Copper rally sparks bridge nameplate thefts
South Korea is seeing a rise in the thefts of bridge nameplates, as soaring global copper prices turn nonferrous metals into increasingly lucrative targets.
· Choi Jeong-yoon
Follow the story
South Korea
A focused view of neutral reporting on South Korea, brought together across publishers.
Explore all topics →
Neutral reports only
Newest first · UTC+11:00Seoul welcomes US-Iran ceasefire amid risks to energy, alliance dynamics
Since 2017, I have covered South Korea’s political and economic landscape as a reporter, with a focus on foreign affairs, inter-Korean relations and security.As a foreign affairs reporter, I closely follow developments from the Ministry of Unification, the Foreign Ministry and the Defense Ministry, tracking shifts i…
· Jung Min-kyung
Finance ministry says U.S.-Iran ceasefire may ease oil supply concerns
SEOUL, April 8 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's finance ministry said Wednesday that a two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran could help ease global oil supply conditions, yet uncertainties remain.
· Kim Han-joo
No way to dump waste puts Korea’s jang makers at risk
Tighter ocean-discharge regulations leave manufacturers struggling to dispose of high-salinity byproducts
· Choi Jeong-yoon
Prosecutors indict suspect in stalking murder case
SEOUL, April 8 (Yonhap) -- Prosecutors on Wednesday indicted Kim Hoon, a 44-year-old resident of Namyangju, just east of Seoul, who was arrested last month for stalking and killing his ex-girlfriend while wearing an electronic ankle monitor.
· Yoo Cheong-mo
Korea weighs waiver for Nuri launches, eyes 2030 missions
South Korea is reviewing a plan to exempt additional launches of its homegrown Nuri rocket from a preliminary feasibility study, with four more missions under consideration for 2029-2030, the head of the nation’s space agency said Wednesday.
· Jie Ye-eun
S. Korea unveils homegrown medium-altitude unmanned aircraft equipped with advanced surveillance capabilities
SEOUL, April 8 (Yonhap) -- The state arms procurement agency on Wednesday unveiled a medium-altitude unmanned aerial vehicle (MUAV) equipped with advanced surveillance capabilities, as South Korea seeks to strengthen its manned and unmanned systems to better respond to modern warfare.
· Kim Hyun-soo
Lee meets with ex-Japan PM Ishiba, thanks for support of mending ties
SEOUL, April 8 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Jae Myung met with former Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Wednesday, highlighting the former prime minister's efforts in restoring "shuttle diplomacy" and mending frayed bilateral ties.
· Yi Wonju
North Korea launches fifth missile test after dousing South’s reconciliation hopes
A top Pyongyang official says the designation of the South as a hostile state ‘can never change with any words or conduct’
· Reuters
North Korea launches fifth missile test after dousing South’s reconciliation hopes
A top Pyongyang official says the designation of the South as a hostile state ‘can never change with any words or conduct’
· Reuters
Trade minister voices need to expand cooperation with EU amid global uncertainties
SEOUL, April 8 (Yonhap) -- Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo stressed the need to enhance economic partnership between South Korea and the European Union (EU) to jointly address global challenges while meeting with representatives from major European firms on Wednesday, his office said.
· Kim Na-young
China wins gaming race as Korea stumbles on policy
Despite $8.5b in exports, games remain outside Korea’s priority support list
· Kan Hyeong-woo
N. Korea again fires ballistic missile toward East Sea: JCS
SEOUL, April 8 (Yonhap) -- North Korea fired another unidentified ballistic missile toward the East Sea on Wednesday afternoon after launching multiple short-range ballistic missiles earlier in the day, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said.
· Lee Minji
North Korea fires missiles into East Sea, rejecting Seoul’s optimism on easing tensions
North Korea fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles into the East Sea Wednesday morning, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said, in a move seen as rebuffing any optimism over easing inter-Korean tensions.
· Hwang Joo-young
Can Korea break plastic reliance after Middle East shocks?
Supply disruptions fuel calls for deeper cuts beyond recycling
· Lim Jae-seong
(URGENT) N. Korea fires unidentified ballistic missile toward East Sea: JCS
(3rd LD) Lee says S. Korea, France agree to cooperate on safe passage through Strait of Hormuz
· Lee Minji
HD Hyundai to offer raw materials, financial support to biz partners amid Middle East-related disruptions
SEOUL, April 8 (Yonhap) -- HD Hyundai Co., South Korea's leading shipbuilding conglomerate, said Wednesday it will offer raw materials and financial support to its small and mid-sized partner companies to help them cope with supply disruptions stemming from ongoing Middle East tensions.
