South Korea

Japan will accept general travelers into the country from Tuesday for the first time since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, permitting visa-free entry for visitors from 68 countries and regions. (Photo by Mayumi Tsumita)
Your Week in Asia

China 20th Party Congress, Japan resumes visa-free travel, BTS concert

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

9 October 2022
Vehicles of ride-hailing service operator Tada are seen parked at its garage in Seoul, in February 2020.
Transportation

'South Korea's Uber' vindicated in court after government ban

Socar's woes point to contradiction between Moon's words and actions on startups

9 October 2022
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Life

An insider's guide to Tokyo's Koreatown

Where to shop and eat in Shin-Okubo, one of the city's buzziest districts

8 October 2022
Global inflation is seen crimping demand for Samsung's products.
Technology

Samsung sees Q3 profit down 31.7% amid inflation, low chip demand

South Korean tech company may suffer poor earnings in coming quarters

7 October 2022
For China, which maintains a zero-tolerance approach to containing COVID-19, AMRO slashed its growth forecast to 3.8% from 4.8%.
Economy

ASEAN+3 growth outlook dims as China's 2022 forecast cut to 3.8%

Think tank AMRO lifts overall inflation forecast for 13 economies to 6.2%

6 October 2022
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N Korea at crossroads

U.S. aircraft carrier moves near Korean waters as warning to North

Trilateral exercises with Seoul and Tokyo to begin as early as Thursday

6 October 2022
Australia's picturesque Tiwi Islands lie 80 kilometers north of the city of Darwin.
Energy

Tiny islands drive big challenge to mammoth Australia gas project

Energy major Santos wants to ship LNG to Japan, South Korea but locals resist

5 October 2022
A combination of post-pandemic debt, inflation and currency fluctuations has thrown central banks throughout Asia into chaos this year. 
The Big Story

The money blizzard: Asia's central banks reckon with the aftermath of COVID-19

Governments from Japan to Thailand grapple with inflation, currency chaos and 'zombie companies' after biggest-ever bailout

5 October 2022
American and Japanese fighter jets participated in the exercise Tuesday over the Sea of Japan. (Photo courtesy of Japan's Ministry of Defense)
International relations

U.S. and Japan hold joint drills after North Korea missile launch

Washington also conducts precision bombing exercise with South Korea

5 October 2022
Consumer-to-consumer fashion marketplace Poshmark boasts 37 million users. (Photo courtesy of Poshmark)
Business deals

South Korea's Naver to buy U.S. fashion app Poshmark in $1.6bn deal

Deal allows expansion into North America's e-commerce market

5 October 2022
Samsung Electronics is betting big on advanced semiconductor production, vowing to more than triple output of cutting-edge chips by 2027.
Semiconductors

Samsung says it will more than triple advanced chip output by 2027

South Korean giant aims to catch rival TSMC in race for foundry market share

4 October 2022
Frieze Seoul is the first Asian edition of the London-founded art festival. (Photo courtesy of Frieze and Let's Studio)
Arts

Seoul aims to ride Korean culture wave to art hub status

Hong Kong's strict COVID rules send dealers, gallery owners to look elsewhere

4 October 2022
A man watches a news report on North Korea firing a ballistic missile over Japan in Seoul on Oct. 4.
N Korea at crossroads

North Korea fires missile over Japan in farthest-ever test

Japan's Kishida, South Korea's Yoon slam Pyongyang's fifth launch in 10 days

4 October 2022
South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol, left, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida meet in New York on Sept. 21. (Photo courtesy of Japan's Cabinet Public Affairs Office/Kyodo)
Comment

Three 'cushions' help Japan, South Korea leaders hold first talks

Nations devise strategy to blunt domestic opposition to reconciliation efforts

3 October 2022
Takashi Miike’s “Connect” stars Jung Hae-in as a man who has his eye removed by a criminal gang of organ hunters.  (Courtesy of Walt Disney Co.)
Arts

Foreign directors create their own Korean dramas

Films by Japan's Miike and Kore-eda to be showcased at Busan festival

3 October 2022
The resilience displayed by Southeast Asian stocks contrasts sharply with North Asian peers, which are susceptible to trade and dependent on China.
Market Spotlight

ASEAN stocks calm investors despite turmoil in other regions

Emerging markets rebound as economies reopen, but China still weighs on Asia

3 October 2022
The aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan joins Japanese and South Korean ships for a joint exercise in the Sea of Japan on Sept. 30. (Japan's Ministry of Defense via Kyodo)
Indo-Pacific

U.S. weighs more military exercises with Japan and South Korea

New North Korean nuclear test would not be a surprise: Air Force commander

2 October 2022
Supported by the popularity of BTS, Hybe has attracted would-be artists from around the world to form a pool of trainees and built a structure to mass-produce K-pop idols. (Photo courtesy of Hybe)
Media & Entertainment

BTS's talent agency in rapid business diversification mode

New artists debuted, game business launched to cut reliance on K-pop sensation

1 October 2022
 South Korea's LG Energy Solution over the past year has announced plans to build several more joint venture plants in North America. (Photo courtesy of LG Energy Solution)
Technology

LG Energy charges into North America to steal CATL's battery crown

U.S. subsidies embolden South Korean battery maker to ready 6 plants

1 October 2022
An anti-tank missile is fired during an exercise at the Defense Expo Korea on Sept. 20. South Korea exports tanks, howitzers and other conventional weaponry to countries like Poland.
Aerospace & Defense Industries

South Korea triples arms exports in 2 years on tailored sales pitches

Seoul's longtime push to curb dependence on U.S. bolsters defense industry

29 September 2022
South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol answers questions at the presidential office in Seoul on Sept. 26. He has accused the country’s media of damaging its alliance with the U.S. after a TV broadcaster released a video suggesting that he insulted U.S. Congress members in New York.
Politics

South Korea's Yoon scapegoats media after U.S. hot-mic slur

Harris visit to Seoul offers president chance to mend ties with Washington

29 September 2022
Samsung Display unveiled a 17-inch "slideable" computer screen at Intel Innovation 2022 on Sept. 27. (Screenshot from Intel YouTube)
Technology

Samsung rolls out first 17-inch 'slideable' screen at Intel event

South Korean tech giant partners with U.S. chipmaker to reignite PC market

28 September 2022
Singapore-based Affirma Capital says it oversees more than $3.5 billion in assets, investing in buyout and growth opportunities across emerging markets in Asia, Africa and the Middle East. (Source images by Akira Kodaka and from Affirma Capital website)
DealStreetAsia

Singapore's Affirma targets first Southeast Asia-focused fund

Sources say investment vehicle would also cover India

28 September 2022
Korean Air will more than double its Japan flights in October. (Photo courtesy of Korean Air)
Transportation

South Korean airlines to boost Japan service as entry restrictions ease

Three carriers to more than double flights on October restart of visa-free tourism

28 September 2022
Ant Group has partnered with 120,000 merchants in South Korea to accept payments under the Alipay+ program. (Photo courtesy of Ant Group)
Technology

Ant Group allows use of Southeast Asian payment apps in South Korea

120,000 merchants accept e-payments from Philippines, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Thailand

28 September 2022