All Articles

How Korea Is Turning Traditional Textures into a New Global Dessert Experience The global popularity of Korean culture has long been associated with K-pop, television dramas, beauty products, and increasingly Korean cuisine. Yet another form of cultural influence is emerging from an unexpected place: the dessert counter. From the viral phenomenon of Dubai Chewy Cookies, commonly known as Dujjonku in Korea, to the premium glutinous rice cakes offered by brands such as Hanjeong

South Korea has long established itself as a global sporting powerhouse, earning international recognition in disciplines such as archery, taekwondo, and short-track speed skating. Today, another remarkable achievement is drawing worldwide attention to Korean sports: the extraordinary success of badminton star An Se-young. Following her historic victory at the 2026 Aichi–Nagoya Asian Games, An continued her winning streak at the BWF Denmark Open, setting a new record for the

An Analysis of South Korea's Multiple Launch Rocket System, Its Technological Competitiveness, and Strategic Expansion into Europe Executive Summary South Korea's defense industry is expanding its presence in Europe, driven by growing demand for advanced weapons systems, reliable delivery schedules, and long-term industrial cooperation. Among its increasingly prominent defense exports is the K239 Chunmoo Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS), developed and manufactured by Hanw

1. From a Korean Music Awards Show to a Global Cultural Platform On October 12, 2026, MAMA AWARDS announced its nominees for this year's major categories and officially opened global fan voting. The 2026 ceremony is scheduled to take place on November 20–21 at Kyocera Dome Osaka in Japan, with performances and award presentations expected to reach international audiences through the Mnet Plus digital platform. However, the significance of this year's event extends beyond the

On October 9, 2026, a new space dedicated to experiencing Korean culture opened in Los Angeles. Launched by the Korean Cultural Center Los Angeles, Global K-Zone LA offers visitors an opportunity to engage with Korean traditions and contemporary culture, ranging from Hangul, hanbok, and traditional crafts to K-beauty, K-food, fashion, and webtoons. The opening ceremony featured a fashion show showcasing 14 hanbok designs that blended traditional Korean aesthetics with contemp

South Korea's successful fifth launch of the Nuri rocket on October 7, 2026, represents more than another achievement in the country's space program. With five primary Earth observation microsatellites successfully deployed into orbit, the mission marks an important shift in Korea's space ambitions. The question is no longer simply whether the country can independently reach space, but how it can use space-based capabilities to strengthen national security, respond to emergin

The global humanoid robotics industry is moving beyond technology demonstrations and into a more serious phase of commercialization. Until recently, competition in humanoid robotics focused largely on AI capability, walking stability, dexterous manipulation, and overall technical sophistication. In 2026, however, the center of attention is increasingly shifting toward a different question: who can deploy robots in real industrial environments and manufacture them at scale and

Global Affairs Lab Policy Brief October 2026 Executive Summary In this brief, “the investment package” refers to the Korea-U.S. strategic investment project plan covering Project Star, Project Power and Project North. South Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced three strategic investment projects under the Korea-U.S. Strategic Investment Memorandum of Understanding: Project Star, the Texas gas combined-cycle power project; Project Power, the Korea-U.S. nucl

Located in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province, Hwadam Forest is one of the best places near Seoul to experience Korea’s beautiful natural scenery and changing seasons. With walking trails, gardens, forests, streams, and a wide variety of plants, it is an ideal destination for travelers looking to escape the city and enjoy a peaceful day in nature. A Place to Slow Down and Walk with Nature The charm of Hwadam Forest is not about flashy tourist attractions. Instead, it invites visitors

Photo Credit: Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) Looking back at the history of South Korea’s space program, Nuri is more than just a launch vehicle. It symbolizes the country’s transition from relying heavily on foreign technology for access to space to developing the capability to design, build, and operate its own launch system. With Nuri’s fifth launch scheduled for October 7, 2026, South Korea is approaching another important milestone. Yet this mission should not

