Past Paper Series

South Korea’s Climate Change Policy: Achievements And Tasks Ahead

South Korea has accelerated its efforts over the years to address the issue of climate change and join the global community’s collaborative climate action. As…

Challenges for Korea in Planning for Net Zero Emissions by 2050

In recent years, South Korea has been addressing climate change, including through investments in hydrogen, the Green New Deal, and international pledges to cut emissions…

The Impacts of Economic Sanctions and COVID-19 on the North Korean Economy: 2017-2020

In recent years, North Korea has faced economic shocks from UN sanctions and the pandemic. As Dr. Jongkyu Lee (Senior Fellow at the Korea Development…

Full Book | Joint U.S.-Korea Academic Studies 2021

At the Korea Economic Institute of America (KEI), we foster connections to advance United States-Republic of Korea ties. Through bringing together people with an interest…

The Pandemic as a Geopolitical Gamechanger in the Indo-Pacific: The View from China

How has the COVID-19 pandemic reshaped or influenced China’s geopolitical outlook and its grand strategy for the years to come? This is a question that…

The COVID-19 Pandemic and Geopolitics in the Indo-Pacific: A View from the United States

The COVID-19 pandemic poses significant geopolitical challenges and presents opportunities for the United States in the Indo-Pacific. The Trump administration bungled the crisis, damaging the…

The New Peaceful Nuclear Cooperation Agreement Between South Korea and the United States: From Dependence to Parity

KEI is proud to release the latest volume in its Special Studies Series, The New Peaceful Nuclear Cooperation Agreement Between South Korea and the United…

Inter-Korean Tensions Affecting ROK Stock Market and Foreign Exchange Markets

The news of heightened military readiness in the North on May 25 reverberated through the Republic of Korea’s stock market and foreign exchange markets, prompting…

The List of State Sponsors of Terrorism (Guide)

The Secretary of State has the responsibility to designate countries as state sponsors of terrorism. This document outlines the legal framework, background, and applications of…

Facts About South Korea (April 2016)

Korea-China Forum Newsletter: Volume 1 July 2012

The Korea Economic Institute (KEI) and the Project 2049 Institute have entered into a new partnership in 2012 to revitalize the Korea-China Forum which started…

Red Devil Fever and the Branding of Korea

Red is a strong color. It is a color of passion, energy, power, and confidence. According to some studies, it can actually produce physical results,…

Can I Play, Too? Korean Athletes in U.S. Sports: Jim Paek, the First Korean to Hoist the Stanley Cup

For the over 1.5 million Korean-Americans living in the United States today, what part do sports play in the American experience? For that matter, what…

Is Korea Ready for the Demographic Revolution? The World's Most Rapidly Aging Society with the Most Rapidly Declining Fertility Rate

The world is about to experience a demographic revolution. Throughout history, the elderly population (people aged 65 and over) never amounted to more than 2−3%…

Comment: Scope for Dynamic Effects in Korea's Economy

A U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA) would bring economic benefits to both the United States and Korea through various channels. First, it would substantially…

Summary of Proceedings

In important respects this conference reflected two somewhat contrasting perspectives on the just completed U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA). Those two perspectives, the one…

Is a Free Trade Agreement a Royal Road to Prosperity? Demystifying Trade Regionalism

Korea and the United States have finally sealed their 10-month negotiation on the biggest bilateral trade deal ever. The scope and impact of the U.S.-Korea…

Verified Dismantlement of the DPRK's Nuclear Weapons Program

The nuclear weapons program of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) remains at the center of U.S. and international security concerns. The perception, if…

From the Six-Party Talks to a Northeast Asian Security Regime? Cooperative Threat Reduction Strategies and Institutional Development

Ongoing difficulties in the six-party talks for eliminating North Korean nuclear programs continue to dominate the Northeast Asian security agenda. The public debate over the…

North Korea's Strategic Intentions

North Korea is probably the most mysterious and in- accessible country in the world today. Officially known as the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK),…

A Proactive Approach to Engaging North Korea: Boldness, Flexibility,and Inclusiveness

In October 2002, Pyongyang officials implicitly agreed to Assistant Secre- tary of State James Kelly’s charge that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK, or…

Expected Role of South Korea and Major Stakeholders: NGO Contributions to and Roles in North Korea's Rehabilitation

In response to the food crisis of the 1990s, the Democratic People’s Repub- lic of Korea (DPRK) for the first time began to accept humanitarian…

Introduction and Overview

Can the economic system of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK, or North Korea) be successfully reformed? That is to say: Is it possible…

Economic Impact of International Spread of COVID-19

As COVID-19 continues its global spread, the economic implications are anticipated to be significant. Depending on magnitude of spread, the fall in Korea’s real GDP…

Korea Matters for America / America Matters for Korea

In partnership with the East-West Center and the CHEY Institute for Advanced Studies, KEI launched a new edition of Korea Matters for America / America…

The South Korean Nuclear Armament Debate

KEI’S SPECIAL PROJECT ON THE SOUTH KOREAN NUCLEAR ARMAMENT DEBATE South Korea’s nuclear armament debate received renewed attention in 2023. But, this issue is one…

Will Artificial Intelligence Hone North Korea's Cyber “All-Purpose Sword”?

How is the increasing spread of artificial intelligence (AI) likely to shape the cyber capabilities of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK; North Korea)…

2023 Report on American Attitudes Toward the Korean Peninsula

KEI’s 2023 Report on American Attitudes Toward the Korean Peninsula summarizes results from a survey commissioned by KEI and conducted by YouGov from August 22nd…

2022 Report on American Attitudes Toward the Korean Peninsula

KEI’s 2022 Report on American Attitudes Toward the Korean Peninsula summarizes results from a survey commissioned by KEI and conducted by YouGov from September 1st…

2021 Report on American Attitudes Toward the Korean Peninsula

KEI’s 2021 Report on American Attitudes Toward the Korean Peninsula summarizes results from a survey commissioned by KEI and conducted by YouGov on August 30th…

Korea Policy Vol. 1, Issue 2

Rhetoric vs. Reality: Seoul & Washington’s Strategic Alignment on Taiwan

Seoul has gradually adopted a more outspoken position regarding the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and framed it in increasingly expansive…

Comparative Approaches to the Indo-Pacific Region in 2022-23