Why Southeast Asia feels relief and caution after the Xi-Trump summit

South China Morning Post - Sep 27, 2026

Southeast Asia welcomes the continued thaw in US-China ties after the Xi-Trump summit, with analysts saying that less friction between the two powers over issues such as the South China Sea could lower the pressure on the region. Yet, caution persists as the summit left deeper disputes unresolved. “Stable great-power relations – competitive but with sturdy guardrails – will create more legroom for third countries to navigate an increasingly complex world,” according to Lucio Blanco Pitlo III, a...

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University of Seoul, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee to offer engineering dual-degree program

University of Seoul, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee to offer engineering dual-degree program

The University of Seoul has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) to establish a dual-degree program in engineering. The University of Seoul said the MOU was signed on Sept. 14 to expand academic and educational exchanges between the engineering colleges of the two universities and foster globally capable engineering talent. Under the program, engineering students at the University of Seoul who meet certain requirements will be able to take engineering-related courses at UWM and earn degrees from both universities. University of Seoul President Won Yong-kul met with UWM Chancellor Thomas Gibson to discuss ways to strengthen cooperation in engineering education and research between the two universities and expand student exchanges. Both universities plan to gradually expand cooperation between their engineering colleges, including the smooth operation of the dual-degree program, faculty and student exchanges, joint seminars and collaborative research. “This agreement is significant in that it will combine the strengths of the two univ

'Korea's demographic crisis rooted in changing family values': Global Peace Foundation head

'Korea's demographic crisis rooted in changing family values': Global Peace Foundation head

Korea will not reverse its demographic decline simply by spending more on policy measures, according to Hyun Jin Preston Moon, founder and chairman of the Global Peace Foundation. The deeper problem, he argues, is a transformation in how Koreans view marriage, parenthood and their obligations to one another. "The family unit is the primary and the most important cultural expression of Korea," Moon said in a recent interview with The Korea Times in Seoul. "The very civilization itself is now under threat because Korea had abandoned the institution that was most important to this nation." For Moon, framing the fertility crisis primarily as an economic problem misses what he sees as a more fundamental shift in values. He believes the answer lies in reviving elements of Korea's traditional family culture. The traditional Korean extended family has been characterized by strong intergenerational ties, norms of filial responsibility, respect for older family members and a high degree of mutual support across generations. Moon argues that the weakening of these structures has contributed to pro

Global Family Forum highlights traditional family values amid Korea's population crisis

Global Family Forum highlights traditional family values amid Korea's population crisis

Korea's traditional extended-family culture could help address the country's low birthrate and deepening population crisis, according to experts and civil society leaders at the 2026 Global Family Forum in Seoul. The forum, hosted by the Federation for Korean Families, was held at the Textile Center in Seoul, Sept. 19. Held under the theme, "The Population and Family Crisis and the Value of Korean Family Culture: Transitioning toward a Family-Friendly Society and Ensuring Sustainability for Future Generations," the forum drew some 600 participants, including representatives from 180 member and partner organizations, academics, experts, civil society groups and policymakers. Participants said financial support alone would not be enough to tackle Korea's low birthrate. Alongside expanded housing and child care support, the country needs a social and cultural environment in which marriage, childbirth and family formation are viewed more positively, they added. Korea's total fertility rate rose for the second consecutive year to 0.80 in 2025, though it remains among the lowest in the OECD. F

Soldier's statement points to possible unexploded land mine at DMZ blast site

Soldier's statement points to possible unexploded land mine at DMZ blast site

An undetonated land mine was spotted at the site of last week's explosion inside the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), according to military sources Monday, citing initial statements from soldiers involved in the blast. The statement was obtained as the military is working to determine the exact cause of last Monday's blast that occurred south of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) inside the DMZ separating the two Koreas. Two South Korean soldiers were severely wounded, with a third sustaining minor injuries. The incident, which involved two separate explosions, is suspected of having been triggered by North Korean land mines. It is too early to verify the statements regarding the additional land mine, including whether it belongs to North Korean forces, as the military investigation team was unable to reach the blast site during an operation Sunday, sources familiar with the probe said. As the on-site investigation continues, retrieving the unexploded mine will be crucial to gathering evidence and making progress in the probe. On Monday, a Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) official said it received t

Pak Se-ri puts out lavish spread for housewarming guests

Pak Se-ri puts out lavish spread for housewarming guests

LPGA legend Pak Se-ri has drawn attention by unveiling the townhouse she recently moved into. On the Saturday episode of MBC's variety show “Omniscient Interfering View,” Park showed viewers her new home and a housewarming gathering. Explaining why Pak had moved, her manager said she had recently relocated to a townhouse because she felt it would be more comfortable for living with her dogs than an apartment. The new home makes a positive first impression with its grand entrance. The first floor features a stylish living room decorated with various works of art, a cozy bedroom and a dressing room. The spacious dressing room was filled with cosmetics and clothes. The home also had an area where her dogs could run around freely. The second floor featured a large terrace with a motorized awning, as well as a study, a second dressing room and a guest room. The show's panelists marveled at the home, asking, “Is this a resort?” The basement housed a hobby room equipped with a projector for watching movies, a record player and storage area for her home bar. One panelist joked, “You hav

Defense minister vows 'corresponding measures' if NK land mine confirmed in DMZ blast

Defense minister vows 'corresponding measures' if NK land mine confirmed in DMZ blast

