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] 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
• [New] Scores of Chinese airlines have offered refunds on routes to Japan, a move that is expected to boost air travel to South Korea. gCaptain
• [New] Tensions, sparked by recent remarks from Japan's new prime minister, could cause Chinese tourists to be redirected to South Korea from Japan. gCaptain
• [New] Chinese cruise operators are scrambling to avoid Japanese ports as Beijing and Tokyo engage in a diplomatic dispute, which is expected to spur demand for tourism in South Korea. gCaptain
• [New] South Korea recently announced a target to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 53-61 percent from the 2018 levels by 2035, updating the nationally determined contribution (NDC) target for the next decade. The Korea Times
• [New] The fact sheet outlined South Korea's plan to increase its defence budget, reaffirmed the transfer of wartime operational control, and strengthened deterrence cooperation against all regional threats, including North Korea. American Enterprise Institute - AEI
• [New] South Korea requested a dialog with North Korea to clarify the demilitarized zone (DMZ) lines, while strengthening its coalition to deter regional threats with the United States. American Enterprise Institute - AEI
• [New] 6G networks are expected to begin commercial deployment in 2030, with significant early rollouts in China, Japan, South Korea, the US, the GCC states, Europe, Vietnam and India. Newsroom
• [New] South Korea aims to have 45% of its electricity supplied by renewables by 2040, supplemented by nuclear and gas. Carbon Credits
• [New] A significant moment came when South Korea announced it would phase out many of its coal-fired power plants by 2040. Carbon Credits
• [New] South Korea will be building its Nuclear Powered Submarine in the Philadelphia Shipyards, right here in the good ol' U.S.A. Space War
• [New] South Korea and the United States find themselves at a crossroads yet again as tensions with North Korea escalate, threatening to upend fragile diplomatic overtures and reignite military posturing on the Korean Peninsula. Grand Pinnacle Tribune
• [New] South Korea signals military drill adjustments may be necessary for a U.S.-North Korea summit as Pyongyang launches a missile and threatens more aggressive moves. Grand Pinnacle Tribune
• [New] South Korea to require 1% SAF blending for all international departures by 2027, increasing to up to 10% by 2035. ESG News
• [New] The Trump Administration has reached framework agreements with jurisdictions such as Japan, the United Kingdom, Vietnam, the Philippines, South Korea, the European Union and Indonesia, with potential for tariff adjustments based on each partner's commitments to US trade concerns. MIT OpenCourseWare
• [New] Upcoming rollouts include the EU's ETIAS (slated for 2026), South Korea's expanded K-ETA and potential new systems in Thailand, South Africa and Japan. Smart Meetings
• [New] North Korea has once again thrust itself into the international spotlight, issuing bold warnings and flexing its military muscle in response to what it perceives as mounting threats from the United States and South Korea. Grand Pinnacle Tribune
• [New] The Asia-Pacific region is expected to exhibit the fastest CAGR through 2032, driven by rapid industrialization in China, India, Japan, and South Korea, along with increasing focus on environmental compliance and occupational safety. openpr
• [New] China's Ministry of Commerce said Sunday it will lift export restrictions for a year on five key minerals used in semiconductors, ammunition, batteries and nuclear reactors, a move tied to last month's Trump-Xi trade summit in South Korea. eOption

Last updated: 26 November 2025