Korea Aims to Reach Carbon Neutrality by 2050

President Moon Jae-in pledged in October 2020 that Korea will reach carbon neutrality by 2050, joining a number of European countries and Japan. With China...

The Government Faces Pressure to Prosecute and Save Corporations

The Korean government is in the awkward position of attempting to prop up the economy through flagship corporations while holding them accountable.

The Government Changes Tune on Housing Policy

The Moon Jae-in administration responds to the failure of existing policy to address public demand for more affordable housing.

Worker Voices Not Reflected in Workplace Safety Bill

The government responded to concerns around workplace safety, but produced an incomplete law because it did not engage workers who would be most affected.

Growing Pushback Against Public Health Measures

Difficulties created by the prolonged pandemic creates tensions between shop owners and public health authorities.

Efforts to Distribute the Cost of COVID-19 Lacks Focus

The Korean government has not decided whether to protect private sector entities that employ the most workers or contribute to overall economic growth.

Does Korea’s Plan to Address the Demographic Crisis Consider Women?

The government’s efforts to boost the childbirth rate fall short of the public’s desire for conditions that allow women to maximize their family planning choices.

The Friction Between Employment and Property

The government’s new proposal to protect Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) comes into conflict with property owners.

Lawmakers Make an Economic Argument for Relocating the National Assembly

The ruling party doubles down on the claim that relocating the capital from Seoul to Sejong City would benefit the national economy.

The 52-hour Work Week Comes Under Pressure From SMEs

With the small firms under economic pressure, the lawmakers look for space to roll back some of the promises made to employees on maximum working...

Trade Competitiveness and Corporate Monopolies

For an export-dependent economy like South Korea, the pursuit of trade efficiency can lead to the concentration of corporate power.

Korea’s Participation in RCEP is Likely to be Beneficial

On November 15th, fifteen countries signed the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the world’s largest free trade agreement. It includes the ten ASEAN countries and some...

Prospects for Trade Policy and U.S.-Korea Trade Under the Biden Administration

What Will RCEP Mean for South Korea?

On Sunday November 15 the countries party to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) announced that trade negotiations had successfully concluded after several years of...

Is China’s Innovation a Threat to the South Korea-China Economic Relationship?