Trump hails WWII ‘ally’ China as Xi tells of bonds ‘forged in blood and fire’

South China Morning Post - Sep 25, 2026

In a surprise nod to shared history, US President Donald Trump called China a World War II ally as he welcomed Xi Jinping to the White House on Thursday ahead of summit talks. But the historical reference was far from one-sided, with both leaders repeatedly referring to the joint fight against Japanese aggression as they sought to emphasise the long history of US-China friendship and the need to seek common ground. “If we focus on our common interests, I’m confident there is much we can...

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Whistle-blower Jason Poon and wife charged over HK$6 million Covid-19 loan fraud

Hong Kong businessman Jason Poon Chuk-hung and his wife have been charged with defrauding a government financing scheme for businesses out of HK$6 million during the Covid-19 pandemic, the South China Morning Post has learned. A source said on Friday that construction businessman Poon, 56, and his 54-year-old wife, both out on bail, had been charged with conspiracy to defraud and money laundering and would appear at Kowloon Court on Monday. Poon, director of mask manufacturer Lockill...

Whistle-blower Jason Poon and wife charged over HK$6 million Covid-19 loan fraud

Lee reaffirms he will not seek reelection through constitutional revision

MEXICO CITY — President Lee Jae Myung reaffirmed Thursday that he will not seek reelection through constitutional reform. The president made the remarks during a meeting with South Korean residents in Mexico while on a state visit. "Those who are worried, don't be," the president said. "There will never be a case of my (term) going beyond June 2, 2030." Lee has repeatedly said he has no intention of seeking reelection through constitutional revision amid opposition accusations that he may seek a second term through the push for a constitutional revision by his administration and his ruling Democratic Party. The Constitution currently stipulates any changes to the presidential system shall not apply to the president in office at the time of a revision. Lee took office in June last year for a five-year term. The president also warned against radicalism in pursuing reforms, saying: "(One) needs to restrain himself properly. If one goes too far or too hastily, he would face backlash. "While minimizing resistance and backlash, (reforms) should be pursued in a way that is effective, practical a

Lee reaffirms he will not seek reelection through constitutional revision

Lee pledges to work harder to 'illuminate' every citizen's life in Chuseok message

MEXICO CITY— President Lee Jae Myung pledged to work harder to "illuminate" every citizen's life regardless of differences in opinion in a video message released Thursday to mark the Chuseok holiday. Appearing alongside first lady Kim Hea Kyung in the video, Lee said, "As president, I am truly grateful and deeply honored to share this moment with all of you, our great people of the Republic of Korea, who have built today's Korea and are shaping the Korea of tomorrow. "I will work even harder to ensure that every citizen's life is illuminated brightly, regardless of their qualifications or conditions and whatever their opinions or thoughts," he said. "Though our places of residence, occupations and chosen paths may differ, we are united by our love for the country," he added. The president wished citizens "a wonderful Chuseok holiday," expressing his hope that they can reach out to those they miss and share precious moments of happiness with those they love. He delivered the message while spending the holiday in Mexico on a state visit aimed at enhancing bilateral cooperation. He is sched

Lee pledges to work harder to 'illuminate' every citizen's life in Chuseok message

Hyundai Motor poised to rank No. 3 in US quarterly sales, closing in on Ford

Hyundai Motor Group is poised to overtake Ford Motor in quarterly vehicle sales in the United States for the first time, underscoring the growing presence of the Korean automaker in the world’s largest car market. Cox Automotive estimates that the group’s three brands — Hyundai Motor, Kia and Genesis — will sell 511,421 vehicles in the U.S. between July and September, up 6.5 percent from a year earlier. By contrast, Ford is projected to sell 504,172 vehicles, down 7.1 percent, according to the market researcher’s latest forecast. If the estimates hold, Hyundai Motor Group would rank third in quarterly U.S. sales behind General Motors, with 671,706 vehicles, and Toyota Motor, with 642,707. The result would mark the first time the Korean group has surpassed Ford on a quarterly basis. The shift comes as U.S. consumers increasingly favor fuel-efficient vehicles amid elevated gasoline prices. Utilizing the market condition, Hyundai Motor Group has been going all-out to expand hybrid sales in the U.S. However, Ford sells much fewer hybrid or fuel-efficient vehicles there. Cox Automotiv

