South Korea
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South Korea's military says North Korea is removing speakers from their tense border
South Korea's military says North Korea has started removing some loudspeakers from the inter-Korean border.
apnews.com
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea’s military said Saturday it detected North Korea removing some of its loudspeakers from the inter-Korean border, days after the South dismantled its own front-line speakers used for anti-North Korean propaganda broadcasts, in a bid to ease tensions.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff didn’t disclose the sites where the North Koreans were removing speakers and said it wasn’t immediately clear whether the North would take all of them down.
South Korean court orders arrest of wife of jailed ex-President Yoon Suk Yeol
A South Korean court has ordered the arrest of the wife of jailed former President Yoon Suk Yeol as investigators seek to charge her over various suspected crimes, including bribery, stock manipulation and meddling in the selection of a political candidate.
apnews.com
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — A South Korean court on Tuesday ordered the arrest of the wife of jailed former President Yoon Suk Yeol as investigators seek to charge her over various suspected crimes, including bribery, stock manipulation and meddling in the selection of a candidate.
Pakistani man linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba arrested in South Korea's Seoul
The man, arrested on August 2, worked as a clerk at a local market in Seoul's Itaewon district, according to reports.
Police in South Korea have reportedly arrested a Pakistani man, working as a market clerk in Seoul, who was found to be a member of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), a Pakistan-based terrorist organisation designated by the United Nations Security Council Sanctions Committee.
South Korea criticises Japanese officials’ visit to Tokyo war shrine
It urged Japanese leaders to face history and demonstrate remorse for Japan's past actions. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.
The South Korean government expressed “deep disappointment and regret” over Japanese officials visiting a Tokyo war shrine on Aug 15 and said future relations must be built on Japan showing remorse for past wrongs, its foreign ministry said.
S Korea fires warning shots at border - Taipei Times
Bringing Taiwan to the World and the World to Taiwan
www.taipeitimes.com
South Korea fired warning shots at North Korean soldiers that briefly crossed the heavily fortified border earlier this week, Seoul said yesterday after Pyongyang accused it of risking “uncontrollable” tensions.
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung has sought warmer ties with the nuclear-armed North and vowed to build “military trust,” but Pyongyang has said it has no interest in improving relations with Seoul.
'What's going on in South Korea': Trump sets a tense tone before meeting with Lee
“WHAT IS GOING ON IN SOUTH KOREA? Seems like a Purge or Revolution. We can’t have that and do business there. I am seeing the new President today at the White House…," Trump wrote on Truth Social
Taking to Truth Social, Trump wrote, “WHAT IS GOING ON IN SOUTH KOREA? Seems like a Purge or Revolution. We can’t have that and do business there. I am seeing the new President today at the White House. Thank you for your attention to this matter!!!"
Trump did not elaborate on what specific events he was referring to, but his remarks appear to allude to the recent impeachment and removal of former conservative South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol.
South Korea negotiates release of workers detained in US immigration raid
The White House has vowed to conduct more workplace immigration raids.
www.semafor.com
Seoul on Sunday said hundreds of South Korean workers detained by US immigration authorities will be flown back to Korea, after days of tense negotiations with Washington.
The workers were arrested on Thursday in a sweeping operation at a Georgia battery plant, sparking “visceral” condemnation from Korean media, one Seoul-based journalist wrote.
Reactions coming in from conservative figures in response to SK President's statements.
The SK workers are returning via a charter plane. This is an older video detailing what led to the raid.
The workers are on their way back. SK did end up getting them released. Chinese and Vietnamese citizens returning along with them. I went throught the statements made by the Korean government. They were disheartened at the treatment that was doled out. The days ahead will be interesting.
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The fallout continues. There are issues with visa norms and the rate at which the visas are being issued does not match the expectations of LG. Construction slows down. HYN says that certain technicians have to be flown to setup the factory and it will be difficult to find locals to do the same.
SoKo trying its best to avoid tariffs. China is the biggest trading partner for SoKo in case you were wondering. However, the trade surplus with the States is substantial.
www.cnbc.com
South Korea’s ruling Democratic Party said it would pass a special act on the U.S. trade deal by end- February, according to Yonhap, after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened higher tariffs on South Korean exports.
Earlier on Tuesday, Trump said he was raising tariffs on South Korean exports to 25% from the current 15%, citing a delay in the country’s parliament approving the Washington-Seoul trade deal agreed in July last year.
Spokesperson of the ruling Democratic Party Kim Hyun-jung said Trump was likely referring to the Special Act on Strategic Investment Management between Korea and the United States, according to a Google translation of the statement in Korean, submitted to the country’s parliament last November.
The bill aims to establish a state-run investment corporation to manage Seoul’s planned $350 billion investment pledge to Washington.
Kim said that five related bills have been submitted to the National Assembly, and are scheduled to be reviewed, adding that “the fact that both the Democratic Party of Korea and the People Power Party have proposed these bills will likely expedite their passage.”
