Global Scans · South Korea · Weekly Summary

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: Demand for frictionless retail technologies in South Korea is forecast to expand at 19.4% CAGR through 2036, supported by advanced smart retail infrastructure, strong digital payment adoption, AI-enabled customer analytics, and growing deployment of autonomous convenience stores. FactMr
• [New] South Korea mandates post-quantum cryptography across defence, telecommunications, and finance by 2030 - named industry partners already assigned. Advancing Industrial Economics Through Quantum Leadersh
• [New] South Korea's financial, manufacturing, and public sectors are adopting quantitative risk models to enhance resilience against cyber threats, especially in the context of escalating North Korean cyber activities and global cybercrime. Verified Market Reports
• [New] Japan, South Korea and Taiwan are highly exposed to disruptions in Middle Eastern naphtha flows. BakeryAndSnacks.com
• [New] South Korea's Navy will deploy the destroyer Wang Geon to the Gulf of Aden next week with newly upgraded anti-drone defence systems, following heightened security concerns after an explosion aboard a South Korean-operated vessel near the Strait of Hormuz. SOF News
• [New] Recent supply chain disruptions and geopolitical tensions affecting traditional maritime corridors have amplified South Korea's vulnerability as a trade-dependent nation, making Arctic route development a strategic priority for economic security. The Arctic Institute - Center for Circumpolar Security
• [New] In February, KDI projected South Korea's real gross domestic product growth at 1.9% for 2026, revising its previous forecast of 1.8% up by 0.1 percentage point on the back of strong semiconductor exports and a recovery in domestic demand. Seoul Economic Daily
• [New] South Korea faces similar demographic pressures, but it also reveals another modern vulnerability: dependence on global supply chains and imported energy. Armstrong Economics
• [New] Growth in South Korea's and Taiwan's offshore sectors is forecast, to above 10 GW in each case by 2032. Windpower Monthly
• [New] Due to improved performance of military equipment, including trucks, tanks, machinery, and firearms, necessity of 4D printers in the South Korea defence industry is anticipated to expand. Persistence Market Research
• [New] South Korea 4D printing industry is expected to reach a valuation of US$ 48.0 million by 2032. Persistence Market Research
• [New] Despite a volatile share price recently, its projected return on equity of 42.8% in three years underscores strong future profitability prospects. / South Korea Yahoo Finance New Zealand
• [New] South Korea is making a national push to become one of the world's three leaders in artificial intelligence by 2027, alongside China and the US. Central Banking
• [New] An expanded North Korean nuclear force could require the United States and South Korea to reevaluate their ability to counter North Korean nuclear capabilities. American Enterprise Institute - AEI
• [New] The fastest population ageing in the 21st century will be seen in China and South Korea. Malaysia Population Research Hub
• [New] The OECD's forecasts, which reflected trends up to 2018 and accounted for population ageing, projected Korea's health spending ratio to reach 9.7% of GDP by 2030. / South Korea PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] The old-age dependency ratio is projected to rise from 25.8 in 2023 to 62.6 by 2042, meaning each elderly person will be supported by 1.6 working-age individuals, compared to four in 2023. / South Korea PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] NHI expenditures will surpass revenues starting in 2025, leading to financial deficits, with accumulated reserves expected to be depleted by 2030. / South Korea PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] South Korea, which already generates about one-third of its power from its 26 nuclear reactors, is planning two new large reactors for completion by 2038. Yahoo Finance
• [New] South Korea: Government-funded digitalization supports a 9.8% CAGR through 2036. FactMr
• [New] South Korea: South Korea is expected to observe 10.2% CAGR in haptic feedback switch and button platforms through 2036. FactMr
• [New] South Korea's parallel moves with Washington and Beijing on critical minerals show a government trying to widen its room to maneuver rather than become overexposed to any single channel of risk. Fault Lines

Last updated: 20 May 2026