3 d. ago Former residence of South Korea’s Yoon under scrutiny over ‘pet pool’

A shallow pool inside South Korea’s presidential residence has sparked a debate among lawmakers over whether it was used by former president Yoon Suk-yeol and his wife for their pets. There has been increasing speculation that the pool was used for pets and not humans, said Representative Kim Byoung-joo at a meeting held on Monday by the Democratic Party, which became the country’s ruling party following President Lee Jae-myung’s election win last week. “I’ve looked around the space inside the...

Politics

4 d. ago South Korea’s probes into Yoon, wife: search for truth or ‘political revenge’?

The passage of three laws mandating special investigations into corruption and abuse of power allegations involving impeached president Yoon Suk-yeol and his controversial wife marks a significant setback for South Korea’s conservatives, according to analysts. Former first lady Kim Keon-hee was long considered beyond the reach of law enforcement, largely due to her outsize influence over her husband and state affairs. But that “untouchable” status appears to be fading following a change in...

Politics

4 d. ago South Korea’s probes of Yoon, wife: search for truth or ‘political revenge’?

The passage of three laws mandating special investigations into corruption and abuse of power allegations involving impeached president Yoon Suk-yeol and his controversial wife marks a significant setback for South Korea’s conservatives, according to analysts. Former first lady Kim Keon-hee was long considered beyond the reach of law enforcement, largely due to her outsize influence over her husband and state affairs. But that “untouchable” status appears to be fading following a change in...

Politics

5 d. ago South Korea’s president faces tough balancing act between allies, adversaries

Around six months after president Yoon Suk-yeol’s ousting, Liberal Party candidate Lee Jae-myung was elected as South Korea’s new president following a snap election on June 3. Lee’s victory marks a significant political shift, not just in domestic governance, but also in how South Korea may seek to navigate its ever-worsening relations with North Korea. In his inaugural address at the National Assembly, Lee stated his intention to deter military provocations from the North and also “open a...

Politics

6 d. ago South Korea has a new president. Will it have a new China policy?

South Korea’s new progressive president is likely to adopt a more “prudent” stance on Taiwan than his predecessor and focus on boosting economic ties with Beijing, according to observers. But they also expect continuity in trilateral military cooperation with the US and Japan. Lee Jae-myung was sworn in after winning a snap election held on Tuesday, two months after his predecessor – Yoon Suk-yeol – was impeached and removed over his abrupt declaration of martial law in December. Lee and his...

Politics

6 d. ago South Korea has a new president. Will it have a different China policy?

South Korea’s new progressive president is likely to adopt a more “prudent” stance on Taiwan than his predecessor and focus on boosting economic ties with Beijing, according to observers. But they also expect continuity in trilateral military cooperation with the US and Japan. Lee Jae-myung was sworn in after winning a snap election held on Tuesday, two months after his predecessor – Yoon Suk-yeol – was impeached and removed over his abrupt declaration of martial law in December. Lee and his...

Politics

6 d. ago South Korea has a new president. Will it get a new China policy?

South Korea’s new progressive president is likely to adopt a more “prudent” stance on Taiwan than his predecessor and focus on boosting economic ties with Beijing, according to observers. But they also expect continuity in trilateral military cooperation with the US and Japan. Lee Jae-myung was sworn in after winning a snap election held on Tuesday, two months after his predecessor – Yoon Suk-yeol – was impeached and removed over his abrupt declaration of martial law in December. Lee and his...

Politics

6 d. ago South Korea’s new ‘president for all’ inherits a deeply divided nation

When Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung emerged victorious early on Wednesday in South Korea’s snap presidential election, elation swept through his supporters massed outside the National Assembly. Strobe lights lit the night sky, celebratory music thundered from speakers and the crowd erupted into cheers and embraces – some dissolving into tears of relief. Just a few hundred metres away, however, the atmosphere outside the People Power Party’s (PPP) headquarters could not have been more...

Politics

6 d. ago What South Korea’s new president means for its US, China ties

Six months ago, South Korea teetered on the brink of authoritarian regression. But on Tuesday, its citizens elected Lee Jae-myung – a symbol of resilience and reform – as their new president, in a vote seen as a rebuke of his predecessor’s failed martial law decree that plunged the nation into a political crisis. The liberal Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) candidate secured a decisive victory over conservative rival Kim Moon-soo of the People Power Party (PPP), capturing 49.42 per cent of the...

Politics

8 d. ago South Korea’s Lee pledges warmer ties, but past tensions leave Japan ‘worried’

South Korea’s newly inaugurated President Lee Jae-myung has pledged to pursue warmer ties with Japan, but analysts caution that optimism may be premature, citing his past criticism of Tokyo’s wartime actions and fears he could reignite anti-Japan sentiment to bolster domestic support amid economic challenges. Within hours of taking office, Lee struck a conciliatory tone, calling for collaboration in areas such as trade, security and culture. “We can identify mutually beneficial areas in the...

