South Korea News - Latest Updates & Headlines
South Korean Police to summon suspect in worst-ever wildfires for questioning
Seoul, March 28: South Korean Police will summon a man suspected of causing massive wildfires in South Korea's southeastern region, officials said Friday.
Worst-ever wildfires in southeastern South Korea fully contained, leaving massive damage, causalities
Uiseong: , March 28 (IANS) Massive wildfires that ravaged South Korea's North Gyeongsang Province for a week were fully contained on Friday, authorities said, as better visibility and cooler temperatures from overnight rain helped firefighters put out the main blazes.
US offers condolences to South Korea over wildfires, pledges all support needed
Seoul, March 28: The United States expressed condolences to South Korea on Friday for the loss of life and the destruction caused by devastating wildfires in the southern region, pledging to provide all support needed.
Automotive industry calls for measures to soften blow from US tariffs
Seoul, March 28: The South Korean automotive industry on Friday called for measures to soften the anticipated fallout from the U.S. administration's plan to impose auto tariffs and reciprocal tariffs next week, according to officials.
Hyundai Steel to temporarily shut down rebar plant on low demand
Seoul, March 27: Hyundai Steel, South Korea's second-biggest steelmaker by sales, said on Thursday it will temporarily shut down one of its three domestic steel reinforcement bar (rebar) plants due to lower demand.
Watchdog requests revision of Hanwha Aerospace's $2.5 bn stock sale plan
Seoul, March 27: South Korea's financial regulator on Thursday asked Hanwha Aerospace to submit a revised filing over its plan to raise 3.6 trillion won (US$2.5 billion) in capital through a stock sale, citing insufficient information for investors.
South Korean govt makes additional designations of special disaster zones following wildfires
Seoul, March 27: South Korea's Acting President Han Duck-soo on Thursday designated four more jurisdictions in the southeastern region as special disaster zones following massive damage from ongoing wildfires, the Interior Ministry said.
BOK warns against market volatility amid uncertainty, rising household debts
Seoul, March 27: The South Korean central bank warned on Thursday of the possibility of increased volatility in the financial market and its potential impact on the country's financial stability amid weak economic growth and high uncertainties at home and abroad.
South Korea: Death toll hits 26 as firefighters battle to contain worst-ever wildfires
Seoul, March 27: Firefighters using helicopters were struggling to contain the nation's worst-ever wildfires on Thursday that have ravaged South Korea's southeastern province of North Gyeongsang, with the death toll from the blazes reaching 26 and injuries being reported to another 30 people.
US tariffs on imported cars to weigh heavily on S. Korean carmakers
Seoul, March 27: US President Donald Trump's recent announcement to levy 25 per cent tariffs on all imported vehicles next month is expected to deal a heavy blow to South Korean carmakers, which largely depend on shipments to the United States, analysts said on Thursday.
South Korea to hold emergency meeting on US auto tariffs
Seoul, March 27: The government will hold an emergency meeting with local automotive companies on Thursday to discuss the possible impact of the US administration's plan to start imposing auto tariffs next week, the industry ministry said.
Residents near South Korea's Hahoe Folk Village advised to evacuate as wildfires approach
Andong, March 26: Tensions are rising around Hahoe Folk Village in the southeastern South Korea's Andong on Wednesday, as wildfires that started in nearby Uiseong County last week are approaching the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site.
Wildfires spread, fanned by strong winds, in South Korea's southeastern region as death toll climbs to 24
Seoul, March 26: Firefighters were scrambling on Wednesday to contain a wave of wildfires that tore through South Korea's southeastern region and killed at least 24, but strong winds and dry weather have continued to hamper efforts to limit the spread of the flames.
South Korean appeals court acquits opposition leader of election law violation charges
Seoul, March 26: South Korean appeals court on Wednesday acquitted opposition leader Lee Jae-myung of lying as a presidential candidate during the 2022 election, overturning a lower court's sentence of a suspended prison term.
We need to collectively ensure broad diffusion of skills around AI: Satya Nadella
Seoul, March 26: Satya Nadella, chief executive officer (CEO) of Microsoft, said on Wednesday the company's recent artificial intelligence (AI) partnerships with South Korean companies are based on his confidence in the country's human capital and AI capabilities, which he believes will drive future economic growth.
S. Korea's childbirths rise for 7th month straight in January
Seoul, March 26: The number of babies born in South Korea increased for the seventh consecutive month in January, showed data on Wednesday, in a positive sign for a country struggling with a demographic crisis.
South Korea: Death toll rises to 18 as wildfires spread in southeastern region of country
Seoul, March 26: The death toll from a series of wildfires in the southeastern region of South Korea has climbed to 18, with one person still missing, Yonhap News Agency reported, citing forest service officials on Wednesday.
Combined operating profit of top 500 S. Korean firms jumps 66 pc in 2024
Seoul, March 26: The combined operating profit of South Korea's top 500 companies surged 66 per cent from a year earlier in 2024, driven largely by a rebound in the global semiconductor market, a report showed on Wednesday.
South Korea: Anti-Yoon farmers stage rally with tractor-laden trucks
Seoul, March 25: A group of farmers calling for South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment rallied with tractor-laden trucks in southern Seoul on Tuesday, ahead of a highly anticipated court ruling.
