Polarization Shapes Electoral Politics
Prevailing hostilities may have forestalled an electoral merger between the third-party centrist candidate and the main opposition party.
The Foreign Policy Outlook of South Korean Progressives: Part II
The history of South Korea’s political divide informs how the country’s liberals approach not only their political goals but also foreign policy outlook.
“Speeding” into Marriage
Celebrities announcing their premarital pregnancies in South Korea are not as deviant from traditional family norms as they might appear.
Technology over Systemic Change
Despite South Korea’s technological sophistication, the government’s attempts to solve social issues with technology fall short of being transformative.
Political Ethics Take Center Stage in Election Discourse
Compared to campaign pledges from 10 years ago, candidates today speak more about corruption than economic growth.
Real Geopolitical Tensions Shape Public Attitudes
While seemingly driven by incidental events, public attitudes towards foreign nations may be responding to real tensions.
Defectors Caught in South Korea’s Social Changes
Values and biases of everyday South Koreans are reflected in the government’s approach to defector-migrants from North Korea.
Hanbok Controversy Stokes Anti-Chinese Sentiment
The Korean anger at China’s use of hanbok stems from the clothing’s role in not only the country’s national identity but also present prestige.
Korea’s Attempt to Fix Social Problems with Technological Solutions
The South Korean government invests in AI solutions rather than welfare policies to tackle high levels of suicide among the elderly.
International Forums as Battlefields of Bilateral Disputes
Japan increasingly seeks to settle bilateral disputes with South Korea in multilateral settings where Tokyo’s higher prestige provides an advantage.