Vietnamese President Nguyen Xuan Phuc, left, arrives in Seoul to meet South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol for a state visit Dec. 5.
International relations

South Korea's Yoon draws closer to ASEAN, keeping distance from China

President welcomes Vietnam's PM in latest move of new Indo-Pacific strategy

6 December 2022
An ICBM is launched in an undated photo released by North Korea in mid-November that could not be independently verified. (KCNA via Reuters)
International relations

U.S. Space Force sets up South Korean HQ to monitor N Korean missiles

South Korean air force establishes Space Squadron for similar purposes

3 December 2022
North Korea awarded the title of "DPRK Hero" to missile launch vehicle No. 321 for its role in a November ICBM test. (Photo courtesy of KCNA)
N Korea at crossroads

North Korea's possible mobile ICBM expands tactical playbook

Information warfare muddies the waters on Pyongyang's real capabilities

1 December 2022
Women mourn at the scene of a deadly crowd crush a month ago in Seoul.
Politics

Itaewon tragedy: One month on, search for blame continues

South Korean police and lawmakers probe Halloween crowd crush as initial shock wanes

30 November 2022
Concrete mixer trucks are parked at a factory due to a strike by a truckers union in Anyang, South Korea, on Nov. 28.
Economy

South Korea orders striking cement truckers back to work

Union leaders shave heads in protest; talks continue with transport ministry

29 November 2022
With the North ramping up provocations, recent surveys show that around 70% of South Koreans support the country developing its own nuclear weapons.
Asia Insight

South Korea's nuclear option: Calls grow for weapon development

More lawmakers, voters see need for homegrown program as North's threat grows

29 November 2022
Finance Minister Choo Kyung-ho, second from left, and Bank of Korea Gov. Rhee Chang-yong (second from right) and other officials are seen ahead of an emergency meeting on Nov. 28 in Seoul. 
Finance

South Korea asks some state-owned companies to cut bond issuance

Finance Ministry to slash sovereign issuance by 60% amid debt market tightness

28 November 2022
North Korea put the new Hwasong-17 ICBM on display at a parade in April to mark its military's 90th anniversary. (Korea Media via Kyodo)
N Korea at crossroads

North Korea shows off ICBM with potential to hit entire U.S. mainland

Missile's range could exceed 15,000 km if launched at normal angle, experts say

19 November 2022
An image of Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is seen in a welcome advertisement in Seoul on Nov. 16. The desert kingdom's de facto ruler is visiting South Korea.
Business deals

Saudi Arabia inks deals with Samsung, Hyundai and other companies

Crown prince discusses NEOM smart-city project, defense with South Korea's leader

17 November 2022
President Xi Jinping shakes hands with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, signalling in a speech that he wants to thaw frosty relations between the two countries.
Indo-Pacific

Xi sheds 'wolf-warrior' coat on return to world stage

Third term gives China's leader freer hand to chart new courses

15 November 2022
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, left, and South Korea's President Yoon Suk-yeol walk to the stage for group photo during the ASEAN meetings in Phnom Penh.
International relations

Japan-South Korea summit promises push to 'resolve' wartime issues

North Korean threat brings Kishida and Yoon closer but hurdles remain

14 November 2022
U.S. President Joe Biden poses with other leaders during the ASEAN summit in Phnom Penh on Nov. 12.
International relations

U.S. doubles down on ASEAN aid to counter China

Japan's Kishida vows 'quality infrastructure,' warns against 'opaque' assistance

12 November 2022
Top ASEAN leaders attend the opening ceremony of their summit on Nov. 11 in Phnom Penh.
International relations

ASEAN leaders kick off summit with Myanmar as urgent priority

Superpowers U.S., China to compete for influence at flurry of regional meetings

11 November 2022
South Korean opposition leader Lee Jae-myung, left, meets former President Moon Jae-in in late August after he was elected chairman of the Democratic Party. (Yonhap)
Politics

South Korean prosecutors step up probes of Moon-era leadership

Opposition party jittery over scope of investigations

8 November 2022
October saw fatal crushes at a soccer stadium in Indonesia, left, and a Halloween parade in South Korea, center, as well as mass shooting in Thailand by a former police officer. (Source photos by Reuters)
Society

South Korean, Indonesian police slammed for fatal crowd crushes

Mass shooting by Thai ex-cop also raises questions over law enforcement

7 November 2022
South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol inspects the scene of tragedy on Oct. 30, a day after many people died in a stampede during a Halloween festival in Seoul, South Korea.
Comment

Itaewon tragedy is code-red moment for South Korea's Yoon

South Korean left revives candlelight protests that took down Park Geun-hye

6 November 2022
North Korea has fired dozens of missiles in recent days.
N Korea at crossroads

North Korea missile blitz marks vicious cycle of 'fire and fury'

South scrambles jets after detecting about 180 DPRK warplanes north of border

4 November 2022
South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol, center, and his wife Kim Keon-hee arrive to pay tribute to Halloween disaster victims in Seoul on Oct. 31.
Politics

South Korea Halloween crush tests Yoon as public demands answers

Experts predict more pressure on president, police after mourning ends

31 October 2022
A street in Seoul's Itaewon district is pictured full of Halloween revelers before a stampede killed and injured hundreds.
Society

At least 154 killed in South Korea Halloween crowd crush

Yoon declares mourning period as authorities investigate cause

31 October 2022
U.S. and South Korean forces conducted a bombing drill in early October. (Photo by Yonhap via Reuters)
International relations

U.S., South Korea to hold Vigilant Storm drill with F-35s, U-2 spy plane

Air exercise next week to involve over 240 aircraft, including Australian tanker

29 October 2022
South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol and U.S. President Joe Biden seem to have different views on possible redeployment of U.S. nuclear arms in South Korea. (Photo courtesy of South Korean presidential office)
Comment

Geopolitical tension fuels nuclear-sharing debate in South Korea

Public eager for nuclear deterrent but U.S. still reluctant to redeploy arms

26 October 2022
Samsung and SK Hynix are under pressure to reassess their production strategies following the latest U.S. chip curbs on China.
Semiconductors

Samsung and SK Hynix face China dilemma from U.S. export controls

Memory chipmakers have 1-year waiver for Chinese operations, but what then?

25 October 2022
South Korean and U.S. troops practice rebuilding damaged bridges and transporting military equipment across rivers in Yeoju on Oct. 19.  (Photo by Junnosuke Kobara)
International relations

U.S., South Korea step up drills on watch for Pyongyang nuclear test

Latest exercises follow barrage of North Korean missile and artillery displays

20 October 2022
Gopizza currently has 60 outlets across South Korea, Singapore, Indonesia, India and Hong Kong.(Screenshot from Gopizza Facebook page)
DealStreetAsia

South Korea pizza chain raises $25m for bigger slice of India market

Gopizza wants 100 stores in India by 2023, up from 15 now

18 October 2022
Members of South Korean K-Pop band BTS discuss anti-Asian hate crimes and other issues during a daily briefing at the White House in Washington on May 31. 
Politics

In or out? Issue of BTS military duty roils South Korean politics

Deadline looms for decision on whether K-pop band should be exempted

15 October 2022