May 25, 2011

Six Party Talks Resume, No Progress Reported

By Scott Rembrandt

83/751. At press time, 83 days have passed since North Korea tested a nuclear device on October 9, 2006 and 751 days remain in the...

May 25, 2011

Taking a Larger Role in International Affairs: Korea’s Growing Efforts in Peacekeeping Missions and Development Aid

By Troy Stangarone

In 1996, Korea joined the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), marking Korea's rise into the ranks of the developed world. Only twenty years...

May 25, 2011

Anatomy of a Deal: The KORUS FTA

By Troy Stangarone

With negotiations running down to the wire, Korean and American negotiators announced that they reached a deal just before President George W. Bush’s trade promotion...

May 25, 2011

Developments in Korea’s Overseas Foreign Direct Investments

By James H. Alvis

While foreign direct investment (FDI) into South Korea has been waning, outward Korean investment has been robust over the past year. According to The Korea...

May 25, 2011

North Korea: A Challenge, the Response, and Resurrection of Talks

By Scott Rembrandt

October witnessed significant developments in the struggle to find a resolution to North Korea’s nuclear program. · On October 9, the DPRK tested a nuclear...

May 25, 2011

Bush-Roh Summit: Exceeding Expectations?

By Jack Pritchard

This past June, President Bush made a series of telephone calls to leaders in the region calling on them to use their influence with Pyongyang...

May 25, 2011

Labor Flexibility, A Key to Economic Success

By Florence Lowe-Lee

Korea’s labor unions are known for their militancy. This characteristic is believed to be the result of past political repression and perceived economic inequality. Since...

May 25, 2011

Recent Developments in Korea’s IT Industry

By James H. Alvis

A successful KORUS FTA could position Korea among the top three electronics manufacturing countries, according to a senior researcher from the Korea Institute for Industrial...

May 25, 2011

Ambassadors Connect with America

By James Lister

In a speaking tour to seven major U.S. cities during May 3 through May 11, the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the United...

May 25, 2011

Korean Women: You have Come A Long Way

By Florence Lowe-Lee

Confucianism has influenced gender roles more than any other factor in Korean society. Traditionally, women’s roles were limited to household matters, and young girls were...

May 25, 2011

North Korea’s Taepodong 2 and the End of the Missile Moratorium

By Jack Pritchard

A good part of June was filled with reports, speculation, and plenty of opinions about North Korea’s missile program and the question of whether or...

May 25, 2011

Developments in the Korean Auto Industry

By James H. Alvis

For those following developments in the Korean auto industry, the first quarter of 2006 has certainly proven to be anything but mundane. Recent headlines have...