Digital Library

The Korea Economic Institute of America (KEI) led a delegation to visit Grand Rapids, Michigan, from September 30 to October 2, hosted by the World Affairs Council of Western Michigan. The trip was the fifth and final Future of Korea (FOK) program KEI held this year to foster greater public understanding and appreciation of South…

The Korea Economic Institute of America (KEI) recently led a delegation to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to explore the city’s evolving role within the U.S.-South Korea relationship and engage with the local business, academic, and civic communities. Perhaps best known for its history, culture, and sports teams, Philadelphia is also emerging as a dynamic twenty-first-century hub for…

The recently signed U.S.–Japan investment memorandum of understanding (MOU) establishes a new framework for how Washington structures trade and investment relations with its allies. Announced alongside the implementation of the U.S.–Japan trade deal, the MOU allocates USD 550 billion for Japanese investments in the United States and lays down procedures for how those funds will…

North Korea’s celebrations marking the eightieth anniversary of the founding of the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK) were a fireworks-filled spectacle with high-profile Chinese, Russian, and other foreign officials in attendance. The centerpiece of this year’s military parade was the newly unveiled Hwasong-20 intercontinental ballistic missile, described as the nation’s “most powerful nuclear strategic weapon…

The upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit was intended to showcase South Korea’s claim to leadership on a range of issues from free trade, digital and artificial intelligence, and democracy. Instead, the Lee Jae Myung administration finds itself beset by shifting geopolitical winds. A potential summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi…

The alliance between the United States and South Korea faces one of its most consequential tests in seventy-two years. Some observers believe it may be nearing its breaking point, and there is growing concern in both capitals that the existing framework is no longer sufficient to meet the strategic demands of a far more dangerous…

Military historians often apply a superlative phrase to describe famous generals, stating that they are able to “snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.” This line of thought can be inverted as an apt description of policy stumbles—“we have snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.” The South Korean government may risk this fate by…

As Korea entered Q3 2025 committed to finalizing a trade deal with the United States, investment pledges and purchase commitments became a defining feature of the U.S.–Korea agreement. President Trump and President Lee Jae Myung’s July 31 meeting resulted in Korea announcing a USD 350 billion investment fund, including USD 150 billion for shipbuilding. President…

This year, China commemorated the twentieth anniversary of its Anti-Secession Law, which provides domestic legal grounds to prevent Taiwanese independence. Beijing has long used the law to justify the use of force against what it calls “separatist activities” in Taipei, but the 2025 commemoration coincides with renewed pressure from Beijing on its allies and partners…