Blog
The Koreas
How South Korean Soldiers and YouTube Catapulted a K-Pop Girl Group to Fame
By Jenna Gibson
Brave Girls hit it big after a viral video popularized a four-year-old song.
Global Trade Is Recovering From the Pandemic. North Korea’s Economy Isn’t.
By Troy Stangarone
With its borders still locked down, North Korea isn’t benefiting from China’s return to growth. That’s unlikely to change anytime soon.
Why Did Young South Koreans Ditch the Democratic Party and President Moon?
By Seoho Lee
In the crucial by-elections, young voters turned away from the ruling party they once supported. What happened?
Seoul and Busan Mayor By-Elections Spell Trouble for President Moon
By Mitch Shin
The ruling Democratic Party failed to keep the mayor positions in the country’s two biggest cities in by-elections on Wednesday.
North Korea Says It Won’t Participate in Tokyo Olympics
By Kim Tong-Hyung
Pyongyang cited concerns over COVID-19 for its decision. Its absence from the Games further dims hope of a diplomatic breakthrough.
South Korea Talks With China, Japan, and US in Flurry of Diplomacy
By Mitch Shin
South Korea’s foreign minister traveled to China while the country’s national security chief attended a meeting with his U.S. and Japanese counterparts in Washington.
How Will the Global Semiconductor Crunch Impact South Korea?
By Kyle Ferrier
Most South Korean conglomerates have weathered the shortage much better than their global competitors. That could change as early as this month.
North Korea Takes Aim at Seoul as Biden Mulls Policy Options
By Mitch Shin
After Pyongyang's resumed missile testing, Seoul and Washington are having difficulties finding a way to resume dialogue.
Land Speculation Scandal Grips South Korea
By Jenna Gibson
Amid soaring housing prices, allegations that officials used insider information to grab land sparked public outrage.
Strengthening Southeast Asia-North Korea Engagement in the Post-COVID-19 Era
By Shawn Ho and Jeeyoon Chung
Southeast Asian states and NGOs can play a significant role in engaging North Korea via humanitarian assistance programs.
South Korea’s Foreigner-Targeted COVID Testing Will Hurt Its New Southern Policy
By Anthony V. Rinna
Mandatory testing policies will make life harder for migrants from South and Southeast Asia, even as Seoul steps up its outreach to their home countries.
Why Did North Korea Sever Diplomatic Ties With Malaysia?
By Adam Leong Kok Wey
The move should be interpreted in the context of the DPRK's fraught relationship with the United States.