Courtesy of the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) The KF-21 Boramae represents far more than South Korea’s success in producing a domestically developed fighter aircraft. It signals a broader transformation in the country’s defense and aerospace capabilities—from a nation that has traditionally relied heavily on foreign-designed combat aircraft to one increasingly capable of designing, integrating, producing, and upgrading advanced air combat systems on its own. One of the

Blackpink's Lisa poses with the award for Best Pop for "Dream" (2025) in the press room during the MTV Video Music Awards on Sept. 27 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. / AP The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards offered a striking snapshot of how far the cultural influence associated with South Korea has expanded. BTS won three awards—Song of the Year, Best K-Pop, and Best Group—while LISA received Best Pop for “Dream.” These achievements were significant not simply because K-p

Assessing How Korea’s First U.S. Strategic Investment Could Open Broader Opportunities Across Power, ESS, Grid Equipment, Construction, and Nuclear EnergyAs of September 29, 2026 1. The Significance of Korea’s First U.S. Investment Goes Beyond a Single Power Plant South Korea’s first strategic investment project in the United States, the proposed Encinal combined-cycle gas power project in Texas, should no longer be viewed simply as the first execution of the broader $350 bil

An Analysis of the Texas Encinal Power Project and the Emerging Korea-U.S. Strategic Investment FrameworkAs of September 28, 2026 1. Korea’s First U.S. Investment Marks the Transition from Agreement to Implementation The selection of the Encinal power project represents an important shift in the Korea-U.S. investment framework. Until recently, much of the debate surrounding the agreement focused on the scale of South Korea’s commitment, its relationship with U.S. tariff polic

The image is unrelated to the content. South Korea’s performance at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games was about more than simply winning two gold medals. By claiming both the men’s and women’s basketball titles, Korea achieved its first Asian Games double in 12 years, dating back to the 2014 Incheon Games. The men defeated host nation Japan 67-57 in the final, while the women followed with a 75-70 victory over Japan several days later. The significance of these victories beco

South Korea’s dominance in international archery is often attributed to a long national tradition of bowmanship. That explanation is only partly correct. Historical familiarity with archery provided a cultural foundation, but Korea’s sustained success in the modern sport is better understood as the result of an institutional system that continuously identifies, develops, tests, and replaces elite talent. Archery has deep historical roots on the Korean Peninsula. From the moun

Tennessee’s emerging battery belt should not be seen simply as another case of Korean companies expanding production overseas. It represents a broader shift in which South Korea’s industrial competitiveness is becoming increasingly embedded in the U.S. manufacturing ecosystem. From battery cell production in Spring Hill to cathode materials in Clarksville and other large-scale battery and electric vehicle projects across the state, Korean companies are helping build a localiz

Milan has long been a city where fashion defines more than what people wear. It is where craftsmanship, identity, history, and innovation come together on the global stage. This September, another fashion tradition arrived in the Italian city — one that originated thousands of kilometers away from the runways of Milan. Hanbok, Korea’s traditional clothing, is stepping into the heart of one of the world’s fashion capitals. And this time, it is not appearing merely as a histori

Today, Korean food is no longer unfamiliar in Kazakhstan. Kimbap, kimchi, ramen, and Korean-style fried chicken have become increasingly visible, especially as K-pop, Korean dramas, and films continue to attract younger audiences. But if the story of Korean food in Kazakhstan begins with the Korean Wave, an important chapter is missing. Long before the term “K-food” became popular, Kazakhstan already had its own form of Korean food culture. That history was created by the Kor

As Arctic ice continues to retreat, the map of global shipping is slowly being redrawn. For South Korea, the attraction is easy to understand. A voyage from Busan to Rotterdam via the Suez Canal covers roughly 20,000 kilometers. The Northern Sea Route could reduce that distance to about 13,000 kilometers — a cut of roughly 35 percent. South Korea has already begun testing that possibility, with the Panstar Acro departing Busan on a trial container voyage through Arctic waters