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.
North Korea’s Benign 70th Birthday
Mark Tokola
September 10, 2018
North Korea celebrated the 70th anniversary of the founding of its state on September 9 in a notably non-belligerent fashion.
The Challenges of a Second Minimum Wage Increase in South Korea
August 15, 2018
The Korean government announced on July 14 that it will raise the minimum wage next year by 10.9% to 8350 won ($7.40), following a 16.9% increase this year.
Discord on South Korea’s “Island of World Peace”
August 8, 2018
A recent influx of Yemeni refugees on Jeju has given rise to a confluence of economic, social, and cultural concerns among South Koreans.
Record Heat in South Korea Prompts Talk of Including Extreme Heat as a “Natural Disaster”
Juni Kim
July 24, 2018
A relentless and unprecedented heat wave continues to scorch South Korea, prompting concerns of mass electricity shortages, with little relief in sight.
Is Choo Shin-soo the Second-Best Player Ever from Asia in MLB?
Troy Stangarone
July 17, 2018
Without question, the best position player from Asia to play in MLB is Ichiro Suzuki, but Choo Shin-soo may be the second best.
Korean Women Protest Epidemic of Spy Cam Crimes
July 10, 2018
South Korea is fighting a rash of spy cam crimes - people who film women in places like toilets or the subway without their permission.
The Secrets to Success for Marvel Movies in South Korea
July 5, 2018
When Avengers: Infinity War was released in South Korea on April 25, 980,676 people watched it just on the first day, a record high among Marvel movies.
Consequences of South Korea's New Shortened Workweek
July 3, 2018
Known for its “inhumanely long” workweek, South Korea just shortened its maximum working hours from 68 to 52 hours per week.
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