The message in Samsung's new video, "Creativity cannot be crushed," is believed to be a response to an Apple ad that showed a hydraulic press crushing instruments and paint. (Screenshot of Samsung video)
Technology

Samsung vs. Apple: Smartphone rivalry heats up with 'Crush' ads

AI emerges as new frontier in mobile devices race

18 May 2024
Subic Bay, which offers access to the South China Sea, hosts a Philippine naval base. (Photo by Yuichi Shiga)
Energy

South Korean shipbuilder picks Philippines to make floating wind platforms

Marcos says deal with Cerberus will revive maritime manufacturing at Subic Bay

16 May 2024
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's policy of forward-looking relations with Japan is getting entangled in a bilateral business dispute. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by Yuki Nakao, Reuters and AP)
Politics

Line-Naver spat presents dilemma for Yoon's Japan policy push

South Korean president caught between backing local company, balancing Tokyo ties

15 May 2024
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Chinese Premier Li Qiang and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol are set to meet in late May. (Sources photos by Nikkei, Kyodo and Reuters)
International relations

Japan, South Korea, China seek to ease friction at trilateral summit

Leaders to juggle economic and security interests at first meeting in 4 years

15 May 2024
Vacant storefronts in central Seoul. In the first quarter of this year, 11,341 small-business owners defaulted on loans, bringing the total number of self-employed people in default in South Korea to 72,815. (Photo by Steven Borowiec) 
Economy

South Korea's self-employed struggle under growing debt load

One restaurateur finds niche in catching, cooking freshwater fish

14 May 2024
Currency analysts are focused on the U.S. consumer price index for April due Wednesday after the previous month’s data caused the yen to tumble. (Source photos by Hiroshi Tamehiro and Akira Kodaka)
Market Spotlight

Mighty dollar pushes Asian governments to boost currency protection

Asian monetary officials seek to buy time until the U.S. economy slows down

13 May 2024
The artificial intelligence revolution relies on cutting-edge components known as high-bandwidth memory, and demand for it is shaking up the memory chip market.  
Business Spotlight

AI memory emerges as new battleground for SK Hynix, Samsung and others

Demand for high-bandwidth memory is driving competition -- and prices -- higher

10 May 2024
Hanwha Robotics sees demand for robot technology in sectors ranging from restaurants to medical care. (Hanwha Robotics)
Technology

Robot sommeliers and baristas go to work in labor-starved South Korea

Companies explore new uses beyond manufacturing amid broad demand

10 May 2024
A logo of Credit Suisse outside its office building in Hong Kong in March 2023.
Finance

Law firms rally Asian claimants against Switzerland over AT1 bond wipeout

London-based Withers works to organize action over UBS-Credit Suisse deal

9 May 2024
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol speaks at the Presidential Office in Seoul on May 9, pledging to make efforts to address rising food prices.
Politics

South Korea's Yoon calls for boosting ties with Japan and the U.S.

President announces new ministry to deal with birthrate 'national emergency'

9 May 2024
A memorial in Yeoncheon, South Korea, depicting a 1968 infiltration by North Korean agents on a mission to assassinate then-South Korean President Park Chung-hee. (Photo by Steven Borowiec) 
Defense

South Korea border area keeps calm despite growing threat from North

Seoul has accused Pyongyang of planting mines in roads that symbolized friendly ties

9 May 2024
HD Hyundai Marine Solution listed on the stock market after completing South Korea's biggest initial public offering in more than two years. (Hyundai Marine Solution)
IPO

South Korea's Hyundai Marine Solution nearly doubles in market debut

KKR-backed ship repair company completes country's biggest IPO in 2 years

8 May 2024
LG revamped its high-end Signature series of appliances to sell in Europe. (Photo by Andrea An)
Electronics

Samsung, LG lean on AI-powered kitchens to fend off Chinese rivals

South Korean manufacturers unveil new appliances at Milan expo

8 May 2024
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Chinese Premier Li Qiang and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol will attend the summit in Seoul later in May. (Nikkei, Kyodo, Reuters photo montage)
International relations

Japan, China, South Korea eye first joint summit in 4 years

Trilateral meeting in late May to cover regional stability, trade issues

7 May 2024
Indonesia's men's national team coach Shin Tae-yong has brought joy to the country's long-suffering soccer fans.
Sports

South Korean soccer coaches make mark in Southeast Asia

Shin Tae-yong's success with Indonesia's national side is latest example

6 May 2024
 An employee checks servers at Samsung Networks' Telco Data Center. Global power demand from data centers may more than double by 2026, the International Energy Agency says.
Energy

Boom in data centers challenges clean power goals in Asia

Electricity demand expected to rise as generative AI takes off

4 May 2024
South Korean demonstrators hold up green onions to protest against high food prices under President Yoon Suk Yeol. (Yonhap via Kyodo) 
Comment

Why South Korea's election isn't leading to Japan bashing this time

Yoon has reason to keep up diplomatic momentum, and views on Tokyo have moderated

3 May 2024
U.S. B-1B Lancer bombers fly with Japan Self-Defense Forces F-2 fighter jets near Kyushu. (U.S. Air Force via Reuters)
Defense

Japan eyes high-level talks on U.S. nuclear umbrella: defense minister

New framework would elevate discussion on American extended deterrence

3 May 2024
South Korea's Financial Services Commission on May 2 proposed guidelines that it hopes will help listed companies raise their corporate value and draw investors to the stock market.
Economy

South Korea unveils guidelines for 'Corporate Value-up Program'

Government initiative aims to end 'Korea discount' in equity market

2 May 2024
SK Hynix CEO Kwak Noh-jung says average annual demand for AI-applicable memory chips will "increase 60% in the mid- and long-term." (Courtesy of SK Hynix)
Technology

SK Hynix foresees long-term surge in AI memory chip demand

CEO says South Korean maker will mass produce next-gen HBM in Q3

2 May 2024
A South Korean tank participates in a military exercise. The nation excels both in high-technology and conventional arms. 
Indo-Pacific

South Korea explores defense tech cooperation with AUKUS

Seoul's defense and foreign ministers discuss deeper collaboration in Australia

2 May 2024
K-pop giant Hybe is launching an internal audit into its Ador subsidiary, the creator of hugely popular act NewJeans.
Media & Entertainment

Discord hits BTS agency Hybe's shares, as subsidiary feud festers

Saga has wiped out 11% of the largest K-pop management agency's market value

1 May 2024
Samsung, like other chipmakers, is keen to ride the generative AI boom. 
Semiconductors

Samsung says latest AI memory chip to go on sale in Q2

Tech giant's chip segment returns to profit as it chases SK Hynix in HBM

30 April 2024
Two Cuban K-pop fans pose for a picture at a club in Havana in February. South Korea and Cuba have established diplomatic relations, decades after cutting off exchanges. (Yonhap via Kyodo)
30 April 2024
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol (right) meets opposition leader Lee Jae-myung for talks in Seoul on April 29.
Politics

South Korea opposition leader presses Yoon in rare direct meeting

Lee and president appear to put rivalry aside during cordial sit-down

29 April 2024