Reimagining U.S.-Korea Relations Archives - Korea Economic Institute of America

Mitigating the New Politics of Zero-Sum

January 30, 2025 • Michael Beeman

Major political developments at the end of 2024 have ushered in new unpredictability in the US-South Korea relationship for 2025. First came the re-election of Donald Trump in the United States, followed by dramatic events in South Korea that are still evolving after President Yoon Suk Yeol’s short-lived declaration of martial law. Deep political division is a powerful undercurrent contributing to both these developments, the aftermath of which will play out in unique and uncertain ways in each country over the course of 2025.

Implications of the US Treasury’s Designation of Currency Manipulation for South Korea

January 24, 2025 • Hyerim Kim

The last thing South Korean monetary officials need to hear about is the US Department of the Treasury’s recent addition of South Korea to its currency monitoring lists. In light of these circumstances, the South Korean government and the country’s businesses will need to be agile in dealing with these external challenges that could emerge.

Protectionism With Opportunities for US-South Korea Trade Under Trump 2.0

January 22, 2025 • Nils Wollesen Osterberg

The economic relationship between the United States and South Korea is stronger than ever, but President Donald Trump’s promises of higher US tariffs pose risks to the relationship. As protectionist US trade policies will likely distort current trade patterns, a well-positioned South Korea could stand to benefit.