The Peninsula
The Peninsula blog is a project of the Korea Economic Institute. It is designed to provide a wide ranging forum for discussion of the foreign policy, economic, and social issues that impact the Korean peninsula.
Foreigners Face Discrimination with Little Recourse
Mai Anna Pressley
May 21, 2022
Despite a growing foreigner population, there are few legal protections against prejudicial treatment towards this community in South Korea.
Pyongyang Acknowledges COVID Deaths and Orders Mobilization to Slow Spread
Robert King
May 20, 2022
The mass mobilization of medical personnel suggests Pyongyang is deeply concerned about the outbreak but it may not be able to easily access outside help.
Cuisine Traditions Spotlight Generational Divide
Kayla Harris
May 8, 2022
While dog meat consumption has been a tradition in Korea for centuries, younger generations are voicing their aversion to the custom.
South Korea’s Road to Reproductive Rights
Mai Anna Pressley
May 7, 2022
Decriminalization of abortion in South Korea is a sign of progress, but much more can be done to safeguard the reproductive rights of Korean women.
Beyond the Data: Gender and Immigration in South Korea
Julia Fadanelli
May 6, 2022
Despite a declining workforce and a need for foreign workers, South Korea maintains some of the strictest immigration controls among the OECD countries.
Controversial Gwangju: Why May 18 Stands Out among Korea’s Democratization Movement Anniversaries
Benjamin Engel
May 5, 2022
Distorted historical narratives prevent South Korea from fully coming to terms with the 1980 Gwangju Democracy Movement and inhibit democratic growth.
Seoul Focuses Support on Young Adults
Kayla Harris
April 30, 2022
A new policy will subsidize public transportation fees for young adults, marking the first of many plans to support this cohort’s transition from childhood.
Yoon Suk-yeol and South Korea’s Digital Platform: A “Smarter” Future?
Sea Young (Sarah) Kim
April 26, 2022
President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol has vowed to turn South Korea into a leading digital economy befitting the era of Digital Earth.