Politics: News & Insights

U.S. President Joe Biden, center, has already called Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, left, and South Korean President Moon Jae-in. (Source photos by Reuters and Uichiro Kasai)

Biden's Asia policy

Biden seeks Tokyo-Seoul thaw to help end North Korea deadlock

Fractious ties between Japan and South Korea hamper trilateral approach with US

10 February 2021

South Korean President Moon Jae-in, left, and Chinese President Xi Jinping at a bilateral meeting in December 2017. Xi spoke with Moon by phone before the latter had could do the same with U.S. President Joe Biden.

Comment

Xi seeks to strongarm Moon in bid to divide US and Asia allies

Chinese leader makes overtures in deftly timed telephone talk with South Korean counterpart

9 February 2021

Questions are swirling in South Korea over whether President Moon Jae-in, right, presented plans to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, left, at their historic meeting in April 2018 to potentially help his country build a nuclear power plant. (Source photos by Reuters)

Comment

North Korea nuclear power plant plans rock politics in the South

Opposition parties accuse Moon of aiding 'enemy' as documents reveal secrets

8 February 2021

A South Korean-flagged tanker that was seized by Iran is seen in the Persian Gulf off the Iranian coast on Jan. 4.

Iran tensions

South Korea and Iran remain split over tanker seizure issue

Seoul caught between pressures from Washington and Tehran

6 February 2021

Transparency International says the Philippines, ranked 115th for perceived corruption, has responded to COVID-19 with "abusive enforcement, and major violations of human rights and media freedom."

Coronavirus

Corruption deepens COVID impact in developing Asia: report

Singapore is region's only country in Transparency International's clean top 10

28 January 2021

South Korean President Moon Jae-in speaks during the Davos Agenda meetings on Jan. 27.

WEF in Singapore

Moon pushes 'profit-sharing' to counter inequality in Davos speech

South Korean leader promotes Seoul as post-COVID investment destination

27 January 2021

South Korean President Moon Jae-in, center, has made rapprochement with Pyongyang a key policy objective, but it is unlikely that U.S. President Joe Biden will meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un any time soon. (Source photos by Getty Images and Reuters)

N Korea at crossroads

South Korea faces roadblocks to brokering US-North Korea dialogue

Biden set to be harder than Trump on human rights, risking friction with Seoul

27 January 2021

Coronavirus

COVID shots meet skepticism in South Korea, China and Japan: poll

Survey for Davos meetings shows only 14% to 23% want immediate vaccinations

27 January 2021

An empty storefront in Seoul. (Photo by Sotaro Suzuki)

Coronavirus

Cash aid for South Korean businesses gains currency after GDP shock

First contraction in 22 years and key elections pressure government to take action

27 January 2021

Directional signs bearing North Korean and U.S. flags are seen near the demilitarized zone in Paju, South Korea.

International relations

South Korea's Moon moves US alliance up on agenda, with eyes north

Seoul seeks chance to break North Korea impasse with help from Biden

24 January 2021

Iranian Revolutionary Guard boats escort a South Korea-flagged tanker. Iran is trying to strong-arm Joe Biden into returning to the negotiation table.

Comment

Iran challenges Biden with South Korea tanker seizure

US sanctions spark game of brinkmanship that risks spiraling out of control

24 January 2021

The inauguration of Joe Biden as the 46th U.S. president was welcomed by allies and partners across Asia. (Source photo by AP)

Biden's Asia policy

Asian allies embrace Biden as China bids Trump 'good riddance'

Beijing says 'kind angels can triumph over evil forces' in regards to transition

21 January 2021

To take advantage of the Biden factor, experts say South Korean corporations will need to join U.S.-led supply chains while remaining on friendly terms with China.

Business trends

What Korea Inc. stands to gain from a Biden presidency

More certainty and continued pressure on China would help Samsung and others

20 January 2021

Kurt Campbell on a visit to Japan in 2013: The former Obama administration official will be heading up Joe Biden's Indo-Pacific policy.

Biden's Asia policy

Biden point man Kurt Campbell returns to an Asia that has pivoted

Old hand welcomed back but faces new tests, from China to Koreas to ASEAN

18 January 2021

South Korean President Moon Jae-in speaks during an online New Year's news conference with local and foreign journalists in Seoul on Jan. 18.

Japan-South Korea rift

Moon says Japan asset sales over wartime labor 'not desirable'

South Korean president also 'honestly confused' about ruling on 'comfort women'

18 January 2021

Koichi Aiboshi, now Japan's ambassador to Israel, returns to Seoul for a third diplomatic assignment. (Photo courtesy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

Japan-South Korea rift

Japan's new ambassador to South Korea takes third post in Seoul

Self-taught Korean speaker Koichi Aiboshi served at embassy under Moon's mentor Roh

17 January 2021

A photograph of Jeong-in is displayed outside a Seoul court on Wednesday. Her adoptive mother is now on trial for murder over allegations that abuse of the infant led to death. (Photo by Grace Moon)

Society

A baby's death casts shadow on South Korea's adoption industry

Prosecutors raise charges to murder for mother suspected of abuse

17 January 2021

Supporters of ousted South Korean President Park Geun-hye gather in Seoul after she receives a 24-year prison sentence in 2018 for a bribery conviction.

Politics

Pardons for South Korea ex-leaders gain traction

Ruling Democratic Party weighs olive branch ahead of elections

15 January 2021

Coronavirus

Japan halts business travel and threatens to deport quarantine violators

Foreigners face loss of resident status if they do not follow tightened controls

14 January 2021

A majority of Chinese and South Korean executives surveyed said U.S-China relations will improve after Joe Biden, left, enters the White House. (Source photos by AP and Reuters)

Business trends

East Asian executives expect better US-China ties under Biden

Japanese more pessimistic about COVID impact and economic outlook

13 January 2021

South Korean ambassador to Japan Nam Gwan-pyo outside Japan's Foreign Ministry on Jan. 8.

Japan-South Korea rift

South Korea envoy should leave, Japan ruling party official says

LDP weighs options as 'comfort women' ruling squeezes ties

13 January 2021

Around 1,800 exhibitors are scheduled to appear at the first online-only CES, compared to 4,419 at last year's event.

CES 2021

First online CES tech event lures fewer Chinese participants

5G and EV stay at forefront with Samsung and Panasonic leading the way

11 January 2021

A statue symbolizing wartime "comfort women" near the Japanese Embassy in Seoul: The countries still face tensions over the issue despite a 2015 agreement designed to "finally and irreversibly" put it to rest.

Japan-South Korea rift

Comfort women ruling frays South Korea-Japan ties ahead of Biden era

US president-elect's 'united front of allies' faces challenge from the get-go

10 January 2021

A statue symbolizing South Korea's wartime 'comfort women' in front of the Japanese embassy in Seoul.

Japan-South Korea rift

South Korean court orders Japan to pay former 'comfort women'

First-ever ruling raises prospects of diplomatic tensions and seizure of assets

8 January 2021

The South Korean-flagged Hankuk Chemi was seized Jan. 4 in waters off Oman with 20 crew members on board.

International relations

Iran sends warning to US friends with South Korea tanker seizure

Seoul weighs using frozen assets to purchase vaccines for Tehran

7 January 2021