Hyundai Motor poised to rank No. 3 in US quarterly sales, closing in on Ford

Gov't weighs raising admission fees to palaces, royal tombs for 1st time in 20 years

The government is weighing an increase in admission fees at major palaces and royal tombs next year, officials said Friday, as officials and experts argue current prices are low by global standards and point to shifting visitor patterns. If increased, it would mark the first change in two decades, according to the officials. Under current rates, adult admission to both Gyeongbok Palace and Changdeok Palace is 3,000 won ($2.20), while the UNESCO-listed Jongmyo Shrine, Changgyeong Palace and Deoksu Palace charge 1,000 won. Joseon-era royal tombs (1392-1910) range from 500 won to 2,000 won for adults. Kim Jae-kyu, head of the private National Heritage Planning and Evaluation Institute, said at a recent public forum hosted by the Korea Heritage Service that South Korea's palace and tomb fees are very low even by international standards. Using the Big Mac index as a benchmark, Kim noted that France's Versailles equates to about nine Big Macs and Japan's Nijo Castle to roughly 1.2, while fees at Gyeongbok and Changdeok palaces amount to about half a Big Mac. Kim also pointed to changing visitor

Gov't weighs raising admission fees to palaces, royal tombs for 1st time in 20 years

Shark fever hits Busan as 102,000 rush to see 'Bukangi' at start of Chuseok break

More than 100,000 people flocked to a waterfront park at Busan’s North Port on Wednesday, the first day of the Chuseok holiday, hoping to catch a glimpse of a shark nicknamed “Bukangi” that has been spotted in a canal there. The turnout was about 50 times the park’s usual holiday visitor count. According to the Busan Facilities Corporation on Thursday, approximately 93,000 people had visited the waterfront park in Dong District by 6 p.m. Wednesday. Including visitors who arrived later, the total was estimated at around 102,000. The park typically receives about 2,000 visitors on a holiday. The shark, which was spotted at North Port and given the nickname Bukangi, has become a local attraction, drawing crowds even during the holiday period. The waterfront park is about 500 meters from Busan Station and is within walking distance. As crowds gathered around the park Wednesday afternoon, Busan Metropolitan City sent a safety alert urging people to avoid driving and to use public transportation, warning of severe congestion in the area. To prevent safety accidents, the city has restri

Shark fever hits Busan as 102,000 rush to see 'Bukangi' at start of Chuseok break

Suspected power bank fire breaks out on Da Nang-bound flight before departure

A fire suspected to have been caused by a power bank broke out aboard an Air Seoul flight bound for Da Nang before takeoff at Incheon International Airport, industry sources said Friday. The fire started at around 9 p.m. Thursday in a passenger's bag stored under a seat aboard flight RS511, operated by low-cost carrier Air Seoul Inc., as the aircraft prepared for takeoff, according to the sources. Cabin crew extinguished the fire, and firefighters arrived at the scene to check on passengers. No casualties were reported. The aircraft was carrying 221 passengers and seven crew members. Air Seoul later deployed a replacement aircraft, which departed two hours and 50 minutes behind schedule.

Suspected power bank fire breaks out on Da Nang-bound flight before departure

Coming home through self-care: How a Korean adoptee built a wellness brand between cultures

Marie Perruchet was born in Seoul, but Korea was not the place that taught her how to be Korean. Sent overseas for adoption at 18 months and raised in Normandy, France, Perruchet grew up without the language, traditions or beauty rituals of her birth country. She later lived in 10 countries, worked as a correspondent for the BBC and spent years in Silicon Valley before eventually returning to Korea as an entrepreneur. When she arrived, she was not coming back to a childhood home. She was discovering one. That experience became part of the story behind Clapoti, the wellness brand she founded in 2022. She describes it as "loved in Paris and perfected by Korean heritage," incorporating Korean manufacturing innovation, French sensory and scent tradition and an American instinct for functional, no-nonsense packaging. Perruchet's relationship with beauty had already been shaped by moving between cultures. Growing up in France, she said she rarely saw herself represented in beauty magazines. Some products weren't designed for her skin tone, and she remembered a stylist admitting she didn't know

