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Global Affairs Lab


Why Andong Mattered More Than the Summit Itself
For decades, relations between South Korea and Japan were defined by history. Colonial rule, wartime atrocities, territorial disputes, and unresolved emotional resentment repeatedly shaped the political atmosphere between the two countries. That is why many people were surprised to see a progressive South Korean president and a conservative Japanese prime minister developing what appears to be genuine political chemistry. But the most important detail in this summit was not s
May 202 min read


Why South Korea Is Wrong to Treat the Sino-Japanese Clash as Someone Else’s Problem
The recent surge in tensions between China and Japan, triggered by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remarks in the Japanese Diet, has been widely followed in Seoul with a sense of detachment. For many in South Korea, the episode appears to be little more than a bilateral dispute—an external confrontation with limited bearing on the Korean Peninsula. This perception is not merely complacent; it is strategically flawed. The current Sino-Japanese confrontation is unfolding not du
Dec 16, 20254 min read


Why Kim Jong Un’s Daughter Matters to U.S. Security Interests
The recent appearance of Kim Jong Un’s daughter, Kim Ju-ae, receiving an independent salute from North Korean Air Force officers may seem like an obscure detail of Pyongyang’s opaque political theater. For the United States, however, it offers a revealing window into the regime’s long-term intentions — and raises important questions about the durability and future trajectory of one of Washington’s most persistent security challenges. According to North Korean state media, the
Dec 10, 20252 min read


Russian, Chinese Bombers Fly Joint Patrol Near Japan, South Korea
Russian and Chinese bombers conducted a joint patrol Tuesday, flying over the East China Sea and Western Pacific, prompting Seoul and Tokyo to scramble fighter aircraft to monitor the flights. At approximately 10:00 a.m. local time, seven Russian military aircraft and two Chinese military aircraft entered the Korean Air Defense Identification Zone (KADIZ) over the Sea of Japan, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said the same day in a news release. No airspace violation occu
Dec 9, 20251 min read


The Thinnest Samsung Smartphone Yet: The Story of the Galaxy S25 Edge
Samsung Electronics of South Korea has introduced a new smartphone—the Galaxy S25 Edge—that makes a striking first impression with one standout feature: its thickness, or rather, the lack of it. Lee Ji-young, Executive Vice President of Samsung’s design team, described it in one sentence: “A model that strips away the unnecessary and completes the most essential form.” Its slim and lightweight appearance is further accentuated through harmony with color, material, and finishi
Oct 15, 20252 min read
What If North Korea Opened Its Doors to Foreign Pop Culture?
This article paints an imagined scene of what life could look like if North Koreans had unrestricted access to global pop culture. In a university classroom in Pyongyang, film students sit in rapt attention, watching the climax of The Shawshank Redemption. As Andy Dufresne stretches out his arms in the rain, embracing freedom, gasps of admiration ripple through the room. Kim Young-chul (21), a junior student, walks down the hallway with friends after class and says, “I wish N
Sep 18, 20253 min read


Trump’s Visit to Korea (June 5–6, 1998)
In the photo, Trump is seen visiting Korea, walking through the Okpo Shipyard and inspecting ships under construction. He also posed for a commemorative photo with his entourage in front of the main building. According to reports at the time, Trump showed interest in Korea’s shipbuilding industry. A shipyard official said, “Records show that he visited Okpo Shipyard on June 5, 1998, at the invitation of the Daewoo Group.” During this visit, Trump not only toured the Daewoo Sh
Jul 10, 20251 min read
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