The scaling back of joint military exercises with South Korea was intended to reopen direct dialogue between Washington and Pyongyang. But the North denies any contact and is raising the ‘price’ for a return to negotiations. These developments are placing President Lee Jae-myung in an increasingly difficult position.
The 2026 Seoul International Buddhism Expo was an unprecedented success, with more than 250,000 visitors in four days, mostly young men and women aged 20 to 30, nearly half self-identifying as non-religious. While official data point to a decline in Buddhism in Asia, the festival turned temples into true cultural and entertainment venues making the faith more accessible.
In the Philippines, more than six million people joined the Alay Lakad, the nighttime pilgrimage in Antipolo, while in Quezon province, a group of farmers interrelated the stories of the Passion with their own struggle to defend their lands. In Arunachal Pradesh, young people are celebrating the Easter Triduum by praying for religious harmony in India. The World Council of Churches in South Korea called for conversion and shared a prayer dedicated to the painful division between North and South.
During Holy Week, Korea’s bishops announced a major step in the cause of Father Thomas Choi Yang-up (1821-1861), a companion in the seminary of the martyred Saint Andrew Kim. For 12 years, he was the first priest to minister in Korea, visiting local Christians during a period of persecution. He died of typhus at the age of 40 after travelling thousands of kilometres and translating the catechism into Korean language. The local Church rejoices as it gets ready to host World Youth Day in 2027.
The Statement of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea on the Partial Amendment to the Maternal and Child Health Act, currently under discussion in the country, aims to fill a legal vacuum created by the 2019 Supreme Court ruling decriminalising abortion. The South Korean Church calls for mandatory counselling and a period of reflection before terminating a pregnancy and for the strengthening of men's shared responsibility in childcare.
The latest official demographic data show opposite trends in the two East Asian countries. Despite government measures and some tentative signs regarding fertility rates, Japan is failing to reverse the trend. South Korea is experiencing a rise in births among women over 30, but the country is still the most affected by the demographic winter.
At the Milano Cortina Games, three medals bear the mark of Venerable Hosan, abbot of the Bongseon Temple. All South Korean athletes in this discipline competed at the Dalma Open Championship, a tournament launched in 2002 by the Jogye Order. Born to support a marginal sport, it is now the country's leading snowboarding training venue. Like young people on snowboards, “In Buddhism, too, we seek ultimate liberation,” the monk said.
In some counties, local residents are organising campaigns to apply to host new nuclear reactors in an attempt to cope with economic and demographic decline. In return, municipalities receive subsidies and funds for infrastructure development. However, some associations fear that the concentration of power plants will increase the risk of accidents.
With families shrinking due to demographic decline and more individualised social relationships, more people are opting for one-day ceremonies, without receptions to pay homage to the deceased, which were traditional signs of respect and social prestige. Contributing factors include the high costs of such ceremonies, as well as the need for less ostentatious rituals.
At the trial for the attempted imposition of martial law in December 2024, special prosecutors have requested the maximum sentence for the deposed former head of state. A verdict is expected in February. South Korea has not carried out capital executions since 1997. The precedent was set with Chun Doo-hwan, whose death sentence was commuted to life in prison (followed by a pardon).
The South Korean president's trip to China marked a significant diplomatic rapprochement between Seoul and Beijing after years of frostiness, but leaves fundamental strategic issues unresolved. Despite attempts to engage on the Pyongyang dossier, the Chinese government avoids any reference to denuclearisation. Economic agreements signed by Korean conglomerates on rare earths and strategic minerals
Twelve months after the dramatic night when his predecessor Yoon tried to impose martial law, the current president praises the resilience of South Korean democracy and nominates the Korean people for the Nobel Peace Prize. Twenty-five members of parliament from the then ruling party also issued a public apology. Meanwhile, the trials continue: 14 years sought for corruption for the former first lady.
Published yesterday, on the Solemnity of Christ the King, the text is the result of a synodal process involving bishops, young people, religious and laity. Inspired by the theme ‘Be courageous: I have conquered the world!’, it recalls Christ's victory, the origins of the Korean Church and the action of the Holy Spirit. It will accompany young people and the universal Church towards the 2027 meeting.
Subscribe to the newsletter to receive verified news, analysis and insights from Asian countries every week.
Subscribeto the newsletter
