South Korea has long been shaped—directly and indirectly—by the intellectual legacy of America’s most influential international relations thinkers. Figures like Hans Morgenthau, Henry Kissinger, and Zbigniew Brzezinski cast long shadows over South Korea. It is through their works that decision-makers formed modern U.S. policy on South Korea.
Donald Trump’s return to the White House has already reshaped U.S. foreign policy, and some commentators believe there will be no return to post-Cold War norms.
The Cold War often feels like the defining moment of modern geopolitics, the era where alliances were forged and the global order was set. But in the grand sweep of history, it is merely a brief interlude in the much longer story of regional dynamics shaped by geography.
Significance. South Korea’s lack of discussion on a Taiwan conflict leaves its leadership and public unprepared. As a key U.S. ally and regional player, South Korea will face pressure to take a position.
Significance. The imposition of tariffs under President Donald Trump threatens the stability of the South Korea-U.S. relationship, which relies heavily on mutual economic and security cooperation.
The 15 February meeting between U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul was little more than a diplomatic ritual devoid of substance. Although dressed up as a high-level reaffirmation of U.S.-South Korea ties, the meeting delivered nothing new.
South Korea stands at a precarious crossroads where economic challenges, security concerns, and shifting diplomatic alliances are converging in ways that could define its trajectory for years to come.
This curated list provides not just information, but a more nuanced way to interpret and understand the complex realities of the Korean Peninsula, making them essential reading for any foreign policy analyst seeking clarity in a region defined by uncertainty.
If you're a Korea Watcher, you are a target for disinformation, surveillance, espionage, and intimidation. Every second member of the tribe will tell you that North Korea’s cyber capabilities are among the most sophisticated in the world. With thousands of hackers operating under organizations like Bureau 121, the regime targets governments, corporations, and individuals - including Korea watchers. Few however, think about the threats emanating from closer to home.
I’ve written often about the hollowness of Yoon’s foreign policy and the risks of accepting it at face value. As is often the case in the modern world, any analysis that doesn’t match our own attitudes and opinions is lost in the algorithmic ether as we sit in our own echo chambers.
