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] Growth is expected to nearly double in 2026, driven largely by rising semiconductor demand linked to AI-related investment. / South Korea UPI
• [New] South Korea picked five teams to build a national foundation model by 2027. Get Down and Shruti
• [New] South Korea's bold move to introduce Sustainable Aviation Fuel by 2027 for international flights marks a crucial step in its commitment to reduce carbon emissions and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. VURDHAAN
• [New] OPCON transfer carries real risk: a potential reduction in the U.S. readiness posture and its commitment to defend the Korean Peninsula under the Mutual Defence Treaty as well as a consequent diminution of South Korea's value as a U.S. ally. The Diplomat
• [New] The launch system could fire rockets with an estimated range of 400 kilometers (250 miles), covering all of South Korea. Space War
• [New] Trump threatens 100% tariffs against Canada over China EV deal and hikes South Korea tariffs to 25%. CBT News | #1 Source for Automotive News & Dealership I
• [New] South Korea's interest in developing a nuclear-powered attack submarine reflects capability gaps in countering North Korea's evolving submarine-based nuclear threat. American Enterprise Institute - AEI
• [New] Executives from parts suppliers have quietly traveled to the industrial zones surrounding Samsung and SK Hynix fabs in South Korea to plead for dedicated automotive memory production, knowing full well that automobile production lines could face disruptions if shortages deepen. Yahoo Finance
• [New] EU demand is forecast to increase by around 2% per year through 2030, and many other advanced economies - such as Australia, Canada, Japan, and South Korea - are also expected to see faster electricity demand growth through 2030. Yahoo Finance
• [New] Just 298,178 first graders are expected to enroll in South Korea's schools when classes resume in March. Newsweek
• [New] Around 50% of 2026's investments will be placed in public markets, primarily domestically, while exploring opportunities in China, India, Japan, South Korea and Europe. IDNFinancials
• [New] ONGC plans to start importing ethane from mid-2028 to support OPaL's dual-feed crackers, which use ethane and propane to make petrochemicals. / South Korea Guidely
• [New] Should the belief in America's extended nuclear deterrence erode further, South Korea, Japan and Taiwan could go nuclear in less than two years. GIS Reports
• [New] Trump's threat to impose a 100% tariff on Canada, if it signs a free trade deal with China - an implicit warning to others - and his move to re-impose a 25% tariff on South Korea, because it is dragging its heels on the framework deal signed last year, is making them nervous. World Socialist Web Site
• [New] Asia's populations are shrinking fast, threatening economic growth across China, Japan and South Korea Government policies and incentives are failing to reverse declining birth rates Demographic changes are creating opportunities in new markets and industries. St James's Place
• [New] Suppliers in Japan or South Korea could step in to fill any void in its substrate sourcing from Taiwan, although shipping disruptions and trade tensions with China could constrain their ability to fully scale up. Insurance Journal
• [New] South Korea, Japan and other East Asian economies-all exposed to the electronics supply chain and facing severe shipping disruptions - are among the most impacted. Insurance Journal
• [New] South Korea's operational deployment of anti-drone nets on frontline K2 and K21 armored vehicles signals that lessons from Ukraine's drone warfare have directly influenced Indo-Pacific military doctrine, suggesting a global reassessment of armored vehicle vulnerability to low-cost aerial threats. Drone Warfare
• [New] South Korea and China are investing heavily to lead 6G healthcare innovations by 2030.Impact: Faster emergency response, seamless medical data transmission, and AI-driven healthcare systems will redefine patient care globally. GlobeNewswire

Last updated: 25 February 2026