Korea
Seoul politics, chaebols, semiconductors, the peninsula and the long shadow of North Korea.
South Korea's AI ambitions need openness, not conformity
South Korea is pouring hundreds of billions into AI, but can't out-scale China. Its real edge is openness—yet a recent celebrity scandal sho
Seoul's economy under strain as Trump shifts US priorities away from Asia
President Lee Jae-myung's government is reeling from Trump's demands for $350 billion and his decision to scrap US-South Korea military exer
Kim Jong-un hesitates as Trump offers rare opening
Trump has signaled willingness to cut US-ROK exercises and restart summits, but Pyongyang has stayed silent. Kim risks losing a rare chance
North Korea's military buildup deepens as Seoul weighs US reliability
North Korea is reportedly preparing to send up to 50,000 troops to support Russia's war in Ukraine, according to President Zelensky. The par
Seoul's 'model ally' label under strain as ties fray
Washington calls Seoul a 'model ally,' but the Lee Jae-myung administration has clashed with the US on North Korea, Taiwan, and Iran. Domest
South Korea's AI boom tests its economic resilience
South Korea's AI-driven chip boom has produced record exports and a soaring Kospi, but also market whiplash and inflation concerns. The cent
Samsung's record profit hides a circular funding problem in AI chips
Samsung posted a record operating profit of 89.5 trillion won for Q2, up 1,814% year-on-year, yet its shares fell. SK Hynix also saw a recor
Why South Korea's stock market crashed: AI frenzy, retail leverage, and a sudden reversal
South Korea's KOSPI index fell from over 9,000 to around 5,500 after a months-long rally fueled by AI memory chip demand. The crash was driv
South Korea's Far Right Gains Ground With MAGA Ties and Corporate Backing
Two years after mass protests blocked Yoon Suk-yeol's self-coup, a far-right movement in South Korea is gaining momentum. Backed by retail t
Bank of Korea Rate Hike Challenges Fed's AI Inflation View
The Bank of Korea lifted its policy rate to 2.75%, ending a 3.5-year freeze. Governor Shin Hyun-song cited AI-driven export growth and infla
Inside North Korea: Running an NGO Amid Suspicion and Need
Aid worker Kathi Zellweger details her decade-long effort to run KorAid, an NGO providing cataract surgeries and support for disabled childr
Seoul's Pragmatic Diplomacy Navigates Trump's Unpredictable Foreign Policy
President Lee Jae-myung's pragmatic diplomacy has proven effective in protecting South Korea's interests against Trump's unpredictable actio