Coupang confirms personal data of 165,000 more South Korean users leaked
Already have Rappler+? Sign in to listen to groundbreaking journalism.
· Victor Barreiro Jr.
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+11:00Honour: Lee Na-young stars in high-society sex crime K-drama
Lee Na-young, Jung Eun-chae and Lee Chung-ah play a trio of lawyers defending victims of sexual violence in the new Korean drama Honour
· Pierce Conran
Outrage in South Korea over ‘importing virgins’ proposal to raise birth rate
Critics slammed a governor’s ‘crude’ suggestion to marry ‘Sri Lankan and Vietnamese virgins’ to local men as a fix for population decline
· SCMP’s Asia desk
Sri Lanka highlights skilled workforce, urges Korean investment for regional markets - DailyNews
Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Sunil Handunnetti drew attention to Sri Lanka’s highly skilled workforce and emphasized the country’s potential as a hub for regional manufacturing, encouraging Korean investors to utilize local labor to produce goods for markets such as India, Pakistan, and Bang…
· Supuni Kulasinghe
Women’s Asian Cup: China coach Milicic overcomes burnout to oversee title defence
Chinese team to face North Korea, Uzbekistan and Bangladesh next month in their homeland of their coach, who is enjoying his new adventure
· Reuters
Could a ‘shock’ Pyongyang visit cement Japan PM Takaichi’s snap election bid?
Despite scepticism, a leading campaigner claims Pyongyang is ready to return surviving abductees for ‘immediate, large-scale’ aid
· Julian Ryall
Olympic champion Lin Xiaojun ‘grateful’ to China for chance to keep skating
Former South Korean tells state media TV programme that being part of the Chinese team has been a turning point in his career
· Stephy Zhang
‘Vibrant’ Hong Kong market seen drawing more listings from abroad
But other markets like South Korea could offer stronger near-term returns for international investors, J.P. Morgan Private Bank says
· Cao Li
South Korea, Australia, Kuwait express interest in hosting two football Asian Cups
Japan have also bid for 2035 edition; a decision will be made at a single annual congress following a proposal by the AFC president
· Reuters
South Korea urged to ease inheritance tax as wealthy exit at record rate
Rigid inheritance laws blamed as 2,400 wealthy residents leave the country. Business group seeks reforms including tax payment via stocks
· The Korea Times
‘Ruin you’: Cambodians outraged by South Korean president’s anti-scam threat
Critics said Lee Jae Myung should have posted in Chinese, not Khmer, as his warning to foreign syndicates sparked anger across Cambodia
· SCMP’s Asia desk
‘Lopsided deal’: South Korean trade experts warn against US tariff pressure
Washington’s tariff pressure is aimed at pushing Seoul to ‘move as fast as Japan’ in implementing its promised investments, analysts say
· Park Chan-kyong
6 new Hong Kong coffee shops to welcome the Lunar New Year in February 2026
From a Korean-style cafe to a Japanese toast joint and new branches of cult favourites, there’s a lot to excite coffee lovers this month
· Charmaine Mok
Agency defends South Korean star Kim Seon-ho over tax evasion claims
Kim is accused of running a one-man family company to inflate corporate expenses and potentially reduce tax liabilities
· SCMP’s Asia desk
South Korea football bosses in talks to avert Women’s Asian Cup boycott
Team has previously complained of having to pay for their own kit and being given ‘inadequate’ accommodation while on international duty
· Agence France-Presse
Samsung family’s Korean art collection sees light of day in world tour
Joseon-era treasures and modern paintings feature in Korean Treasures: Collected, Cherished, Shared, which has made its first stop in the US
· Bloomberg
Korea’s exports hit all-time January high on strong chips
Overall exports jumped 34 percent on-year to $65.85 billion, with semiconductors making up around 30 percent of the total.
· Choi Ji-won
China’s visa-free waivers spark Korean travel boom, underpin tourism revival
Shanghai bookings surge as visitors flock to cosmopolitan streets and affordable dining, with analysts predicting the trend will spread inland
· Yeon Woo Lee
Sit still and listen: inside Renaissance, a musical time capsule in Seoul
Renaissance, the classical music salon at the Arts Council Korea Artist House is packed with vintage vibes and digitised classical records
· The Korea Times
From devil-mouth caves to deer-filled parks, these sites deserve more love
From ancient temples in Bali to royal tombs in Korea, Asia’s World Heritage sites reveal rich histories beyond the spotlight
· Ronan O'Connell
Korea and UNDP to tackle Waste Management challenges - DailyNews
The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, Republic of Korea, through the Korea Environmental Industry and Technology Institute (KEITI), will provide USD 4.7 million for a new initiative entitled ‘Scale-up and Sustain the Low-Carbon Municipal Solid Waste Management and Resource Recovery in Sri Lanka’ which wil…
· damith
Table tennis diplomacy: a sign of warmer ties between South Korea and Japan | South China Morning Post
The defence ministers of Japan and South Korea agreed to strengthen cooperation with the United States amid growing security risks, particularly with North Korea.