South Korean ancient temple destroyed; citizens in Andong advised to evacuate as wildfires spread
Seoul, March 25: Wildfires ravaging South Korea's southeastern region forced more residents to evacuate on Tuesday, as firefighting authorities struggled to contain the rapidly spreading blazes that destroyed a centuries-old temple.
South Korea: Nobel laureate Han Kang joins fellow writers in calling for Yoon's removal over failed martial law bid
Seoul, March 25: Writer Han Kang, the winner of the 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature, was among hundreds of South Korean authors calling for impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol to be removed from office over his failed martial law bid.
South Korea to foster 27,000 talents for bio-health industry in 2025
Seoul, March 25: The South Korean government will work to foster some 27,000 bio-health talents this year as part of efforts to promote growth of the industry, the health ministry said on Tuesday.
South Korean Acting President calls for respecting Constitutional Court's decision on Yoon's impeachment
Seoul, March 25: South Korean Acting President Han Duck-soo called on the nation on Tuesday to respect the Constitutional Court's decision on suspended South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment regardless of the outcome.
S. Korea aims to recycle 20 pc of key critical minerals by 2030: Ministry
Seoul, March 25: South Korea will work to facilitate the growth of the critical mineral recycling industry, with a goal of achieving a 20 percent recycling rate of key critical minerals by 2030, the industry ministry said on Tuesday.
South Korean Acting President Han calls for thorough preparations for cooperation with Trump administration
Seoul, March 25: South Korean Acting President, Han Duck-soo, has called for thorough preparations to ensure timely cooperation with US President Donald Trump's administration on key issues, including diplomacy, Defence and economy, the presidential office said on Tuesday.
South Korea: Wildfires becoming uncontrollable in Uiseong
Seoul, March 25: Wildfires in South Korea's southeastern county of Uiseong appear to be getting out of control due to unpredictable strong winds and extremely dry weather, government officials said on Tuesday, citing a gradual drop in the area's fire extinguishing rate.
No. of S. Koreans viewing marriage as a must inches up in 2024: Report
Seoul, March 25: The proportion of South Koreans considering marriage essential increased last year, a government report showed on Tuesday.
South Korean vice FM, deputy UN chief discuss cooperation on North Korean issues in New York
Seoul, March 25: Second Vice Foreign Minister Kang In-sun has met with UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed and discussed cooperation on North Korean issues, among other topics, the foreign ministry said Tuesday.
Consumer sentiment worsens in March amid growth woes: BOK
Seoul, March 25: South Korea's consumer sentiment worsened in March amid deepening concerns about growth momentum due to weak domestic demand and slowing exports, the central bank said on Tuesday.
South Korean Court denies request from farmers' group to enter Seoul with tractors for rally
Seoul, March 24: A Seoul court on Monday denied a request from a farmers' group to use tractors during a planned rally in the capital later this week calling for South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's removal from office, judicial sources said.
South Korea's constitutional court reinstates PM Han Duck-soo as acting president
Seoul, March 24: South Korea's Constitutional Court made a landmark decision on Monday, reinstating impeached Prime Minister Han Duck-soo as acting president, Al Jazeera reported.
Planned, provocative nuclear war rehearsal: N Korea condemns US-S Korea military drills
Seoul, March 24: North Korea on Monday criticised the annual joint military drills by the United States and South Korea, calling them a "planned and provocative nuclear war rehearsal."
South Korea: Impeached President Yoon's criminal trial on insurrection charges to formally begin April 14
Seoul, March 24: Impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's criminal trial on insurrection charges will formally begin April 14, a court said on Monday.
South Korean govt designates three more southeastern counties struck by wildfires as special disaster zones
Seoul, March 24: The South Korean government on Monday designated the southeastern counties of Ulju, Uiseong, and Hadong, ravaged by wildfires, as special disaster zones amid continued efforts to douse the blaze.
FuriosaAI rejects Meta's $800 mn takeover offer
Seoul, March 24: FuriosaAI, a South Korean artificial intelligence (AI) chip startup, has turned down an $800 million takeover offer from US tech giant Meta Platforms, industry sources said on Monday.
South Korea: Oppn leader to offer condolences to victims of wildfires in Sancheong
Seoul, March 24: The leader of the South Korean main Opposition Democratic Party (DP) plans to offer his condolences to the victims of wildfires that have engulfed the southeastern county of Sancheong, officials said.
Samsung tops domestic sales for 22 consecutive years: Report
Seoul, March 24: Samsung Electronics has held the No. 1 spot in annual sales among South Korean companies for 22 consecutive years from 2002 to 2023, an industry analysis report here showed on Monday.
South Korea confirms 14 cases of foot-and-mouth disease
Seoul, March 24: South Korea reported an additional foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) case at a local cattle farm, raising the number of cases this year to 14, the agriculture ministry said on Monday.
BOK to conduct real transaction test of digital currency next month
Seoul, March 24: South Korea's central bank said on Monday it will conduct a test of using digital tokens converted from bank deposits for payments at both online and offline malls as part of its comprehensive test to introduce a wholesale central bank digital currency (CBDC).
Hyundai, Kia to surpass 30 mn cumulative sales in US this year
Seoul, March 24: South Korea's largest automotive giant Hyundai Motor Group is set to reach a major milestone of 30 million cumulative vehicle sales in the United States this year, continuing its steady growth in the key overseas market, the company said on Monday.