Anti-China sentiment is on the rise in South Korea, driven by younger generations, political grievances and past disputes — fueling protests and shaping Seoul’s strained relationship with Beijing.
A standoff between Seongju County officials and activists protesting the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system ended in retreat for the local government Friday after villagers in Sosong-ri packed a narrow bridge and prevailed in a standoff.
A clash is expected after Seongju County in North Gyeongsang signaled it will carry out an administrative enforcement order to remove facilities set up by activists near the U.S.-led Terminal High Altitude Area Defense antimissile system base.
Singer and co-chair of Korea's pop culture committee, Park Jin-young, said he met Chinese President Xi Jinping and expressed hope that “the two countries’ peoples can come closer through popular culture and share more stories together.”
The state auditor has referred senior officials of the former Moon Jae-in administration to the prosecution on suspicions of leaking intelligence related to the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (Thaad) U.S. missile defense system.
The state audit agency said Monday that it referred a former national security adviser and three others to the prosecution as they had abused their powers to intentionally delay the deployment of an advanced U.S. missile defense system.
The Constitutional Court on Friday dismissed two petitions by Won Buddhist followers and residents of Seongju, North Gyeongsang, who claimed that the system's deployment violated their rights.
The number of passengers flying between Korea and China stood at 931,272 in August, according to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, which is 45 percent of the figure before the travel restriction was imposed.
Chinese group tourists and officials of the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) at Incheon International Airport on Thursday. The KTO held a welcoming ceremony for Chinese tourists who have returned after a six-year hiatus.
Chinese tour groups may flood the streets of Seoul from as early as Friday with China lifting its ban on group tours to Korea for the first time in six years.
Korea JoongAng Daily Sitemap
