Briefings
US, South Korea push nuclear cooperation amid clash over KHNP’s autonomy
Vice ministerial meeting highlights SMR deals, but Westinghouse settlement clouds Korean utility company’s future role
August 28, 2025
South Korea bets $150 billion on US as Trump ties tariffs to investments
Sweeping MOUs and mega-deals highlight Seoul’s gamble to embed in US supply chains while upgrading the alliance
August 27, 2025
Trump, Lee hold first summit marked by praise, trade tension and awkward optics
Unusual call for ownership of USFK land added volatility to cordial summit focused on trade, energy and trilateral ties
August 26, 2025
Lee puts Japan ahead of US, betting on trilateral strength before Trump summit
Shuttle diplomacy resumes with joint announcement, boosting Seoul’s credibility for trade and security talks with Trump
August 25, 2025
US equity push in Samsung raises sovereignty fears ahead of Trump-Lee summit
White House plan to convert CHIPS Act subsidies into stakes in chipmakers triggers alarm over industrial autonomy
August 22, 2025
National Tax Service data highlights South Korea’s small-business strain
Food service, wholesale and real estate show persistent closures, highlighting weak demand despite overall stability
August 21, 2025
South Korea faces fiscal squeeze as US tariffs expand into consumer goods
Section 232 tariffs now hit 407 items from refrigerators to cosmetics, colliding with Seoul’s deficit financing strategy
August 20, 2025
Lee Jae-myung’s approval hits record low after pardons and tax backlash
Backlash erodes support at home, but high-profile talks with Japan and the US could give Lee a foreign policy boost
August 19, 2025
South Korea fast-tracks India ties with three high-level contacts in two months
Seoul deepens strategic outreach as US-India tensions mount, signaling new opportunities and risks for trade and defense
August 18, 2025
Presidential ally tapped to head Korea’s financial watchdog, raising concerns
Lee Chan-jin, a civic lawyer with no direct finance background, fuels debate about regulatory independence
August 15, 2025
