South Korea

A new law will end a practice that began after the Korean War and lasted for decades. The process will now pass from private agencies to the state, in accordance with the Hague Convention. However, some issues remain, including the need for more legislative action and budgetary support from the country’s new administration.

In first ever, a training course organised in collaboration with a company in the sector explored not so much the ethical implications but the opportunities for the practical use of these tools in pastoral care. Participants said: ‘It can become an essential aid in improving preaching and pastoral care.’

The South Korean president met with the cardinal, prefect of the Dicastery for the Clergy. He is hoping to meet Leo XIV soon and that the pope’s 2027 visit for WYD will be an historic step towards thaw and peace in the Peninsula. Speaking to reporters, the cardinal said that the WYD is “a great opportunity to make the spirit of martyrdom known to young people”. During the weeks of chaos over the attempted imposition of martial law, Pope Francis prayed for South Korea.

On World Drug Day, a well-known South Korean journalist and former addict, Huh Jae-hyun, spoke out against a short-sighted war on drugs that marginalises rather than reintegrate in society. While local media chase after celebrities accused of drug abuse, the number of young users explodes.

South Korea’s new president and the Chinese leader spoke on the phone for about 30 minutes. China insists on the importance of “multilateralism” against the backdrop of Trump’s tariffs. South Korea calls on Xi to play a “constructive role” in the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula.

A senior pastor with Yoido Full Gospel Church in Seoul, the 70-year-old was elected at the recent world conference in Helsinki by representatives from 90 countries. His selection shows the growing role of Asian communities in this part of global Christianity.

The left-leaning candidate won more than 50 per cent of the vote in the wake of Yoon Suk-yeol’s removal. Exit polls reflect generational and gender divisions, but also a renewed civic commitment by South Koreans. The Democratic Party of Korea calls for national unity to turn the page after the declaration of martial law.

After the removal of conservative President Yoon Suk-yeol, the country will go to the polls tomorrow to pick a new president. If elected, the frontrunner Lee Jae-myung will lead a divided country, seeking a balance between social justice and growing polarisation. For Prof David C. Kang of the University of Southern California, this is a test of democratic stability, but South Korean society is not in decline.

On the eve of a critical vote on 3 June, the Justice and Peace Commission of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea informs voters and politicians of the traits that elected officials should have to truly promote the common good: serve the people, unite it beyond ideological and social barriers, promote peace with the North, and commit to safeguarding the environment.

The reporter, whose identity has not been released, is accused of obstructing the Election Commission with an article claiming that 99 Chinese spies had been moved from South Korea to Japan after former President Yoon declared martial law. The affair reflects the tense climate of the presidential election campaign. Meanwhile, the leader of the Democratic Party Lee Jae-myung continues to be ahead in the polls.

The former labour minister will challenge the favourite candidate, the liberal Lee Jae-myung, in the elections on 3 June. In his acceptance speech, he promised ‘a strong alliance with anyone’ to defeat his rivals. Among his priorities are support for businesses and a hard line against North Korea. However, polls still give Lee a clear lead.

This is the estimate by the government-funded Korea Institute for Defense Analysis for North Korea’s shipment of weapons, men and technology to Russia. The supplies include 21,000 containers of weapons sent by sea. Between late 2024 and the start of 2025, North Korea sent almost 127,000 phishing emails to South Korean officials, journalists and researchers.