South Korea

Here’s a thought for holiday shopping: wiping out the personal debt of some low-income people. That’s actually a government policy in one Asian country.  And it’s a program that’s going to be growing in the new year. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

The state of Hawai‘i is heading for another record year for tourism. The Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism expects visitor arrivals to top last year’s figure of 8.9 million—with further growth next year. But it’s been a different story for tourism this year in Korea, both South and North. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

Last week saw one of the most dramatic incidents in years at the border of North and South Korea. A North Korean soldier escaped to the South—dashing across the border in a shower of gunfire. He survived, but doctors treating his wounds were shocked by what they found. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

More than 1,500 South Koreans are still displaced following the country’s second worst earthquake on record. The government says at least 57 people were injured in the 5.4 earthquake which shook the southeastern city of Pohang on Wednesday. The quake has also disrupted an annual event around the country. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

You’ve probably heard about the naval exercises off the coast of South Korea, as three U.S. aircraft carrier strike groups conduct drills with South Korean warships, but a Japanese newspaper reports that South Korea rejected an American plan to include Japanese vessels in the maneuvers. We have more from Neal Conan in today’s Pacific News Minute.

North Korea is a critical topic during President Trump’s current travels in Asia. But there is another side to the military situation in the region that is also getting attention: U.S. arms sales. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

Medical tourism is a booming business across Asia. When it comes to cosmetic plastic surgery, South Korea is a particularly popular destination. But some plans to expand that practice are coming under fire. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

It’s been a week with a focus on visitors as the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority wrapped up its Global Tourism Summit. One visitor market that state officials hope to cultivate is South Korea. It’s a country that’s seeing a rise in international travel with a special week of holidays coming up. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

We’ve heard a lot these past few months about North Korea’s new and more powerful missiles, but less about new missiles in development in South Korea. As you might suspect, they are also more powerful. We have more on the Korean Arms race from Neal Conan in today’s Pacific News Minute.

As you heard earlier on NPR, the United Nations Security Council has unanimously passed another round of trade sanctions against North Korea. The move won the support of China, which is having trade issues of another kind with SOUTH Korea. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

Hawai‘i’s population is getting older. According to the latest Census figures, the percentage of the state’s residents aged 65 and over grew by 25 percent from 2011 to 2016. Many countries in Asia are facing a similar situation. And the head of the International Monetary Fund has some advice. It involves women and work. HPR’s Bill Dorman explains in today’s Asia Minute.

While events continue to develop on the Korean peninsula, government leaders in Seoul are considering a number of factors. They range from security to diplomacy and financial markets. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

As the state legislature continues its deliberations this week on financing the Honolulu rail project, there is a focus on taxes. One of the taxes involved largely concerns tourists—the Transient Accommodations Tax. But some countries in the Asia Pacific are considering other kinds of travel taxes. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

Recent news from the Korean peninsula has focused on missile launches and military exercises. But there are other developments this week—including a historic development regarding beer. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

This week, U.S. and South Korean forces will take part in annual military exercises. While they happen every year, these drill are getting more attention than usual. And they’re not the only interaction this week between the U.S. and South Korea. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

Seoul is known as the "leading digital city" on earth, and Korea is the world’s number one producer of mobile phones, displays, semiconductors, and other technological hardware.  Digital giants like Samsung and LG continually test new products on South Korean consumers, and the UH Center for Korean Studies is sponsoring a conference that could give us a glimpse into our technological future.  HPR’s Noe Tanigawa spoke with a human-computer interface expert about what’s ahead.

There have been warm stretches so far this summer across most of the islands. But the heat and occasional humidity are nothing compared to what’s going on in Northeast Asia. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

Hawai‘i’s minimum wage will rise to 10-dollars and ten cents an hour next year from its current level of $9.25. A proposal to increase it even more was defeated in the legislature earlier this year. This week, the government in South Korea boosted the national minimum wage—by double digits. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

While a lot of the news about the Korean peninsula these days focuses on security, there’s another issue that has surfaced this week: trade. The U.S. wants to talk about the free trade agreement that’s in force with South Korea. And the reaction from Seoul is cautious. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

It’s been two days since North Korea test-fired an intercontinental ballistic missile. The United States and its allies are considering potential responses.  China and Russia are calling for North Korea to abandon its missile and nuclear weapons programs, in exchange for the U.S. stopping military exercises with South Korea. That’s not likely to happen—and those exercises can involve tens of thousands of forces. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

Three Asian countries that are often rivals have agreed to cooperate when it comes to the Arctic Ocean. China, Japan and South Korea will conduct a joint mission to take a closer look at the impacts of climate change. And the work is not only focused on science. HPR’s Bill Dorman explains in today’s Asia Minute.

  South Korea’s new president is shifting policy when it comes to a program of missile defense. The move involves U.S. military hardware and issues relating to the environment. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

A growing international trade dispute is heading for a showdown. It involves a famous American brand and a pair of companies from South Korea. The focus of the disagreement: washing machines. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

Climate change was one topic where President Trump had significant differences with his counterparts at this weekend’s Group of Seven meetings in Europe. Trump has previously said he wants to push ahead with coal as an energy source—while economies in many parts of the world, including Asia, are heading in the other direction. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

If you’re a fan of Hawaiian music, you already know the results of this year’s Na Hōkū Hanohano awards. And if you follow pop music, you’re probably familiar with the highlights of the Billboard Music Awards. Both took place over this past weekend, but one of them involved a surprise from an Asian country. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

Relations may be improving between two of the closest allies the United States has in Asia. South Korea’s new president sent a special envoy to Japan this week—and the reception was very positive. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

As you heard earlier on NPR, South Korea has a new president this morning. Moon Jae-in took office immediately following his election victory. And while much attention is focused on relations with North Korea, Moon will also be dealing with another important story: South Korea’s economy. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

Recent news from the Korean peninsula has focused on security threats from North Korea. But we are now less than a week away from a presidential election in South Korea. And the results are likely to have an impact beyond the country’s borders. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

These are busy days on the Korean peninsula. Security concerns are still focused on North Korea. In South Korea, a presidential election is less than three weeks away. The country is also starting an ambitious experiment this week—having to do with loose change. HPR’s Bill Dorman explains in today’s Asia Minute.

(As you’ve been hearing today on NPR,) U.S. Vice President Mike Pence is in Japan today, the next stop on his travels in Asia after spending a couple of days in South Korea.  While tensions continue on the Korean peninsula, two U.S. allies are cooperating on a regional dispute of a very different kind. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.