South Korea scrambles to pass U.S. investment bill after Trump threatens higher tariffs
The bill aims to establish a state-run investment corporation and fund to manage Seoul's planned $350 billion investment pledge to Washington.
South Korea’s ruling Democratic Party said it would pass a special act on the U.S. trade deal by end- February, according to Yonhap, after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened higher tariffs on South Korean exports.
Earlier on Tuesday, Trump said he was raising tariffs on South Korean exports to 25% from the current 15%, citing a delay in the country’s parliament approving the Washington-Seoul trade deal agreed in July last year.
Spokesperson of the ruling Democratic Party Kim Hyun-jung said Trump was likely referring to the Special Act on Strategic Investment Management between Korea and the United States, according to a Google translation of the statement in Korean, submitted to the country’s parliament last November.
The bill aims to establish a state-run investment corporation to manage Seoul’s planned $350 billion investment pledge to Washington.
Kim said that five related bills have been submitted to the National Assembly, and are scheduled to be reviewed, adding that “the fact that both the Democratic Party of Korea and the People Power Party have proposed these bills will likely expedite their passage.”
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Amongst a host of exports that might take place. SoKo is trying its best to ensure that they obtain a substantial share of the orders for NATO Naval Forces.
www.armyrecognition.com
According to a February 1, 2026, report by South Korean outlet MAEIL Business inNewspaper, Canada has intensified high-level engagement with South Korea as part of the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project (CPSP), a program described domestically as a 60 trillion won (USD 45 billion) acquisition. Stephen Poirier, identified as Canada’s Minister of National Defence Procurement, is expected to tour major shipyards this week to review submarine construction capacity and assess conditions for industrial cooperation, a move widely viewed by defense industry observers as late-stage due diligence before final proposals are locked in.
South Korea Pushes Submarine Offer as Canada Nears $45B Naval Acquisition Decision
South Korea intensifies efforts to win Canada’s $45B submarine contract as the Canadian Navy approaches a key procurement decision.
www.armyrecognition.com
According to a February 1, 2026, report by South Korean outlet MAEIL Business inNewspaper, Canada has intensified high-level engagement with South Korea as part of the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project (CPSP), a program described domestically as a 60 trillion won (USD 45 billion) acquisition. Stephen Poirier, identified as Canada’s Minister of National Defence Procurement, is expected to tour major shipyards this week to review submarine construction capacity and assess conditions for industrial cooperation, a move widely viewed by defense industry observers as late-stage due diligence before final proposals are locked in.
Naval and Maritime exports. South Korea has made significant progress in this area. A report from local media.
The project alone is worth a staggering 60 trillion won. Korean defense companies are vying for the Canadian Navy's next-generation submarine contract. Canada's Minister of Defence Procurement, who is responsible for this project, made a surprise visit to Hanwha Ocean's Geoje plant today. After boarding one of our submarines, the Minister gave it a thumbs-up, saying, "The technology is truly remarkable."
The project alone is worth a staggering 60 trillion won. Korean defense companies are vying for the Canadian Navy's next-generation submarine contract. Canada's Minister of Defence Procurement, who is responsible for this project, made a surprise visit to Hanwha Ocean's Geoje plant today. After boarding one of our submarines, the Minister gave it a thumbs-up, saying, "The technology is truly remarkable."
'I dreamed of becoming a K-pop idol - but I felt like I was scammed'
Stories of aspiring foreign trainees shed light on an under-regulated industry, where there is opportunity and risk.
www.bbc.com
As K-pop's popularity soars, South Korea has become a destination for young people around the world hoping to break into the industry.
And many take that chance each year to enroll in programmes promising a path to stardom.
That hope brought Miyu to South Korea in 2024. Her name has been changed to protect her identity.
Armed with big dreams, the teen paid 3m yen ($19,800; £14,500) to join a six-month programme at a K-pop training academy in Seoul. In return, she was to be given professional dance and vocal lessons and the opportunity to audition for major music agencies.
"There were supposed to be weekly auditions, but that never happened," Miyu told the BBC on a street in Hongdae, a neighbourhood in Seoul known for its music scene.
Lessons were few and far between, she said, and she also alleged she was sexually harassed by a senior staff member. The company, which we have not named for legal reasons, has denied all allegations.
Miyu's allegations - and those of others at the academy - shed light on an under-regulated industry where the promise of opportunity often comes with risk.
The BBC spoke to two other trainees who attended the same academy. One of them also alleged sexual harassment by the same staff member, while the third said she had witnessed inappropriate behaviour towards others, but she hadn't experienced it herself.
All of them said the programme had promised audition opportunities, which did not happen.
The company denied this, saying there were opportunities to audition, and added that nearly 200 foreign trainees had participated in its programmes since it opened in the late 2010s.