AI growth.

4
Nvidia’s earnings fail to impress investors, who are now betting on perpetual AI growth, according to analysts. Photo: Shutterstock
China technology

China’s tech surge leaves Japan and South Korea trailing in global rankings

Propelled by strategic R&D, China’s tech prowess is now the third highest, with key sectors such as batteries and biotech showing big gains over rivals.

videocam
30
South Korea martial law 2024

Why Yoon’s life sentence and ‘sympathetic’ ruling divide South Korea

As the ex-president appeals his life sentence for a martial law plot, judicial reform is back on the agenda for a deeply divided nation.

videocam
Banking & finance

South Korean investors pour millions into Chinese AI and tech stocks

Despite a sizzling home market, the country’s investors are stepping up buying on the Hong Kong and mainland exchanges this year.

Currency traders work near a screen showing the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (Kospi) at Hana Bank headquarters in Seoul on February 23, 2026. Photo: AP Photo
Tourism

South Korea axes visa barriers for Indonesians in 30 million visitor drive

Citizens of China and Southeast Asian nations who have previously visited the country can apply for multiple-entry visas of up to 10 years.

Filipino tourists pose for a photo in front of Hongje Falls in the Seodaemun district on February 9. Photo: The Korea Times
Artificial intelligence

South Korea’s Lee uses AI to honour shared factory worker past with Brazil’s Lula

The gesture accompanied Lula’s state visit to Seoul, where the two leaders agreed to strengthen bilateral ties.

videocam
Seoul

Shaman’s bribery conviction spells trouble for South Korea’s former first lady

A judge has ruled luxury gifts passed to Kim Keon-hee were ‘grease payments’, contradicting an earlier verdict and threatening her appeal.

videocam
Hong Kong stock market

Hong Kong stocks rebound in relief rally as global AI scare fades

Hang Seng Index climbs as concerns over AI disruption ease, with investors awaiting Nvidia earnings to gauge sentiment.

Hong Kong shares track a rebound in global tech shares overnight after jitters faded that AI could upend business models. Photo: Shutterstock
US-China trade war

US warns of deep distrust even as officials seek stable China ties for summit

Congressional hearings reflect bipartisan concern and highlight persistent advanced tech market tension as key Trump-Xi summit looms.

videocam
23
The Trump administration wants stable relations with China but does not trust the country, a senior State Department ⁠official said. Photo: Reuters
China travel

Chinese tourism to Japan plunges 50% over Lunar New Year as Thailand cashes in

Thailand was the top destination for China’s outbound travellers over the extended holiday, with tourists avoiding Japan amid rising tensions.

videocam
Scams and swindles

‘K-wave’ scams exploiting Brazil’s superfans trigger police pact

South Korea and Brazil are taking action to protect fans from fraudsters cashing in with phantom merchandise and exploitative ‘oppa’ tours.

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