Events

9 d. ago South Korea’s new leader faces tightrope act between China ties, US alliance

Hours after Lee Jae-myung was sworn in as the president of South Korea early on Wednesday, Chinese President Xi Jinping extended a congratulatory message, emphasising that China placed “great importance” on strengthening ties with its neighbour amid an increasingly uncertain global landscape. During his campaign, Lee pledged to repair strained ties with China and North Korea and underscored China’s role as a vital trading partner. Analysts predicted more stable China-South Korea relations to...

Politics

9 d. ago South Korean father kills family amid overwhelming debt crisis

Struggling with mounting debts, a married father of two drove his car into the sea off South Korea’s southern island of Jindo, resulting in the tragic deaths of his wife and teenage sons. The 49-year-old, who was only identified by the surname Ji, told authorities on Tuesday that his financial burdens had pushed him to such a desperate measure. The man, who was employed as a rebar supervisor, found himself in a challenging financial situation, amassing around 160 million won (US$116,000) in debt...

Events

9 d. ago South Korean father admits killing family amid overwhelming debt crisis

Struggling with mounting debts, a married father of two drove his car into the sea off South Korea’s southern island of Jindo, resulting in the deaths of his wife and teenage sons. The 49-year-old, who was only identified by the surname Ji, told authorities on Tuesday that his financial burdens had pushed him to such a desperate measure. The man, who was employed as a rebar supervisor, found himself in a challenging financial situation, amassing around 160 million won (US$116,000) in debt due to...

Events

1 week ago Seoul is spending millions to fight loneliness in South Korea. Will it work?

A growing epidemic of social isolation in South Korea has prompted its capital city to invest more than 450 billion won (US$330 million) in a sweeping five-year initiative aimed at reducing loneliness in the city. The Seoul Metropolitan Government’s efforts include the launch of a convenience store where locals can enjoy free instant noodles while talking about their feelings, as well as a 24-hour counselling hotline. Seoul is at the epicentre of the nation’s social isolation epidemic, with...

Economics

1 week ago South Korea’s presidential election puts its US alliance, Taiwan stance at stake

As South Koreans prepare to vote in a snap presidential election that could reshape Seoul’s defence spending and its approach to a potential conflict over Taiwan, the future of the nation’s foreign policy and its alliance with the United States hangs in the balance. On Tuesday, South Koreans will go to the polls to elect a successor to impeached president Yoon Suk-yeol, with Lee Jae-myung of the centre-left Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) widely expected to win by a comfortable margin. Observers...

Politics

2 w. ago Satirical comedy sketch fuels feud between South Korea’s would

A satirical jab on a comedy show has thrown South Korea’s would-be first ladies into the political spotlight, as their rising visibility on the campaign trail fuels controversy ahead of the June 3 presidential election. Seol Nan-young, wife of conservative People Power Party (PPP) candidate Kim Moon-soo, targeted Kim Hye-kyung – the spouse of Democratic Party front-runner Lee Jae-myung – during last week’s episode of Saturday Night Live Korea, a local adaptation of the American sketch comedy...

Politics

2 w. ago Hong Kong or Singapore? Blackpink’s mainland fans tackle tough ticket questions

Mainland Chinese visitors are expected to flock to Hong Kong in January next year for two concerts by K-pop superstars Blackpink, with fans trying to work out how to get their hands on tickets, the cheapest way to watch the shows and whether tour stops such as Singapore may be a better bet to see the girl group. The group’s agency, YG Entertainment, this week revealed that Blackpink’s “Deadline” world tour would end at Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Stadium, following stops in South Korea, Taiwan, Bangkok,...

Sport

2 w. ago South Korean election video pulled after public outcry over misogyny

A video encouraging South Koreans to vote in next week’s presidential elections has sparked public outrage after it featured a male supervisor assaulting a female employee, leading to an apology from local authorities. Gyeongsan, a city located about 300km (186 miles) southeast of Seoul, shared a 49-second video on its YouTube channel on Monday to encourage residents to participate in the election on June 3. In the video, a male supervisor is shown throwing a crumpled a piece of paper at a...

Politics

2 w. ago ‘US troops critical’: South Korean presidential candidate signals turn on China

US troops in South Korea could be “critical” for containing China, and might potentially benefit Seoul’s outreach to the Arctic, according to the front runner for the coming presidential election who has signalled a possible change in his position on China. During an exclusive interview with Time Magazine published on Thursday, the Democratic Party of Korea’s (DPK) presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung said US Forces Korea (USFK) could play a “critical role for the United States policy of...

Politics

2 w. ago South Korea Set to Balance US, China Ties More If Lee Wins Vote

South Korea Set to Balance US, China Ties More If Lee Wins Vote  Bloomberg.com

Politics