Global Scans · South Korea · Weekly Summary

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WHAT'S NEXT?: South Korea may go nuclear if Trump cancels the missile deployment and leaves the country alone facing the North's threats. With the President facing an impeachment vote and mass demonstrations on the streets political and economic turmoil may follow. Chinese markets has already shaken South Korea, where central bankers downgraded their forecasts for economic growth.

• [New] South Korea is expected to join a small circle of countries that operate nuclear-powered submarines after receiving approval from the United States for the supply of restricted nuclear fuel. Space War
• [New] China, Japan, and South Korea remain the largest markets in Asia & MENA, projected to account for $88.8 billion in player spending by 2029. GAM3S.GG
• [New] This week, Brazil and South Korea announced at COP 30 in Belem that they will join the PPCA, with South Korea pledging to stop building new unabated coal-fired power plants. IPE
• [New] South Korea will be building its Nuclear Powered Submarine in the Philadelphia Shipyards, right here in the good ol' USA. Pearls and Irritations
• [New] Parking lots in South Korea with more than 80 spaces will be required to install solar canopies. Augusta Free Press
• [New] The semiconductor industry could soon consume a massive share of local power: up to 20% of Taiwan's total electricity and 30-40% of South Korea's industrial use by 2030. Greenpeace International
• [New] South Korea's KHNP will construct a new plant whose two reactors will have an output of over 1,000 megawatts each. Last Week in ConTech
• [New] Hyundai Motor Group, South Korea's largest automaker, said it plans to invest 125 trillion won ($86.3 billion) from 2026 to 2030 to expand domestic research and development and advance new technologies such as AI, robotics and self-driving cars. Boston Herald
• [New] Approximately 38 eco-vehicle models will be produced by the Hyundai Motor Group. / South Korea Research Nester
• [New] After Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping met in South Korea last Thursday to discuss trade and other issues, Trump agreed to lower tariffs on Chinese goods by 10% in exchange for promises that Beijing will crack down on the flow of fentanyl into the US. CNN
• [New] South Korea's Kospi soared 2.5% on hopes that a trade deal may be coming between Seoul and Washington. Fortune
• Hosting the UN Ocean Conference in 2028 is expected to enhance South Korea's global standing, allowing it to spearhead international collaboration on crucial ocean issues such as marine plastic pollution and biodiversity. Maritime Fairtrade

Last updated: 10 December 2025