South Korea will take corresponding measures if last week’s explosion in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) is confirmed to originate from a land mine placed recently by North Korea, Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul said Monday. “Appropriate and corresponding measures will be necessary and we will take them,” Kang told reporters after meeting main opposition People Power Party (PPP) leader Jang Dong-hyeok at the National Assembly. His remarks came as the accounts given by troops raised the possibility that a North Korean anti-personnel mine was present near the blast site, although the military said neither the type of mine involved nor who planted it had been established. Brig. Gen. Hwang Ju-bong, director of Operations Division 1 at the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), said at a regular defense ministry briefing on Monday that some soldiers reported seeing a wooden box that could have housed an explosive device near the blast site, although others described it differently. “There was testimony that its shape resembled a wooden box mine but that the material appeared to be plastic,” Hwan

Top investigator downplays concerns of expanded police role from prosecution reform

Top investigator downplays concerns of expanded police role from prosecution reform

A senior police officer on Monday downplayed concerns that the police would be given excessive authority due to the planned prosecution reform, citing the establishment of a new investigative body. Hong Seok-ki, head of the National Office of Investigation, addressed the concerns stemming from the recent revision to the Criminal Procedure Act, which will strip the prosecution of its investigative powers. "With the creation of the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency, the scope of investigations solely conducted by the police will in fact become smaller," Hong told reporters in a regular briefing. Under the planned reform set to take effect Friday, the new agency will handle investigations in seven categories of major crimes, including corruption and those against state security. The broader reform, however, has still raised concerns over reduced oversight of police investigations as the prosecution will lose its power to carry out supplementary investigations. Hong acknowledged the increased police responsibility, pledging to cooperate with requests for supplementary investigations. "Police

Violations of anti-graft law hit record low last year

Violations of anti-graft law hit record low last year

Violations of the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act fell to the lowest level last year since the law went into effect 10 years ago, officials said Monday. The act stipulates the price caps on gifts and meals that public servants can be treated, among other things. Since the law took effect, violations steadily increased and peaked at 4,386 cases in 2018 before declining through 2021. Since then, annual totals had fluctuated before reaching a record low of 1,280 cases last year, according to the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission. A cumulative total of 17,455 cases of violations have been reported and 2,983 people have been punished. The commission said it conducted a survey in June about the act and 87.1 percent responded positively about its effectiveness. But 61.4 percent of the respondents also said that the law should be enforced more strictly, officials said. "It is encouraging that the number of violations and penalized individuals are on a downward trend as it shows that the system is operating stably across public institutions," said Jung Il-yeon, chairman of the commis

Seoul job fair aims to connect foreign job seekers with local firms

Seoul job fair aims to connect foreign job seekers with local firms

When the Seoul Metropolitan Government opens its largest international job fair this fall, city officials will be aiming to solve a growing mismatch in Korea's tightening labor market: local companies looking for global markets, and thousands of foreign graduates eager to build careers in the capital. The recruitment drive for the event, officially titled Seoul Job Connect 2026 and set for Nov. 18 at the SETEC convention center in Gangnam District, opened Monday for local businesses seeking bilingual talent, market analysts and trade specialists. Companies aiming to hire international talent can apply through Oct. 16 on the event's official website. The initiative comes as Seoul rapidly cements its status as a premier global education and business hub. Once seen primarily as a regional manufacturing powerhouse, the city was recently described by the Financial Times as "the new Paris" for international university students. Higher education analytics firm Quacquarelli Symonds also named Seoul the world's top student city for the second consecutive year, reflecting a sharp increase in the

Ive to return with new EP next month

Ive to return with new EP next month

K-pop girl group Ive will release a new EP titled "Looks Can Kill" on Oct. 26, the group's agency Starship Entertainment said Monday. It will be the group's first music since its second full-length album, "Revive+," was released in February. Ahead of the EP's release, Ive will drop a pre-release single on Oct. 19, Starship said in a release. The group recently wrapped up its second world tour, "Show What I Am," which kicked off in Seoul and visited major cities across Asia, Oceania and North America.

BTS wins Song of the Year at 2026 MTV VMAs

BTS wins Song of the Year at 2026 MTV VMAs

K-pop juggernaut BTS won Song of the Year for "SWIM" at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) in the United States, Sunday (local time). The win adds to a banner comeback year for the septet, which reunited as a full group in March after a nearly four-year hiatus. BTS, which did not attend the ceremony at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, also won Best K-Pop and Best Group, sweeping all three categories for which it was nominated. The Best Group trophy is its fifth, following four straight wins from 2019 to 2022, making BTS the most-awarded act in the category's history. "We sincerely thank ARMY (the group's official fandom) for always giving us your unwavering love and support," the group said in a statement released through its agency, BigHit Music. "'ARIRANG' feels like a new beginning for us, which makes this award all the more meaningful," it said, referring to its fifth studio album "ARIRANG." The members credited the Song of the Year win to everyone who has loved their music, adding that all seven members would continue to deliver great music and performances together. "SWIM,"

Korean toddlers' screen time clashes with WHO standards: survey

Korean toddlers' screen time clashes with WHO standards: survey

More than half of Korean toddlers begin using smartphones before their second birthday, running counter to international pediatric guidelines. According to a survey of 400 parents published Monday, 50.98 percent of children started using smartphones before age 2, and 77.64 percent began before age 3. The findings appeared in the research journal MIND, published by the Mental Health Research Institute at the National Center for Mental Health. Parents identified 12 to 23 months as the most common starting age, cited by 37.18 percent of respondents. Other age groups included 24 to 35 months at 26.66 percent and zero to 11 months at 13.80 percent. A smaller share began between 36 and 47 months at 12.39 percent and between 48 and 59 months at 12.96 percent. On weekdays, daily smartphone use remained largely under an hour, reported by 56.78 percent of parents, while 32.74 percent reported no use and 9.46 percent reported one to three hours. Weekend screen time surged as the share of children using smartphones for one to three hours more than doubled to 22.58 percent. The share of children with

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