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] Global Comparison: India will surpass Japan and South Korea in capacity by 2030 but remain behind China (29 million), EU (9 million), and US (6 million). Ekam IAS Academy
• [New] South Korea was going to have to take overwhelming responsibility for its own self-defence against North Korea, so the US could be ready to fight China. BBC News
• [New] Asia-Pacific is expected to exhibit the fastest growth, thanks to rapid industrialization, expanding automotive production, and the rise of local manufacturing hubs in China, India, South Korea, and Southeast Asia. Grand Research Store
• The Asia Pacific region is expected to witness the highest growth due to the rapid adoption of industrial automation in countries like China, Japan, and South Korea, which are at the forefront of robotics development. ReAnIn
• The broaching of the idea of a US troop drawdown could be a diplomatic signal to South Korea to step up and play an augmented role to contain China. The Straits Times
• Shahed drones could enable North Korea to strike targets across South Korea, potentially overwhelming air defences, and could also assist Russia in its war against Ukraine. The Kyiv Independent
• Emerging markets were boosted by gains in South Korea, Turkey, and South Africa, while positive returns in China were helped by weaker economic data leading hopes for additional stimulus. Centered Financial
• The EC will introduce a new International Digital Strategy, which will focus on collaboration with the United States and other tech - forward countries, such as Japan, South Korea, and India. Techreport
• A new International Digital Strategy, to be released Thursday, will emphasize global collaboration, especially with the U.S., but also with China, Japan, India, and South Korea-rather than full decoupling. The Cipher Brief
• U.S. tariffs on South Korea and Japan could sway upcoming leadership contests in both countries, modestly increase their trade with China and erode U.S.-South Korea defence cooperation, but they are unlikely to undermine U.S.-Japan security ties. Stratfor
• Most recently, rumours of a US troop drawdown have set off fears of a decreased US commitment to South Korea, especially regarding the deterrence of North Korea. Asia Times
• As tensions precipitate, Trump could encourage South Korea and Japan to pursue independent nuclear capabilities favoring shared deterrence, reversing prevailing nonproliferation. Daily NK English
• Higher energy prices and trade disruptions could exacerbate economic slowdowns, particularly in energy-importing economies like Japan and South Korea, which rely on stable U.S. and EU energy supplies. Oilfield Workers
• Samsung Electro-Mechanics will begin glass substrate sample production in Sejong, South Korea, by mid-2025, aiming to supply two to three major US tech firms. DIGITIMES Inc.
• India aims to produce 13% of its EV battery cell demand domestically by 2030, reducing reliance on imports from countries like China, South Korea and Japan. RealtynMore
• Asia Pacific is growing the fastest, with a projected 42.5% CAGR, propelled by rapid AI investments and scaling across South Korea, China, Japan, and India. All About AI
• If America stood aside during a Chinese invasion, allies like Japan and South Korea might doubt U.S. security guarantees to them, potentially unravelling U.S. alliances in Asia. The World's Only Public Nuclear Threat Advisory System
• As major steelmaking nations like China, Japan, and South Korea increasingly adopt DRI technology and pursue decarbonization goals, demand patterns for Australian coal exports could fundamentally shift over the coming decades. Discovery Alert
• While many Asian nations have increased their defence expenditure in the last decade, Japan estimates that its own outlay would hit only 2% of its GDP in 2027, while South Korea spent about 2.8% of its GDP in 2024. The Straits Times
• Some funds obtained through illegal activities in South Korea are funneled back into North Korean intelligence operations, posing a real threat to both South Korea and the United States. Institute for the Study of War
• High tariffs on Taiwan could prompt U.S. clients to shift orders to South Korea or Japan, or push China to speed up domestic chip production. [News] Chip Tariff Window Closes Wednesday Amid Quiet P
• As China, South Korea, and the EU tighten regulations on battery end-of-life management, and as OEMs move toward closed-loop supply chains, NMP's utility in high-efficiency material recovery could prove indispensable. openpr

Last updated: 25 June 2025