SEOUL] South Korea’s economy returned to growth last quarter after a modest contraction in the previous period, signalling resilience even as trade tensions simmer and domestic financial risks deepen.

The 2+2 trade talks between Korea and the United States scheduled for Friday were canceled due to the “urgent schedule” of U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, the Ministry of Economy and Finance announced Thursday.

Gross domestic product expanded 0.6% in the April-June period from a quarter earlier on a seasonally adjusted basis, after contracting 0.2% in the preceding three months. It was stronger than the median 0.5% increase tipped in a Reuters poll and the fastest quarterly growth since the first quarter of 2024.

The Spanish football giants FC Barcelona announced Thursday they will "consider readjusting" their upcoming summer trip to South Korea after canceling a preseason match in Japan over contractual issues.

South Korea recorded its largest-ever gain in birth rate over the first five months of the year, its statistics agency said Wednesday, amid a looming demographic crisis.

South Korea's financial giants have been working to shed their long-standing reputation for rubber-stamp governance, as diversity and boardroom expertise have visibly improved.

SEOUL -- South Korea's economy returned to growth in the second quarter of this year as exports ticked up, according to central bank data released on Thursday.

South Korea's President Lee Jae Myung declared six districts as special disaster zones on Tuesday after days of torrential rains left a trail of destruction in parts of the country.

North Korea plans to build another 5,000-ton destroyer by October 2026, state media reported Tuesday, following the launch of two warships earlier this year.

Seoul is preparing for a diplomatic push in the final days before the Aug 1 deadline. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

The apples grown in the South Korean county of Cheongsong in the country's southeast are so renowned for their flavour that they are often given out in neatly-packaged gift boxes during national holidays.