Foreign Relations

Although the Korean Peninsula has been divided for over 70 years, North and South have not been able to make lasting progress in terms of reconciliation. While there are multiple…

The COVID-19 pandemic caught almost all countries unprepared. Some countries, including South Korea (hereafter Korea), managed to deal with the pandemic relatively more successfully than others and had a proactive…

This paper deals with one of the most critical issues in contemporary international relations: how China’s rise challenges foreign policies of U.S. allies, with a focus on the Republic of…

The rivalry between the United States and China is affecting countries in its midst. This particularly applies to South Korea. The country is a strong economic player with a successful…

One of Korea's strongest capabilities is its soft power, accrued through its exports of Korean popular culture. Whether it’s Squid Game or BTS, Parasite or Black Pink, the Korea Wave has reached every shore and boosted Korea's profile. But while this does provide some opportunities, experts say there are limitations to what objectives the Korean…

What happened On January 15, 2022, President Moon Jae-in arrived in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to begin his three-nation trip to the Middle East. The spokesperson for the South Korean presidential office emphasized room to grow the relationship with the region through green energy and economic cooperation. The visit follows the South Korean trade…

What Happened: Despite controversies around the legacy of Japan’s colonial exploitation, recent polling found that South Koreans have a less favorable view towards China than they do toward Japan. President Moon did not join the diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics nor did he stop Chinese tour groups coming to South Korea during the…

Korea is expected to apply later this year for membership in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), a trade agreement between eleven states in the Indo-Pacific. One signatory of the agreement is Japan, raising fears that bilateral tensions may encourage Tokyo to oppose Seoul's bid. But noting their shared membership in another…