Economics

In 2010, a group of Asian countries made major strides toward economic integration with the launch of the Chang Mai Initiative Multilateralization. This currency swap arrangement has had a major…

This week our guest is noted scholar and North Korea watcher Dr. Stephan Haggard. Dr. Haggard is a Professor of Korea-Pacific Studies and director of the Korea-Pacific Program at the…

At KEI, we mainly focus on the relationship between the United States and South Korea, and their approaches toward North Korea. This week, we're taking a different look at the…

Last week, we looked at the details of the new US and UN sanctions against North Korea, delving into the new measures to get at Pyongyang's funding. But will they…

On July 7, President Donald Trump effectively delayed the 25-percent reciprocal tariffs against South Korea to August 1. The extension grants more time to reach an agreement but does not alleviate the need for a trade deal to achieve certainty and lower tariffs. Section 232 tariffs have remained in force during the pause of reciprocal…

President Donald Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) into law on July 4 after a series of close-call votes in both the House and the Senate, including a tie-breaking vote by Vice President JD Vance. Outlining the United States’ fiscal and budget policies for Trump’s second term, it includes termination of subsidies…

U.S. and South Korean companies continued to plow ahead and forge partnerships across several domains in Q2 despite uncertainty surrounding bilateral trade relations and policy. Bolstered by partnerships in technology, shipbuilding, clean energy, and artificial intelligence, new projects include Korean firms constructing U.S. containerships as well as unmanned surface vehicle (USV) development, providing greater support…

New South Korean President Lee Jae-myung takes office at a time of serious economic challenges in South Korea. Real GDP fell by 0.2 percent in the first quarter of 2025, with private consumption, fixed investment and exports all reporting declines. The political crisis triggered by Yoon Suk Yeol and his martial law declaration late last…

As disruptions in supply chains continue, what practical steps can the U.S. and Korea take to strengthen supply chains against future crises?