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] Asia Pacific region is expected to witness the highest growth during the forecast period owing to the presence of flourishing economies such as India, China, Japan, Singapore and South Korea. Precedence Research
• [New] Japan, South Korea, Malaysia and Kazakhstan will face a tariff rate of 25%, South Africa will face a tariff rate of 30%, Indonesia will face a tariff rate of 32% and Myanmar and Laos will face a tariff rate of 40%. Marketplace
• [New] The U.S. reaches trade deals with South Korea and Pakistan, which will lower their tariff rates. Marketplace
• [New] Moving some production back to South Korea will address the issue of producing more advanced chips, but not the larger competitive issues Samsung and SK Hynix face from YMTC and CXMT. The Diplomat
• [New] South Korea announced a $47.4 billion defence budget for 2026, aiming to reach 3.5% of GDP by 2035, with investments in anti-tank missiles, drones, and air-defense systems amid North Korean provocations. The Rio Times
• [New] The roadmap for decarbonizing South Korea's steel industry envisages achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. GMK.CENTER
• [New] We can predict restrictions or even a complete ban on scrap exports from South Korea after 2030. GMK.CENTER
• [New] South Korea will temporarily begin offering visa waivers for Chinese visitors starting in September. Gwangju News
• [New] Observers in Washington and Seoul have become hopeful that growing public support in South Korea for developing an independent nuclear deterrent might provide Beijing with another compelling reason to renew its efforts to restrain the North's belligerence. Foreign Affairs Magazine
• [New] South Korea's booming arms exports to countries like Poland, the UAE, and Australia are viewed in Washington not just as success stories but as competitive threats. The Defense Post
• [New] Backed by government incentives and international partnerships, Australian hydrogen could eventually help meet the energy needs of Japan and South Korea. FTC Publications Newswire
• [New] Asia-Pacific instability spike: Japan and South Korea could accelerate military nuclear programs of their own. Robert Lansing Institute
• [New] Emerging Hub Development: South Korea's push to develop Busan as an Arctic logistics gateway could create new feeder or consolidation nodes over the next 3-5 years. TRADLINX Blogs
• [New] Google could potentially replace local providers on platforms that rely on online maps - like Airbnb and Uber, which do work in South Korea but use Korean mapping tools. CNN
• [New] Asia-Pacific emerges as the fastest-growing region, projected to achieve a 25.2% CAGR through 2032, fueled by robust textile manufacturing capabilities in China and India combined with South Korea's advanced electronics ecosystem. Newstrail
• [New] Geopolitical tensions, including U.S. export restrictions and bans on government use in countries like Italy and South Korea, could limit its global expansion. Ainvest
• [New] Geopolitical tensions, supply chain vulnerabilities (as seen during COVID-19), and overdependence on East Asia (Taiwan, South Korea) have prompted nations to diversify supply chains. KPs 21st Century IAS Academy
• [New] Intense diplomatic outreach by D.C. and Beijing to Seoul must be expected, because if China can split either South Korea, Japan, or both from the USA the way it's already taken out the so-called Quad that was supposed to include India, isolating Taiwan in a crisis gets a lot easier. Rogue Systems Recon
• [New] Taiwan might have the support of the United States and its allies, such as Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, Australia, and several smaller Pacific Rim countries in the event of an invasion. Stimson Center
• [New] South Korea's domestic goal is to recycle 70% of plastic waste by 2030, from 52% in 2023. Emergen Research
• [New] South Korea has seen a spike in food safety violations with the arrival of summer, highlighting concerns over contamination risks and inspection failures. FoodNavigator-Asia.com

Last updated: 17 September 2025