U.S.-South Korea Relations in 2026: Key Issues to Watch
From alliance recalibration to the “Korea Discount,” KEI experts analyze the critical issues shaping U.S.–South Korea relations in 2026.
What May Be Driving Trump’s Latest Tariff Threat Against South Korea
Investment commitments, tariff deals, and bilateral MOUs may now have to be completed with the caveat in mind that anything can change at a moment’s notice.
U.S.-South Korea AI Cooperation and the Future of Work
The foundation of AI, including advanced chips, memory, sensors, and compute capacity, is where the U.S. and Korean supply chains are the most intertwined.
South Korea’s Economic Rebound is Projected to Continue
While Korea’s export growth in 2025 slowed due to protectionist trade policies, real GDP growth was expected to pick up in 2026.
2025 Year in Review: Policy Uncertainty and Global Economic Resilience
Korea’s cosmetics industry has moved beyond trend-driven consumption and matured into a key export pillar.
The Rise of K-Beauty and the Economic Implications for South Korea
Korea’s cosmetics industry has moved beyond trend-driven consumption and matured into a key export pillar.
Why a More Insular Chinese Economy Could Spell Bad News for South Korea
As China revises its plan for self-reliance on technological development, tensions could rise around structural dilemmas this presents to South Korea.
2025 Year in Review: South Korean Corporate Strategy in the U.S. Market
Throughout the year, shipbuilding stood out as the area where South Korean firms’ strategic positioning most clearly corresponded with U.S. priorities.
2025 Year in Review: Kim Jong Un’s Financial Conundrum
As 2025 draws to a close, reporting suggests that financial conditions may be stabilizing—but at levels radically worse than just two years ago.
2025 Year in Review: Old Trade Order, Meet the New Trade Order
The new way of doing trade is now largely conditional, transactional, and leveraged by strategic industries