· Kim Boram
aT wins top public data rating for 6th year
The Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation (aT) has received the highest rating in the Ministry of the Interior and Safety’s annual assessment of public data provision and management for the sixth consecutive year.
· Lee Han-gyoul
Cheong Wa Dae says insulting rhetoric by N. Korea not helpful for peace on Korean Peninsula
SEOUL, April 8 (Yonhap) -- Cheong Wa Dae said Wednesday that insulting rhetoric by North Korea would not be helpful for making efforts to achieve peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, a day after a senior Pyongyang official decried an expression of regret by President Lee Jae Myung over drone flights by indiv…
· Yi Wonju
S. Korea welcomes U.S.-Iran ceasefire plan, voices hope for safe transit of Hormuz Strait
SEOUL, April 8 (Yonhap) -- South Korea on Wednesday welcomed a two-week ceasefire proposal by the United States and Iran, voicing hope for the safe passage of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical energy shipping route.
· Chae Yun-hwan
AI language platform for immigrant students expands access, eyes Korean learning for all
A state-run artificial intelligence-based Korean language learning platform for students with immigrant backgrounds will expand access to include children outside the public education system and adults, with plans to completely open access by the end of the year, the Education Ministry said Wednesday.
· Yoon Min-sik
French Ambassador stresses architectural diplomacy
French Ambassador Philippe Bertoux hailed the 2026 Korea Herald Architecture Talk on Tuesday as a crucial platform for dialogue, emphasizing its special significance as it coincides with the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between France and Korea, as well as the founding of Ewha Womans University.
· Park Ga-young
Today in Korean history
1962 -- South Korea establishes diplomatic relations with Israel.
· Yi Wonju
Kim Si-woo confident his experience can pay off at Masters
SEOUL, April 8 (Yonhap) -- About to make his ninth appearance at the Masters, Kim Si-woo believes his experience at the famed Augusta National Golf Club should help him this week in the Peach State.
· Yoo Jee-ho
Defense chief calls for military overhaul amid demographic cliff, changing warfare
I’m a staff reporter for The Korea Herald, covering national security and foreign policy across the Defense, Foreign and Unification Ministries, as well as the National Assembly. Before entering journalism, I served as an Air Force lieutenant, working as an interpreter and junior planner at the ROK–US Combined Force…
· Hwang Joo-young
Perrault lecture prompts reflection on process, public space
Attendees share top takeaways from the Korea Herald forum marking 140 years of Korea-France ties
· Lee Yoon-seo
National pension fund tops W1,500tr, driven largely by investment gains
South Korea’s national pension fund, the world's third-largest investor by total assets, has surpassed 1,500 trillion won ($1.1 trillion), with most of its growth coming from investment returns rather than contributions.
· Lee Sun-young
Ewha president highlights ECC as symbol of architectural dialogue across time
Ewha Womans University President Lee Hyang-sook on Tuesday emphasized the role of architecture in bridging past and future, as she welcomed participants to the 2026 Korea Herald Architecture Talk held at the university’s Ewha Campus Complex.
· Lee Jung-joo
Herald CEO highlights architecture’s role in connecting cities, people
Herald Media Group CEO Choi Jin-young on Tuesday emphasized architecture’s power to connect people and shape shared futures, as he opened the 2026 Korea Herald Architecture Talk at Ewha Womans University’s Ewha Campus Complex in Seoul.
· Lee Jung-joo
SFS British School named Korea’s first Forest School Development Center
School to host April 18 parent workshop, inviting non-SFS families to experience forest school curriculum
· Lee Seung-ku
JYJ's Kim Jae-joong launches first boy band Keyvitup
SEOUL, April 8 (Yonhap) -- Kim Jae-joong of K-pop duo JYJ launched his first produced boy band, Keyvitup, on Wednesday.
· Shim Sun-ah
Embassy unveils four books in Korean on Italy
The Italian Embassy in Seoul on Tuesday unveiled four Korean-language books on Italy, highlighting growing cultural exchanges between the two countries.
· Sanjay Kumar
Chasing SNU dentistry in Daechi-dong can cost $3,380 a month, YouTube video reveals
Ever wondered how much students spend on test prep and private tutoring for Seoul National University’s medical track?
