South Korea

Stripped of presidential immunity following her impeachment, South Korea’s former president was questioned by prosecutors in Seoul this week. If convicted of all 13 corruption charges, Park Geun-hye could serve up to 45 years. Two of her aides have also been arrested in connection with a blacklist of nearly 10 thousand artists. More on that, from Neal Conan in today’s Pacific News Minute.

The former leader of South Korea left the official presidential residence Sunday.  Elections will be held in about two months. Meanwhile, the country faces not only continuing security threats from North Korea, also challenges in economics and politics. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

This is International Women’s Day. Around the Asia Pacific, there are different events to mark the occasion—and there’s also some new research showing mixed results when it comes to certain measures of women’s progress. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

It remains to be seen what impact Donald Trump’s plans to expand military spending may have on Hawai‘i. But elsewhere in the Pacific, military cooperation between allies is leading to an unusual situation with a global company. HPR’s Bill Dorman explains in today’s Asia Minute.

As we start a new work week on this Monday, there’s news today about a potential new ENDING time for the work week. It’s earlier—but in some cases there’s a catch. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

People around the world are eating more fish than ever before. That word comes from the United Nations—which also reports most of the biggest consumers of seafood live in Asia. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

North Korea’s latest missile launch has sparked condemnations from the United States and its allies in the Asia Pacific. It also led to an urgent meeting of the U.N. Security Council. But events coming elsewhere on the Korean peninsula in less than a month are likely to draw a different kind of reaction. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

The future of South Korea’s political leadership has taken a new twist. The country’s president remains suspended, and one of the leading candidates to succeed her has just dropped out of contention. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

Defense Secretary James Mattis leaves on his first overseas trip in office later this week. He’s heading for South Korea and then Japan.  HPR’s Bill Dorman has more on the travels in today’s Asia Minute.

The new presidential administration in the United States remains a focus around the world this morning/today. And while “America First” was a theme of Donald Trump’s inauguration speech, an important bit of international cooperation has been taking place thousands of miles from Washington. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

Foreign automakers have come under increasing scrutiny since Donald Trump won the U.S. presidential election.  And each week it seems another one announces plans for new investment in the United States. The latest word comes from South Korea, and Bill Dorman has details in today’s Asia Minute.

The New Year has brought some changes in laws around the state and around the country. That’s also true overseas. And in South Korea, there’s another change coming soon-- related to genetically modified food. HPR’s Bill Dorman has details in today’s Asia Minute.

Samsung is launching a new line of smart phones this week. It’s the latest news from the company since the safety problems and product recall of its Galaxy Note 7 model. Elsewhere in South Korea, the use of smart phones is the topic of a new study. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

There may be no other country on earth that studies smart phones as much as South Korea.  And that makes some sense.

The run-up to New Year’s includes a lot of food preparation for many households. And while ‘ahi is a local favorite in the islands, baked goods are increasingly popular in South Korea.  This year, that’s presenting some special challenges. HPR’s Bill Dorman explains in today’s Asia Minute.

It’s officially flu season in Hawai‘i. According to the state Department of Health, flu season lingers here from November until May. But in Asia, there’s a different kind of flu that’s getting attention this week. HPR’s Bill Dorman explains in today’s Asia Minute.

South Korea’s president is fighting for her political life. A growing scandal is consuming time, focus, and the attention of several parts of the government. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

Amid the political crisis that's engulfed South Korean President Park Geun-hye, the government in Seoul reached a controversial agreement to share intelligence on North Korea with Japan. Opposition leaders accused the government of trying to divert attention from the scandal surrounding the President. we have more from Neal Conan in the Pacific News Minute.

There’s a growing scandal in South Korea, and this one has nothing to do with the president. While Park Geun-Hye  remains at the center of a government controversy, the latest news involves baseball. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

There are new developments today in a politically charged case featuring leaked emails and allegations of influence peddling.  This has nothing to do with the U.S. presidential election—it’s a story from South Korea. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

Earlier this month, the Washington Post reported that President Obama may decide to make a fundamental change to US nuclear policy, by issuing a formal declaration that the US would never be first to use nuclear weapons.  The report triggered alarm in Japan and South Korea.  We have more from Neal Conan in the Pacific News Minute.

This is an active week for both diplomacy and the military in East Asia. For the first time in several years, Tokyo will host a meeting of foreign ministers from South Korea, China and Japan. And as those talks go on, so will regional military exercises. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

Several science organizations now agree that last month was the hottest July on record for planet earth.  Calculations from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration agree with those from NASA and Japan’s weather office.  And in South Korea, dangerous heat has continued well into August. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

The waters off Hawai‘i will be the scene of a new kind of military exercise next month. For the first time, forces from the United States, South Korea and Japan will hold a joint missile defense drill. HPR’s Bill Dorman has details in today’s Asia Minute.

This exercise will test an information-sharing network among the United States, Japan and South Korea…in case of a North Korean missile launch.

There’s a financial debate underway in many countries around the world. It’s not about interest rates or taxes, but about coins—and whether it’s time to drop them. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

South Korea plans to phase out coins entirely by the year 2020.  The Bank of Korea has already cut back on the number of coins it mints—reducing them by nearly a third over the past ten years.

Tensions on the Korean peninsula have been continuing all week, after North Korea’s latest satellite launch over the weekend. One area of cooperation has been shut down and now North Korea is threatening to cut its communications hotline with the South. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

Three communication tie lines link North and South Korea—one used by the military, one used by United Nations forces in the Demilitarized Zone, and one run by the Red Cross.  Pyongyang last cut communications in 2013…but soon restored them.

South Korea’s president fired her country’s health minister Tuesday.  No reason was given, but he had been widely criticized for his response to the crisis of MERS—Middle East Respiratory Syndrome.  MERS killed 36 people in South Korea, and also took a heavy economic toll. But not everywhere. HPR’s Bill Dorman explains in today’s Asia Minute.

  You would figure that two countries with democracy and open-market economies would be able to work closely together. But that’s not the case between Japan and South Korea. And although they have specific values in common, how they deal with one another and the U.S. deals with both is often a case of national identity. We talk to two scholars who call for a grand bargain in their new book. That’s today at 5 on HPR-2.

The World Health Organization says there’s no need for anyone to restrict travel to South Korea because of medical concerns. But many travelers have been changing their plans, and that’s just part of the continuing cost of the MERS virus. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome—MERS—is taking a heavy toll on South Korea’s economy.

Nearly two hundred people have been diagnosed with the disease…nearly 30 have died.

Tattoos remain extremely popular in Hawai‘i, but across the Pacific they can create some complications. In South Korea, that’s led to a boom in the business of tattoo removal. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

There’s no question food is a popular hobby in Hawai‘i. From outdoor grilling to homemade recipes, many people enjoy cooking. But a recent survey shows that’s not the case everywhere, especially in some parts of Asia. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.