Presidential Puppies in the Blue House
South Korean President Moon Jae-in garnered attention last week with the announcement of the newest presidential resident, a rescue dog named Tory.
As Chinese Tourists Continue to Drop, Korea Turns to the Middle East
As several KEI analyses have shown, South Korea’s tourism industry has been one of the main casualties of China’s economic retaliation over deployment of the THAAD missile defense system.
What Do the Trump Administration’s NAFTA Objectives Mean for the KORUS FTA?
Last week, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) released its Summary of Objectives for the NAFTA Renegotiation, providing a window into how the administration may pursue updating the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA).
Since Trump’s Election, the U.S.-Korea Trade Deficit Has Been Reduced by One-Third
Last March, President Donald Trump directed the Department of Commerce and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to prepare an Omnibus Report on Significant Trade Deficits within 90 days.
What Does the Call for a KORUS FTA Special Meeting Mean for Korea?
If present trends continue, the U.S. may experience a lower bilateral merchandise trade deficit with Korea in 2017 than we have seen for the past several years – all without any action by USTR.
One Small (and Medium) Step for Korea’s Economy
The future of Korea’s economy may depend on SMEs (Small and Medium sized Enterprises) just as much as is does on the large traditional companies, the chaebol.
A Conversation with Charlie Rangel, Former Congressman and Korean War Veteran
KEI President Donald Manzullo, a former member of the House of Representatives, recently interviewed Charlie Rangel, a former Congressman from New York and a Korean War Veteran, for the KEI podcast.
Overcaffeinated? Korea’s Ubiquitous Coffee Shop Culture
One thing that shocks most first time visitors to Korea is the ubiquity of coffee shops. You can’t find anywhere in Seoul that isn’t a short walk to the nearest café. The sheer magnitude of Korea’s passion for coffee is best expressed through numbers: Korea boasts the highest per capita number of cafes in the world.
The North Korean ICBM Test: A Significant Step, But Still Just a Step
It usually takes some time to figure out the details of what a North Korean missile test has accomplished – what type of missile it was, how it performed, its capabilities – but from the initial information regarding North Korea’s July 4th missile test, it appears that they have successfully tested an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM).
Is Trump Impacting How South Koreans View the United States?
As President Moon Jae-in meets with President Trump this week to discuss new issues as well as longstanding ones such as the North Korea nuclear problem, his flexibility both in Washington and after his return to Seoul depends on public opinion at home.