The Korea Economic Institute (KEI) is pleased to issue the inaugural volume of its new flagship journal, Korea Policy. Our new journal carries forward the objective and spirit of KEI’s previous publications, the Academic Paper Series’ (APS) On Korea publication, and the Joint U.S.-Korea Academic Studies publication. Like our previous publications, Korea Policy identifies and explores the array of security, economic and political issues and policy trends related to Korea and the U.S.-Korea alliance. The journal offers academically rigorous and policy-relevant research.

Korea Policy papers are written by academic scholars and policy experts from the United States, South Korea, and around the globe. The objective is to provide opportunities for recognized specialists and new voices to present fresh research and innovative thinking on Korea, the region, and related international issues. Korea Policy will be published three times a year. Each volume covers a broad, unifying theme and is arranged into two sections: One section covering various regional states’ perspectives and another section of more Korea-focused articles, all organized under the same broad theme.
Before publication, the articles in the first section are presented as working papers as a part of KEI’s New Academic Symposium panel series, run as hybrid events in partnership with universities around the country. The Korea-focused articles in the second section are presented individually in hybrid events at KEI’s Washington, DC office.

The papers in this inaugural volume exemplify the breadth and depth of policy issues relevant to Korea and the U.S.-Korea alliance. They are original pieces written exclusively for this volume over the last six months. KEI distributes the final publication to individuals in governments, the private sector, policy institutes, and educational communities around the world, and features the digital publication on the KEI website for the broader public.
Contributions in this inaugural volume of Korea Policy run under the broad theme: Rethinking the Liberal International Order in Asia Amidst Russia’s War in Ukraine. The first section’s articles explore the war’s impact in thinking about the Indo-Pacific region from the perspective of the United States, U.S. allies Japan and South Korea, and U.S. rivals China and Russia. The second section’s articles focus specifically on the effects of the war on: South Korea’s economy; triangular relations between North Korea, China, and Russia; and South Korea’s aspiration to become a Global Pivotal State.