South Korea

Doctors protest outside the office of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol in Seoul on Feb. 22, complaining of low pay and poor working conditions. (Photo by Ahn Seong-bok)
Health Care

South Korea's trainee doctors continue walkout over pay, hours

Many quit as Yoon pushes plan to train more physicians to ease shortage

27 February 2024
Members of the Cuban Ministry of the Interior raise their country's flag at a museum entrance in Matanzas, Cuba, in 2022. North Korea long touted its close ties with its "brother" Cuba, the only socialist nation in Latin America.
Comment

South Korea flips script on North by winning over Cuba

Preelection surprise reflects drastic diplomatic change from half a century ago

26 February 2024
An engineer works on a K9 self-propelled howitzer at Hanwha Aerospace's factory in Changwon, South Korea, in September 2023. The company is leading Seoul's mission to become a world leader in defense exports. 
Editor-in-Chief’s Picks

Letter from Nikkei Asia's editor: K-defense

Shin Nakayama shares his weekly reflections and recommendations

23 February 2024
HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering's shipyard in Ulsan, South Korea. (HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering)
23 February 2024
South Korea's Son Heung-Min looks dejected as Jordan players celebrate after reaching the AFC Asian Cup final in Al Rayyan, Qatar on Feb. 6.
Sports

South Korea's stay-away soccer coach, locker room dust up dismays fans

Conflict between star players follows high-profile loss and dismissal of coach

23 February 2024
The Bank of Korea has highlighted stubborn inflation and high household debt as challenges for the economy.
Economy

South Korea holds growth projection while flagging inflation risk

Policymakers keep key lending rate unchanged for ninth consecutive session

22 February 2024
Samsung Group had long discouraged the formation of unions in line with the stance of the conglomerate's founder. (Photo by Kotaro Hosokawa)
Work

Samsung workers launch 15,800-member integrated union

New superunion seeks to distance itself from hardline labor groups

21 February 2024
Lee Nak-yon, right, and Lee Jun-seok formed their alliance in a bid to peel conservative and progressive voters away from South Korea's two major parties. (Yonhap/Kyodo)
Politics

South Korea's New Reform Party suffers split as ex-PM exits

Lee Nak-yon blames clash with leadership for departure

21 February 2024
Russia's invasion of Ukraine has created an arms shortage that South Korean contractors are increasingly being called upon to replenish, sparking an anguished debate in a nation that has "been suffering from the effects of war for 70 years now." (Illustration by Hiroko Oshima)
The Big Story

K-defense: South Korea's weapons industry goes global

Amid heightening confrontation with North, Seoul finds niche filling global arms shortages

21 February 2024
Doctors stage a rally against the government's medical policy near the presidential office in Seoul on Feb. 15.
Health Care

South Korean trainee doctors walk off job over medical student increase

Health authorities scrambling to prevent major disruptions to services

20 February 2024
The "Buldak" ramen series, which features chicken-flavored and extremely hot noodles, is Samyang's signature product. (Source photos by Kotaro Hosokawa and courtesy of Samyang Roundsquare)
Food & Beverage

South Korean maker of Buldak ramen builds new domestic plant

Samyang sees huge global scope for 'K-food' noodles amid inflation and busy life

19 February 2024
Kim Jong Un's powerful sister said that her comments about the Japanese prime minister were her "personal view," not that of the state.
N Korea at crossroads

Kim Jong Un's sister seen shaking up Japan-U.S.-South Korea ties

Statement urges Tokyo to drop abduction issue to open door for visit by PM Kishida

17 February 2024
A bank employee counts Thai baht. The strong U.S. economy has squeezed the value of emerging-market currencies.
Currencies

Thai baht, Malaysian ringgit sink to three-month lows against dollar

Emerging nation central banks balk at rate cuts to defend currencies

16 February 2024
South Korean internet giant Kakao's businesses range from a chat app to ride-hailing and other mobility services as well as computer games. 
Technology

Kakao Q4 operating profit doubles amid leadership change

New CEO given mission to reform South Korean internet giant

15 February 2024
Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong, front center, and other officials walk around a Samsung SDI battery manufacturing hub in Seremban, Malaysia, on Feb. 9.
Technology

Samsung chief focuses on business as prosecutors appeal fraud acquittal

Activists criticize court for favoring conglomerate as Lee draws support

14 February 2024
Stream article image
Podcast: Tech Latest

South Korea's fallen crypto king still on the run

Tech Latest: Tune in to Nikkei Asia's podcast for the freshest updates on the tech sector

13 February 2024
 South Korean marines lock the entrance to a beach on Yeonpyeong island, near the 'northern limit line' sea boundary with North Korea on Jan. 8, 2024. 
Asia Insight

South Korean flashpoint island frets as war whispers grow louder

Kim Jong Un's weapons development sprint creates new level of threat, locals say

13 February 2024
Blackpink has driven ticket sales of K-pop concerts in Japan. (YG Entertainment)
Media & Entertainment

K-pop concert attendance in Japan surpasses pre-COVID levels

Looser visa rules expected to bring more performances by foreign entertainers

11 February 2024
POSCO started off as a state-run enterprise when it was established in 1968 as Pohang Iron and Steel Co.
Materials

POSCO's new CEO pick shows how South Korean state still holds sway

Nominating committee seems to bend in Choi ouster after remarks by fund head

10 February 2024
South Korean prosecutors are appealing the acquittal of Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong, center, on stock manipulation and accounting fraud charges.
Technology

South Korean prosecutors appeal Samsung chairman acquittal

Lee Jae-yong continues to face legal risk as he deals with chip, smartphone woes

8 February 2024
South Korean President-elect Yoon Suk Yeol speaks on March 10, 2022, during a news conference at the National Assembly in Seoul.
Politics

South Korea's Yoon calls wife's bribery scandal 'unfortunate'

President recorded TV interview instead of holding usual New Year's news conference

8 February 2024
South Korea's LG Chem expects its cathode manufacturing plant in the U.S. state of Tennessee to look like this image. (LG Chem)
Materials

LG Chem signs $19bn deal with GM to supply battery materials

South Korean company's long-term contract comes amid EV market slowdown

7 February 2024
Han Chang-joon, chief financial officer of the cryptocurrency startup Terraform, conceals his face upon arrival in Seoul on Feb. 6 after being extradited from Montenegro. (EPA/Yonhap/Jiji)
Cryptocurrencies

Associate of cryptocurrency fugitive Do Kwon extradited to South Korea

Former Terraform CFO under investigation for alleged fraud, Justice Ministry says

6 February 2024
The value of clean hydrogen markets is expected to soar around the world as governments and companies rush to tap the energy source.
Asia Insight

Japan's hydrogen prowess in peril as China, U.S. and EU poised to overtake

Policy action in coming months to determine whether green tech can avoid solar, battery missteps

6 February 2024
Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong arrives at the Seoul Central District Court on Feb. 5.
Technology

Samsung chief acquitted in stock price manipulation and fraud trial

Verdict for Chairman Lee Jae-yong comes as company emerges from long chip slump

5 February 2024