Coming home through self-care: How a Korean adoptee built a wellness brand between cultures

Only 3 researchers assigned to collect historical records linked to Korea's independence movement

The veterans ministry has assigned only three personnel to collect and review materials related to Korea's independence movement against Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule, data showed Friday, raising concerns over a shortage of personnel to sift through the vast amount of historical records. Only three of the 37 personnel in the ministry's Patriots and Veterans Archives Management Division are tasked with collecting and managing records on the country's independence movement, the ministry told Yonhap News Agency. "We typically collect some 300,000 records over the course of a year," a ministry official said, suggesting a possible disparity between the workload and the number of personnel assigned for the task. Put simply, this means each researcher is responsible for handling some 100,000 historical records a year. The revelation comes after the ministry earlier announced plans to honor more than 600 independence activists who have not previously been recognized by the state this year, up from 502 in 2025. Separate data submitted to Rep. Kim Joon-hyung of the minor Rebuilding Korea Party show

Only 3 researchers assigned to collect historical records linked to Korea's independence movement

Parties clash over secret repatriation of North Korean POWs from Ukraine

Ruling and opposition parties clashed over the government’s decision to keep the repatriation of two North Korean prisoners of war (POWs) from Ukraine confidential. After Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy disclosed the arrangement, the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) questioned whether Seoul had been too concerned about provoking Pyongyang. The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) defended the decision, saying it was necessary to protect the two men and safeguard national security. President Lee Jae Myung expressed regret over Kyiv’s disclosure, saying Zelenskyy had broken a bilateral agreement to keep the transfer confidential. Lee also criticized opposition politicians for questioning the government's decision, saying those who jeopardize lives and national security for the sake of taking credit are "murderers and traitors." DPK spokesperson Shin Hyun-young defended the government's approach, saying its priority was to protect the two former North Korean soldiers. "(President Zelenskyy's disclosure) was an act that betrayed trust between the two countries and was d

Parties clash over secret repatriation of North Korean POWs from Ukraine

Presidential official pledges prompt, thorough probe into DMZ explosions

MEXICO CITY — A presidential official has pledged a prompt and thorough investigation into who was responsible for the recent explosions in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) that injured three South Korean soldiers. "An objective, prompt and thorough investigation is underway," the presidential official told reporters in Mexico City on Thursday while accompanying President Lee Jae Myung on his ongoing state visit to Mexico. The official's remark came in response to suspected mine explosions in the DMZ on Monday that injured three South Korean soldiers, prompting forensic analysis of collected mine fragments to determine whether they were of South or North Korean origin. "A thorough fact-finding is needed to determine whether they were mines, and if they were mines, what kinds of mines they were, as well as whether they were buried by North Korea, and if not, what happened," he said. The investigation is being carried out carefully in coordination with the United Nations Command because the site of the explosions is a new reconnaissance route, making it dangerous to tread on, the official sa

Presidential official pledges prompt, thorough probe into DMZ explosions

Lee says Ukraine disclosed transfer of 2 NK soldiers in breach of nondisclosure agreement

MEXICO CITY — President Lee Jae Myung on Thursday expressed regret that Ukraine disclosed the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war (POWs) to South Korea, calling it a breach of a nondisclosure agreement that he said may lead to many problems. "It was appropriate in every aspect not to disclose, considering many problems it may cause when disclosed, and (we) had agreed to do so," Lee said in a post on his X account, a day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his address to the United Nations General Assembly in New York that Ukraine recently sent the two North Korean POWs to South Korea. Shortly after Zelenskyy's speech, the Ukrainian presidential office said the transfer of the two North Korean prisoners to South Korea was carried out through direct dialogue with Seoul. "(Ukraine) disclosed the transfer in breach of a nondisclosure agreement," Lee wrote. "I don't know the reasons (for the disclosure), but I regret it." Lee said the issue is a very sensitive matter that could immensely affect diplomacy and national security, as well as the security environment

Lee says Ukraine disclosed transfer of 2 NK soldiers in breach of nondisclosure agreement

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