Politics

The South Korean-flagged tanker seized by Iran is seen on Jan. 4 in this picture supplied by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps via Iran's West Asia News Agency.
International relations

South Korean vice minister to seek tanker's release on Iran visit

Seoul sends special forces to Strait of Hormuz amid tensions over frozen billions

5 January 2021
RCEP is raising hopes for Asia's post-COVID economic recovery, as well as questions about how non-signatories India and the U.S. will respond.
Asia Insight

RCEP: China to gain as trade pact ripples across post-COVID world

Japan and South Korea also likely winners; outsiders US and India eye next moves

5 January 2021
South Korean President Moon Jae-in, center, seeks to improve his approval rating with a cabinet reshuffle. (Photo courtesy of South Korea's presidential office)
Politics

Moon replaces justice minister amid sinking approval ratings

Top aides resign to grant South Korean president a clean slate

31 December 2020
While the impact of the virus will be felt for decades to come, there are many reasons to be optimistic as we head into 2021.
Asia Insight

An optimist's guide to 2021 in Asia

The pandemic has been a catalyst for change in health, tech and working practices

29 December 2020
Fumio Kishida, then-Japanese foreign minister, and his South Korean counterpart Yun Byung-se shake hands after a December 2015 news conference in Seoul. 
Japan-South Korea rift

'Comfort women' settlement fails to settle Japan-South Korea row

Tokyo hopes key player Biden will push Seoul to improve ties

29 December 2020
TOKYO -- South Korean President Moon Jae-in, left, and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga are losing public support due to criticism of their handling of the pandemic among other factors. (Source photos by Uichiro Kasai, Akira Kodaka and Reuters) 
Politics

Suga and Moon slump in polls as COVID surge spurs criticism

Across Asia, pandemic performance impacts governments' popularity

28 December 2020
People wearing face masks pass a Christmas tree on a shopping street in Seoul last month.
Coronavirus

No Christmas cheer in South Korea as COVID rules create confusion

Moon administration losing support over handling of pandemic

25 December 2020
South Korean President Moon Jae-in, left, and Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl greet each other during a meeting at the president's office in Seoul in December last year. 
Politics

Moon takes heat for suspending South Korea's top prosecutor

Yoon Seok-youl emerges as leading candidate to be next president

17 December 2020
Park Geun-hye, left, and Lee Myung-bak: The ex-presidents are now imprisoned. (Source photos from Reuters)
South Korea election

South Korean opposition apologizes for jailed ex-presidents

People Power Party targets moderates in next election

16 December 2020
South Korean President Moon Jae-in speaks on Dec. 7. The president apologized to the nation at the weekend for failing to stop the recent surge in COVID cases.
Coronavirus

South Korea considers strictest COVID curbs as cases hit new high

Moon's approval ratings fall to record low as pandemic management criticized

14 December 2020
Uniqlo's Seoul flagship store, which once enjoyed nearly $2 million in sales a day, is shutting down. (Photo by Sotaro Suzuki)
Japan-South Korea rift

Uniqlo's Seoul flagship to close as Japan boycotts smolder

'Selective' shunning hits cars and beer, but PS5 and Tamagotchi unscathed

14 December 2020
Members of South Korea's opposition have blasted the Moon administration's push to rein in prosecutors.
Politics

South Korea lawmakers dismantle roadblock to prosecutorial reform

Top prosecutor's disciplinary hearing delayed amid fairness concerns

11 December 2020
South Korean Presidential Moon Jae-in takes off his mask at the presidential Blue House on Dec. 7.
Politics

Moon's party passes bill to limit power of South Korea's chaebol

Conglomerates and opposition parties fear foreign hedge funds will pounce

9 December 2020
South Korean President Moon Jae-in speaks at an event in Seoul on Dec. 8.
Trade

Moon raises prospect of South Korea joining TPP trade pact

President looks to strike balance after RCEP deal with China

9 December 2020
South Korean President Moon Jae-in has reshuffled his cabinet in a bid to turn around his falling support rate.
Politics

Moon rejigs cabinet as approval rate falls to record low

South Korean president to replace land, health, interior and gender ministers

4 December 2020
South Korean President Moon Jae-in, left, and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga appear unlikely to meet face to face this year as part of a three-way summit with China. (Source photos by Reuters and Masayuki Terazawa) 
International relations

Japan, China and South Korea to delay trilateral summit to 2021

Exclusive: Wartime labor row clouds prospects for Suga visit to Seoul

4 December 2020
President Moon Jae-in appears eager to set a new tone for the U.S.-South Korea dialogue.
Opinion

What South Korea wants from Joe Biden

Four takeaways on the future of Seoul's alliance with the US

4 December 2020
South Korean Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae, left, and Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl. (Choo photo courtesy of South Korea's presidential office, Yoon photo by Yonhap/Kyodo)
Politics

South Korea's top prosecutor fights suspension as reform battle rages

Moon administration's moves to defang powerful office galvanize opposition

1 December 2020
A car factory in Asan, South Korea: Stainless steel bars are used in items such as industrial machinery and auto parts. 
Japan-South Korea rift

WTO says South Korea imposed illegal tariffs on Japanese steel

Panel finds no 'factual basis' for continuing the long-running 15% duty

1 December 2020
A virtual meeting of leaders from 15 RCEP member countries, pictured in Hanoi on Nov. 15: the impetus came from ASEAN. (Photo by Tomoya Onishi)
Opinion

ASEAN must counter Chinese attempts to own RCEP trade agreement

Multilateral trade agreement will shore up the group's Asia centrality

27 November 2020
Kang Chang-il, a former lawmaker in South Korea's ruling Democratic Party, has been named as the country's new ambassador to Japan. 
Japan-South Korea rift

South Korea picks Japan hand as Tokyo envoy in bid to fix ties

Moon tasks Kang Chang-il with solving thorny wartime labor issue

24 November 2020
South Korean President Moon Jae-in wants to improve ties with Japan, a source from his office said.
International relations

Seoul names University of Tokyo PhD Kang as Japan ambassador

South Korea tasks well-connected ex-lawmaker with improving relations

24 November 2020
The Chang'e 5 lunar probe completes vertical transport in Wenchang, Hainan, China on Nov. 17.
Your Week in Asia

China's moonshot, Xiaomi results, and India GDP

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

22 November 2020
South Korea has urged the international community to replace the name "Sea of Japan" with "East Sea."
International relations

Tokyo makes headway on keeping 'Sea of Japan' the global standard

South Korea welcomes new numbers-based digital chart that ditches names

18 November 2020
Leaders and trade ministers from the 15 Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership countries pose for a virtual group photo during the signing ceremony hosted by Vietnam on Nov. 15.
Trade

Asia forms world's largest trading bloc RCEP after years of talks

After signing, focus turns to ratification; China to hold sway in India's absence

16 November 2020