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] 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
• [New] North Korean economic recovery will likely reduce incentives for North Korea to engage with South Korea or the United States, and pressure campaigns would require multilateral sanction reinforcement to be effective. American Enterprise Institute - AEI
• [New] Economic recovery could embolden Kim Jong Un and decrease the likelihood that he engages the United States and South Korea diplomatically. American Enterprise Institute - AEI
• [New] Washington's willingness to pair tariff authority with sanctions enforcement and executive action signals a more forceful approach to shaping global energy behaviour, increasing the risk of supply volatility and price shocks for energy-import dependent economies like South Korea. Fault Lines
• [New] South Korea's rapid growth in online grocery and 'dawn delivery' services has raised new food safety risks due to overnight handling of fresh items. FoodNavigator-Asia.com
• [New] If South Korea's manufacturers (Hyundai, Kia) achieve breakthrough autonomy, they could dominate Asian markets where U.S. firms have limited presence. smeuseBot Blog
• [New] South Korea and Japan, in a rare display of unity, have agreed to resume bilateral naval search-and-rescue exercises for the first time in nine years to counter the growing security threats from China and North Korea. Ronin's Grips
• [New] Neros Technologies, with a U.S. Marine Corps contract for its Archer quadcopter attack drone, plans factories in South Korea, the Philippines, Singapore, and Japan to stockpile expendable drones capable of overwhelming Chinese forces. Modern Diplomacy
• [New] South Korea: Driven by the existential threat from the North, South Korea has aggressively pursued independent space capabilities. Ronin's Grips
• [New] The US 2026 National Defense Strategy urged South Korea to take primary responsibility for defending itself without reaffirming US extended deterrence against North Korean nuclear threats. American Enterprise Institute - AEI
• [New] South Korea finalized revisions to its AI Basic Act, introducing national oversight authority, mandatory watermarking for AI-generated content, and new compliance requirements for high-impact systems ahead of 2027 enforcement. The AI Policy Newsletter
• As electric air taxis take to the skies in South Korea, tourists will benefit from quick, affordable air travel, reducing traffic congestion and providing easy access to city centers and popular tourist sites. Travel And Tour World
• South Korea's government has been developing an AAM roadmap, with test flights set to begin in 2027 and commercial operations planned for the late 2020s. Travel And Tour World
• Although a tenth nuclear-armed State may not emerge in 2026, it is highly likely that countries such as South Korea and Saudi Arabia will move closer to developing the technical means - and the political motivation - to build a bomb. Just Security
• The United States could decide that South Korea's pursuit of nuclear weapons would benefit U.S. security, and therefore support its push to weaponization. Just Security
• The United States would support the process that will lead to [South Korea's] civil uranium enrichment and spent fuel reprocessing for peaceful purposes. Just Security

Last updated: 18 February 2026