TOKYO — Political drama was the common factor uniting Japan and South Korea in 2024, sparking strong reader interest. Legislative elections in both countries saw their respective ruling parties take big hits. Japan’s new prime minister survived his party’s loss of seats in parliament, while anger from the public and lawmakers following a brief martial law declaration in South Korea led to the impeachment of its president.
The year got off to a tragic start in Japan, including a collision between a Japan Airlines jet and a Japan Coast Guard aircraft at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport on Jan. 2 that killed five people. Throughout 2024, increasing numbers of overseas visitors showed interest in exploring the country and its culture even as Japanese preferred to stick closer to home. But the uncertainty of visiting and living in the natural disaster-prone archipelago was underscored by concern over a potential megaquake.
In South Korea, a new twist on the “K-wave” phenomenon emerged with the growing economic power of the silver economy. Tensions surrounding North Korea, meanwhile, remained a concern as the country took an increasingly harsh stance against its southern rival.
Advertisement
A list of our most read stories from Japan and South Korea in 2024:
- Haneda air traffic control missed warning alert in JAL collision
- Japan to introduce six-month residency visa for ‘digital nomads’
- Akira Toriyama, creator of ‘Dragon Ball,’ dies at 68
- South Korean election: Yoon’s party suffers stinging defeat
- Japan restaurants explore charging foreign tourists more
- Honda’s made-in-India SUV grabs Japanese drivers with low price
- Japan’s Nankai Trough earthquake advisory: 5 things to know
- Japan, a tourism hot spot, is losing its passion for travel
- Japan election: How a bad night for Ishiba’s LDP unfolded
- South Korea wakes up to the next K-wave: The ‘silver economy’
- Kim Jong Un declares end of ‘evil relationship’ with South Korea
- South Korea’s Yoon backs down on martial law declaration
Take a look back with our most read stories of the year here.