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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
General view of the Exchange Square in Central. Photo: Jelly Tse
Hong Kong stock market

Hong Kong stocks head for longest win streak in 3 weeks as US inflation cools

Soft US inflation data strengthens the case for monetary easing as Hang Seng Index gains for a third day.

Yoon Suk-yeol

South Korea’s top court seeks to restore trust after martial law controversy

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Semiconductors

China to remain biggest buyer of chipmaking equipment through 2027: SEMI

South Korea martial law 2024

South Korea’s police chief removed for supporting martial law plot

Cho Ji-ho was removed for sending officers to disrupt parliament and undermine the election commission’s independence, the Constitutional Court ruled.

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Interior Minister Lee Sang-min (right), Police Commissioner Cho Ji-ho (centre), and Seoul Police Chief Kim Bong-sik at the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea in December 2024. Photo: AP
Artificial intelligence

Macroscope | Fears of an AI bubble in Asian stock markets are misplaced

The concentration risk so prevalent elsewhere is mitigated in Asia by a diverse equity landscape and the unique strengths in China.

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Viral stories

Viral golden logo find turns old AC units into hot property in South Korea

A YouTube video revealing a pure gold logo on certain LG air conditioners has sparked a nationwide hunt for the 20-year-old units.

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United States

Trump gives himself high marks in 2025 report card, with his eyes on 2026 fight

In a White House speech, the president claimed economic and foreign policy wins while urging voters to back his agenda in the midterms.

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US President Donald addresses the nation from the diplomatic reception room at the White House on Wednesday. Photo: AP
Food and Drinks

Mouthing Off | American cuisine better than Vietnamese, Korean? New ‘best’ list stirs tempers

The ‘100 Best Cuisines in the World’ list from TasteAtlas is angering people with its contentious food rankings. Singapore at number 90?

European Union

Opinion | A complicated new EU-China showdown is quietly taking shape

For now, both sides still need each other and there is nowhere else to turn. But behind this reliance, irritation and paranoia are rising.

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Nordic nations

Finnish PM apologises for MPs’ ‘racist’ gestures in Miss Finland scandal

PM Petteri Orpo offers regrets to Japan, China and South Korea after MPs mimic ousted beauty queen Sarah Dzafce’s offensive squinting gesture.

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Miss Finland Sarah Dzafce wears an evening gown during the 74th Miss Universe 2025 preliminary competition in Thailand in November. Photo: EPA
TV shows and streaming video

‘Hollywood’s the dream’: how Korean actors are finally achieving it

Shows like Squid Game and KPop Demon Hunters are helping South Korean actors overcome barriers and find new opportunities in the US.

Misun Youm, actor, performs a scene for an English-language demo reel she plans to submit to Hollywood casting directors in Seoul, Sunday, Nov. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Juwon Park)
Jobs

Vietnamese woman’s death amid raid in South Korea spurs visa policy debate

The 25-year-old, who reportedly hid at a factory’s air-conditioning unit, was just two weeks into her illegal part-time job when she died.

Korea Times

South Korea reopens debate on lifting ban on North Korean media

Lawmakers move to ease North Korean web access. Supporters cite freedom of information, but critics fear propaganda risks.

Yoon Suk-yeol

South Korean court rules Yoon’s ‘self-coup’ illegal as walls close in

Judges are fast-tracking verdicts to beat statutory time limits, dashing the ex-president’s faint hopes of walking free early next year.

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A television screen shows a file image of Yoon Suk-yeol in court at a railway station in Seoul on Monday. Photo: AP
Japan

‘Hard to go back’: frustrated with South Korea, men seek work, love in Japan

South Korea’s tough job market and marriage expectations have prompted many to settle down in the neighbouring country.

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More South Korean men are moving to Japan for better work-life balance and marriage prospects. Photo: Shutterstock
China travel

Why South Korea is becoming China’s new bargain travel hotspot amid Japan spat

A slump in the won is making South Korea increasingly affordable for mainland tourists just as China warns against travel to Japan.

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US-China relations

‘Resilient balance’: why China-US ties are likely to stay stable under Trump

US world view on outside ties undergoing ‘fundamental, even transformative’ paradigm shift, American affairs expert tells forum in China.

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Japan

Japan boosts scrutiny after Chinese buyers lead property rush near critical sites

Japan to require nationality disclosure for land near key sites after study finds Chinese nationals bought half of 3,498 such properties in 2024.

A view of the skyline of Tokyo, Japan. Many foreign buyers purchased Tokyo-area condos and flats for investment. Photo: Shutterstock
China-South Korea relations

China’s build-up of Yellow Sea facilities tipped to fuel South Korean suspicions

Report notes increasing number of buoys with possible military uses in waters both sides claim as part of their exclusive economic zones.

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SCMP Highlights

Malaysia’s dress code row, South Korea falls out with K-pop: 7 Asia highlights

From ex-NBA player’s cancer treatment to backlash against Malaysia’s ‘moral police’, here are a few highlights from SCMP’s recent Asia reporting.

Japan

Japan and South Korea clash over islets as old grievances resurface

Analysts warn the squabble is a ‘step backwards’ that offers Beijing a chance to drive a wedge between the two US allies.

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South Korean armed forces hold a defensive drill on the Liancourt Rocks, known as Dokdo or the Takeshima Islands, in 2019. Photo: South Korean Navy/EPA-EFE
Taiwan

‘Boycott this unjust law’: Taiwan’s attempt to curb draft evasion draws flak

Proposed changes would also mandate alternative service for transgender and intersex people, a move that has sparked backlash.

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Taiwan reservists take part in military training on December 2. Photo: AP
Hong Kong stock market

Hong Kong stocks slump to 3-week low as China growth jitters dampen sentiment

Caution prevails as investors weigh China’s growth prospects after key economic data showed a deceleration across the board.

Hong Kong economy

Opinion | Hong Kong is stepping up its competitiveness in aviation

By funding upgrades to the airport and signing international aviation deals, the city is proactively working to expand its global reach.

Mainland China

Why ‘relative stability’ in US-China ties is unlikely to last

The temperature has lowered after a downward spiral since Trump’s return to the White House, but relations may face ‘strong headwinds’ again.

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen
China-Latin America relations

Mexico stands by its decision for 50 per cent tariffs on Chinese goods

Government defends tariff package as vital to supporting domestic workers and producers, and not aimed at curbing imports from China.

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Mexican Economy Secretary Marcelo Ebrard on Monday defended his country’s decision to impose new tariffs on imports from China. Photo: AP
Asia housing and property

The View | After vitalising its property market, India must shore up its weaknesses

The sustainability of the real estate boom will depend on how well New Delhi can address lingering gaps in affordability and infrastructure.

Yoon Suk-yeol

Martial law plot was Yoon’s plan all along, South Korean prosecutors say

Announcing the results of a massive 180-day inquiry on Monday, special prosecutors said Yoon Suk-yeol aimed to form a military junta.

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