Japan and South Korea bolster defence ties amid regional tensions
Defence chiefs agree to joint AI, space, and drone development, aiming to stabilise the region against growing missile threats
· Kyodo
South Korea forced to act after Cambodian worker’s death in freezing dorm
Seoul has apologised and pledged to improve foreign worker housing following the woman’s death in a makeshift dwelling in 2020
· The Korea Times
11 new Hong Kong restaurants and bars to try in February 2026
New openings include the new branch of a Korean pizza chain, a Japanese gelato joint, a borsch specialist and two French restaurants
· Lisa Cam
Rich South Korean mums face ‘worst nightmare’ over European baby food recall
Parents fret over ‘Gangnam formula’, a brand associated with wealthy families, after French firm Danone recalled it over toxin fears
· The Korea Times
Meet Son Sook, grandma to Bridgerton’s Yerin Ha and award-winning actress
The war survivor fell in love with acting in high school and has won numerous awards, including South Korea’s equivalent of the Oscars
· Sumnima Kandangwa
Why South Korea’s Gen Z steer towards bus driving as job market shifts
Bus driver licenses for people in their 20s and 30s rose 43 per cent in three years, driven by better pay, job security, and changing attitudes
· The Korea Times
Remembering Korean artist Chung Sang-hwa, master of monochrome
Korean modern art icon Chung Sang-hwa was known for his ‘dansaekhwa’ paintings, which demanded ‘foolishly endless repetition’
· The Korea Times
Jewellery store heists sweep South Korea amid soaring gold prices
Teenagers and adults are stealing gold to convert it into cash, with one robbery turning fatal in Bucheon
· The Korea Times
Why US defence strategy may hurt leaders in South Korea, Japan
The National Defence Strategy states that the US will provide ‘more limited’ support to its allies in line with the ‘America-first’ policy
· Maria Siow
Your Hong Kong weekend drinks guide for January 29-31
This weekend, enjoy Glass Gardener’s guest shift at Locale18, intriguing new cocktails at The Savoury Project, and a Korean fiesta at The Green Door
· Josiah Ng
Korsel: UU Berita Palsu Batasi Kebebasan Pers?
Pemerintah Amerika Serikat, Perserikatan Bangsa-Bangsa (PBB), dan organisasi media nasional maupun internasional ramai-ramai mengkritik revisi undang-undang media Korea Selatan. Regulasi anyar itu dinilai membuka ruang pembatasan kebebasan pers dan menggerus prinsip keadilan dalam kerja jurnalistik.
· Keith Walker
‘Poisoned chalice’: Seoul’s ‘metropolitan visa’ for foreign labour faces backlash
Debate grows whether the visa helps rival China’s dominance or is a dangerous fix for wage-driven shortages in the shipbuilding sector
· The Korea Times
South Korea's ex-first lady jailed 20 months for bribery - DailyNews
The wife of South Korea’s ousted former president has been sentenced to 20 months in jail for accepting bribes from the controversial Unification Church.
· Thushan Jayasuriya
South Korea’s former first lady Kim Keon-hee gets 20 months in jail for corruption | South China Morning Post
Kim and husband Yoon Suk-yeol are the first South Korean presidential couple to both be convicted of crimes.
Kai Tak Arena to host League of Legends Champions Korea Cup esports event
The tournament will attract some of the biggest names and follows the city’s successful hosting of Blast Premier at Cyberport last year
· SCMP Sport
South Korea’s ex-first lady gets 20 months’ jail for corruption
A court sentenced Kim for receiving luxury items from an official linked to the Unification Church
· Park Chan-kyong
North Korean ex-envoy on Kim Jong-un’s ‘decapitation’ fears after Maduro’s fall
Kim will ‘overhaul the entire system regarding his security and countermeasures in case of an attack against him’, Lee Il-kyu says
· Agence France-Presse
Kim asema mipango ya nyuklia itawekwa wazi hivi karibuni
Shirika la Habari la Korea Kaskazini, KNCA, limemnukuu Kim akisema mkutano huo mkuu utafafanua mipango na hatua zinazofuata kwa nchi hiyo katika kuimarisha nguvu zake za nyuklia kama kinga dhidi ya uvamizi kutoka nje.
· Rashid Chilumba
UK tour agency aims to restart international amateur golf event in North Korea
It hopes to host the North Korean Amateur Open in 2026, with the event open to golfers of all nationalities except South Korean, US citizens
· Agence France-Presse
Hong Kong’s hottest new openings, from matcha lattes to Japanese dipping noodles
Cult Korean brand Hetras and Japanese noodle shop Tsukemen Gyorai open their first Hong Kong outposts, and Matchali adds another location
· Gavin Yeung
Trump raises US tariffs on South Korea imports to 25% - DailyNews
US President Donald Trump has announced he is raising tariffs on South Korean imports to 25% after accusing Seoul of “not living up” to a trade deal reached last year.
· Mavan perera
The 10 most successful Korean art-house films of all time
As Yoon Ga-eun’s The World of Love hits Hong Kong cinemas, we look at Korean indie films that conquered the box office as well as festivals
· Pierce Conran
K-Movies News | South China Morning Post
Review | No Other Choice: Park Chan-wook takes on corporate culture in dark comedyLee Byung-hun stars in this Korean black comedy as a family man who is laid off after 25 years and goes on a desperate quest for a job.
K-Movies News | South China Morning Post
Review | No Other Choice: Park Chan-wook takes on corporate culture in dark comedyLee Byung-hun stars in this Korean black comedy as a family man who is laid off after 25 years and goes on a desperate quest for a job.
K-Movies News | South China Morning Post
Review | No Other Choice: Park Chan-wook takes on corporate culture in dark comedyLee Byung-hun stars in this Korean black comedy as a family man who is laid off after 25 years and goes on a desperate quest for a job.
South Korea tariff hike: is Trump ‘sending message’ to US court ahead of ruling?
Trump’s message appears more focused on pushing through the US-South Korean trade bill than on permanently raising tariffs, analysts say
· Park Chan-kyong
Trump raises US tariffs on South Korea imports to 25% - DailyNews
US President Donald Trump has announced he is raising tariffs on South Korean imports to 25% after accusing Seoul of “not living up” to a trade deal reached last year.
· Thushan Jayasuriya
Trump raises tariffs on South Korea as country ‘is not living up’ to trade deal
South Korea’s tariffs had declined to 15 per cent but will jump back up to 25 per cent if the US president stays true to his word
· Mark Magnier