Korea Economic Institute

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The Lee Jae Myung Administration’s Regional Diplomacy with China and Japan South Korea’s Lee Jae Myung administration has embraced what it calls “national interest–driven pragmatic diplomacy.” While this approach embraces a strong U.S.–Korea alliance, it also raises key questions about Seoul’s evolving relationships with its regional neighbors, China and Japan....

🇰🇷🇯🇵 Why South Korea and Japan Need a Digital Trade Agreement

In a new KEIA analysis, Hyerim Kim explores why binding digital trade rules could strengthen economic cooperation, improve predictability, and help shape the future of digital governance in the region.

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Why South Korea and Japan Need a Digital Trade Agreement - Korea Economic Institute of America Korea-Japan digital trade has almost no binding rules. If Seoul and Tokyo do not write them, China's state-centered model sets the regional default.

What to Expect from APEC 2025: Fostering Sustainable Prosperity in the Asia-Pacific Region APEC 2025 will facilitate high-level dialogue between member nations, including major trading partners such as the United States, China, Korea, and Japan. This marks one of the first opportunities for multilateralism between leaders following new administrations entering APEC capitals across both As...

Securing East Asia's Energy Future: Advancing U.S.-Korea-Japan Cooperation in Natural Gas The United States, South Korea, and Japan are enhancing their trilateral cooperation to secure natural gas supply chains in East Asia. Recent strategic agreements and natural gas developments highlight the partners’ focus on developing cooperation frameworks to mitigate both market and geopolitica...

The U.S.-South Korea Allied Approach toward North Korea-Russia Cooperation Following the signing of a “comprehensive strategic partnership treaty” between North Korea and Russia on June 19, 2024, ties between the two countries have only warmed as the war in Ukraine enters its fourth year. This year, North Korea-Russia relations have notably expanded beyond the security...

American Attitudes toward the Korean Peninsula 2025 The first year of the Trump administration in the United States and the first several months of the Lee administration in South Korea have brought significant changes to both domestic politics and foreign policy. As Americans adjust to this political transition, domestic and international issues rem...

The U.S.-Korea Alliance and Economic Cooperation under Presidents Trump and Lee U.S.–South Korea relations have regained momentum after the election of President Lee Jae Myung in June, with the two sides signing a record trade deal in July and President Lee visiting Washington for a White House summit in August. Yet both governments continue to confront pressing issues, inclu...

Promoting Economic Cooperation at APEC Against the Backdrop of Geopolitical Uncertainty Audio issues resolve at 8:00 The Donald Trump administration’s imposition of tariffs has shaken the global trading order. At the same time, geopolitical rivalries among major powers are intensifying as Trump attempts to end the military conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, and the U.S.-China geoeconomic...