· Park Jun-hee
MCST deputy minister: ECC shows how architecture transcends language and borders
In her congratulatory speech at The Korea Herald's 4th Architecture Forum on Tuesday, Deputy Culture Minister Jung Hyangmi emphasized that the gathering, marked a luminous chapter in the history of bilateral exchanges between South Korea and France.
· Park Ga-young
Son Heung-min ends drought in victory at regional tournament
SEOUL, April 8 (Yonhap) -- Son Heung-min has snapped his goal-scoring drought in a home victory for his Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) at a regional tournament.
· Yoo Jee-ho
North Korea fires multiple ballistic missiles towards East Sea
SEOUL — North Korea fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles on Wednesday, South Korea's military said, hours after reporting an "unidentified projectile" launched from the North's capital area the previous day.
· Agence France-Presse
Bond market sentiment improves for May: poll
SEOUL, April 8 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's bond market sentiment improved for May amid expectations that inflationary pressures will ease and the Korean won will strengthen against the U.S. dollar, a poll showed Wednesday.
· Kang Jae-eun
HDC fined 17.1 bln won over unfair support for ailing affiliate
SEJONG, April 8 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's antitrust regulator said Wednesday it has imposed a 17.13 billion-won (US$11.61 million) fine on major construction firm HDC Holdings Co. for improperly supporting an ailing affiliate facing a management crisis.
· Kim Han-joo
Odd-even vehicle rotation goes into effect at government, public offices
SEOUL, April 8 (Yonhap) -- The odd-even vehicle rotation system took effect at government offices and public institutions nationwide on Wednesday as part of the government's energy-saving campaign and officials generally cooperated.
· Yoo Cheong-mo
Rwanda honors Tutsi genocide victims
Rwanda commemorated the 32nd anniversary of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi with a solemn ceremony in Seoul on Tuesday.
· Sanjay Kumar
Korea-led power bank flight rules adopted as global standard
The South Korean government said Wednesday that its proposal to tighten safety rules on portable lithium battery charging devices aboard aircraft has been adopted by the International Civil Aviation Organization and standardized globally, to take effect April 20.
· Yoon Min-sik
Defense chief urges military reform amid demographic, warfare shifts
SEOUL, April 8 (Yonhap) -- Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back has underscored the need to revamp the structure of the armed forces, such as adopting a selective conscription system, as the military faces both a rapidly aging population and changes in future warfare trends.
· Lee Minji
Household loans rebound in March on borrowings linked to stock investments
SEOUL, April 8 (Yonhap) -- Household loans extended by South Korean banks rose for the first time in four months in March despite tight regulations, as lending linked to stock investment grew amid a market correction, data showed Wednesday.
· Oh Seok-min
TXT to open pop-up store for 8th EP
Tomorrow X Together announced on Wednesday that a pop-up store will run in Seoul from April 14-26 to mark the release of its eighth EP, “7th Year: A Moment of Stillness in the Thorns.”
· Hwang You-mee
Six-term lawmaker stresses mega chip cluster in Gyeonggi governor bid
Rep. Choo Mi-ae, six-term lawmaker and ruling Democratic Party of Korea's candidate for governor of Gyeonggi Province, said Wednesday it was vital to complete semiconductor chip clusters in the province.
· Son Ji-hyoung
Travel ban slapped on CEO who attacked Thai worker with air hose
A manufacturing company CEO who allegedly assaulted a Thai worker using compressed air has been banned from leaving the country, South Korean police said Wednesday, as President Lee Jae Myung vowed zero tolerance for what he called a “barbaric” attack.
· Yoon Min-sik
S. Korea, ASEAN hold inaugural joint committee meeting to discuss upgrading bilateral FTA
South Korea and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations on Wednesday held the inaugural meeting of a joint committee designed to discuss improvements to their bilateral free trade agreement, Seoul's trade ministry said.
· Yonhap
Nongshim to open Russian unit to tap Eurasian noodle boom
Nongshim unveiled plans Wednesday to open a subsidiary in Russia in June, looking to capitalize on surging demand for Korean instant noodles there.
· No Kyung-min
Ex-Japan PM calls for Seoul-Tokyo cooperation at UN level to help reopen Strait of Hormuz
Former Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Wednesday called for South Korea and Japan to work together, such as at the UN level, to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, citing deepening supply disruptions from the war against Iran that are affecting the global economy.
· Yonhap
BTS adds 3 shows to Latin American leg of 'Arirang' world tour
SEOUL, April 8 (Yonhap) -- K-pop superstar BTS announced Wednesday that it will add three concerts to the Latin American leg of its "Arirang" world tour in October.
· Shim Sun-ah