South Korea

A man walks past a Geely Atlas Pro at a dealership in Moscow. Geely has seen sales volume soar in Russia this year.
Trade

Chinese cars and TVs stream into Russia after South Korean exodus

Hyundai, Samsung, LG pull back from market following Ukraine invasion

7 July 2023
While LG Electronics fares well thanks partly to an expansion into auto components, panel maker LG Display is bleeding red ink.
Technology

Struggling display unit tests LG chief's decisiveness

Koo Kwang-mo's 5 years include successful expansion, but slow response to losses

6 July 2023
China and South Korea have begun taking steps to improve bilateral ties. 
6 July 2023
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, left, with his U.S. and Japanese counterparts during the 2022 NATO summit in Madrid.
Opinion

China's bullying proves South Korea's Yoon is on the right track

Threats vindicate moves to expand security ties with Japan and U.S.

5 July 2023
Japan and South Korea agreed on the bilateral currency swap arrangement at a "finance ministerial dialogue" held on June 29 in Tokyo.
The Nikkei View

Japan, South Korea should expand mutual economic interests

Currency swap agreement is positive step in improving bilateral relations

5 July 2023
Lotte Energy Materials makes copper foil used to wrap the anodes of lithium-ion batteries.
Materials

Lotte Chemical to invest $2.3bn in copper foil for EV batteries

South Korean company considers North American plant as orders soar

5 July 2023
The IAEA, on July 4, is expected to present a final report on the safety of Japan's planned release of treated wastewater into the Pacific Ocean from the The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. 
Your Week in Asia

Thai parliament convenes, IAEA Fukushima report, Huawei developer conference

Your weekly lineup of Asia's biggest business and political events

2 July 2023
Yahoo Japan is considering whether to incorporate search engine technology from South Korea's Naver, ending its longstanding partnership with Google. (Screenshot of Yahoo Japan website) 
Technology

Yahoo Japan weighs ending search engine deal with Google

Company considering using technology from South Korea's Naver ahead of merger

1 July 2023
The annual LGBTQ Pride event takes place in Seoul on July 1. (photo by Raphael Rashid) 
Gender

Seoul Pride takes place amid homophobic resistance

Events by LGBTQ community stoke pushback from religious groups, politicians

1 July 2023
The industrywide push to adopt renewable energy may force TSMC, Samsung and regional peers to consider expanding chip plants beyond their home soil. (Source photos by AP and TSMC) 
Business Spotlight

From TSMC to Samsung, Asia's chipmakers struggle to go green

Dearth of renewable energy at home leaves titans lagging U.S. and European peers

30 June 2023
Plastic materials made by PI Advanced Materials are used in circuit boards.
Business deals

South Korea's PI Advanced Materials to be sold to France's Arkema for $760m

Plastics maker has expanded from smartphone to EV supply chains

30 June 2023
North Koreans attend a mass rally denouncing the U.S. in Pyongyang on June 25 in this photo released by the regime's Korean Central News Agency.
N Korea at crossroads

South Korea picks hard-liner as new North Korea point man

Selection is latest phase of Seoul's increasing emphasis on human rights

29 June 2023
Top tutors assume celebrity status on billboards advertising their cramming services. (Photo by Ahn Seong-bok)
Society

Yoon controversially challenges South Korean exam practices

President takes on lucrative cramming industry and educational inequality

29 June 2023
The English-language version of South Korean writer Cheon Myeong-kwan's debut novel, "Whale," has received a massive boost since its shortlisting for this year's International Booker Prize. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by the Booker Prize Foundation)
Books

Korean novel earns Western acclaim, decades on

Cheon Myeong-kwan's 'Whale' resurfaces in top literary competition

29 June 2023
Samsung Electronics has its eyes on global foundry chip leader Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.
Semiconductors

Samsung to apply advanced 2-nm semiconductors to mobile in 2025

South Korean chipmaker keen to overtake TSMC in foundry market in 5 years

28 June 2023
Japan and South Korea aim to resume a currency swap agreement after an eight-year hiatus in a symbolic move to highlight their warming ties.
Japan-South Korea ties

Japan, South Korea set to revive currency swap pact

Finance ministers resume 'finance dialogue' as bilateral ties thaw

28 June 2023
Japan lifted export curbs on high-tech materials to South Korea in March. Restoring preferred export destination status will make it easier for companies in both countries to do business.
Japan-South Korea ties

Japan lifts final South Korea trade restriction

Recent summits paved way for restoring economic cooperation, Seoul says

27 June 2023
LG Innotek is one of the world leaders in camera modules for smartphones. (Photo courtesy of LG Innotek)
Companies

LG Innotek to raise Vietnam phone camera output with $1bn investment

Move by Apple supplier will double production capacity

27 June 2023
The industry will need annual production of 449 billion liters of sustainable aviation fuel if it is to reach its net-zero goal. Last year's production was slightly above 300 million liters.
Transportation

Asia plays catch-up in race for sustainable aviation fuel

Neste's biofuel refinery in Singapore now has annual capacity of 1.26bn liters

26 June 2023
Left: Chinese Ambassador to South Korea Xing Haiming, left, and South Korea's opposition Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung in Seoul. Right: Left to right, U.S. President Joe Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol in Hiroshima, Japan. (Source photos by Yonhap/Kyodo) 
International relations

China targets weakest link in Washington-Tokyo-Seoul triad

Beijing seeks to turn South Korea's political divide to its advantage

25 June 2023
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and his Vietnamese counterpart, Vo Van Thuong, greet each other in Hanoi on June 23. Their countries have close economic ties.
International relations

South Korea and Vietnam to bolster minerals, energy partnerships

Yoon brings Samsung Chairman Lee, other business chiefs on state visit

23 June 2023
Hyundai reentered Japan in May 2022 after a 12-year break, selling its Ioniq 5 electric vehicle and Nexo fuel cell car online.
Automobiles

Hyundai aims to reverse weak EV sales in Japan via online blitz

South Korean automaker teams with CCC for data marketing

23 June 2023
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un greets the crowd during a military parade in Pyongyang in this photo released by the North's state news agency. 
N Korea at crossroads

Yoon renews efforts to address dire North Korean human rights

French president signals support for push by South's leader

23 June 2023
BTS bonanza: The surging popularity of South Korean music and TV shows in the U.S. has paved the way for investment in the country to become the next 'K-wave.'
Business Spotlight

The BTS bump: How K-pop drove Korea Inc to go big in the U.S.

Music, drama fan 'huge tailwind' for Korean investment in states like Georgia

23 June 2023
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is said to have been involved in the reversal of appointments of senior officials at the country's intelligence agency.
Politics

South Korea's spy agency rocked by senior staff U-turn

Future of intelligence chief uncertain after Yoon said to nix appointments

23 June 2023