top of page
All Articles
Global Affairs Lab


KSS-III Pacific Crossing Highlights Korea’s Growing Defense Capabilities
South Korea’s latest submarine, the ROKS Dosan Ahn Changho, has arrived at Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt in British Columbia, drawing attention as a leading candidate in Canada’s next-generation submarine acquisition program. The visit is viewed not only as a naval exchange, but also as a direct demonstration of South Korea’s submarine technology. The submarine recently completed a historic trans-Pacific deployment, traveling more than 15,000 kilometers over nearly two month
May 262 min read


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


The Global Triad: Unpacking the Triumph of Goals in the 2026 World Cup
The FIFA World Cup has always been more than just a football tournament; it is a cultural mirror reflecting global unity. However, the release of "Goals" the latest single from the Official FIFA World Cup 2026™ Album marks a historic paradigm shift in how we define "global music." By uniting LISA, Anitta, and Rema, the track does not me rely cross borders; it completely erases them. As an American who has spent years admiring the precision of Korean pop culture alongside glob
May 192 min read


Digital Regulation and Alliance Friction: Why U.S.–South Korea Digital Conflicts Harm Both Sides
1. Introduction 1.1 Digital Regulation as a New Strategic Issue For decades, the global digital economy expanded under a laissez-faire paradigm, assuming that minimal intervention would maximize technological progress. Today, however, that consensus has fractured. Driven by concerns over market dominance, data privacy, algorithmic transparency, and digital sovereignty, governments worldwide are aggressively redefining the boundary between innovation and regulation. Democratic
May 189 min read


Industry Minister Visits Canada and the U.S. to Support Submarine Bid and Discuss Investment Cooperation
SEOUL, May 5 — Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan is visiting Canada and the United States to support South Korea’s efforts to secure a major overseas shipbuilding contract and to discuss bilateral investment cooperation. According to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, Kim will meet with Canadian government officials in Ottawa to discuss Canada's next-generation conventional submarine acquisition program. The project involves the construction of up to 12 submarines and
May 51 min read


Hanwha Partners with U.S. Autonomous Maritime Firm on MUSV—A New Pillar in the Korea-U.S. Defense Alliance
The era of unmanned fleets cutting through open seas is no longer a distant vision—it is unfolding now. Hanwha Defense USA has joined forces with U.S.-based maritime autonomy specialist Magnet Defense to launch the development of a Medium Unmanned Surface Vessel (MUSV), marking a pivotal shift in Korea-U.S. defense cooperation. At National Harbor in Maryland on April 20 (local time), the two companies formalized a strategic partnership that goes beyond conventional collaborat
Apr 232 min read


Disinformation, AI, and the Battle for Truth
As military tensions between the United States and Iran intensify, a parallel conflict is unfolding across digital platforms. On X and other social media networks, a surge of manipulated images and fabricated videos is accompanying real-world violence. When Iran’s Shajareh Tayebeh Elementary School was reportedly struck, killing 168 civilians, falsified footage—some extracted from flight simulation games—circulated widely as “live combat evidence.” Elsewhere, archival footage
Apr 213 min read




When Geography Becomes Power: What Iran Gains from Closing the Strait of Hormuz
Wars rarely unfold the way military planners expect. In the opening stages of the recent conflict, the United States and Israel appeared to hold overwhelming superiority. Precision strikes eliminated key Iranian figures and targeted military infrastructure across the country. By conventional measures of power, the balance seemed clear. Yet the center of gravity of the conflict soon shifted—not to the skies over Iran, but to a narrow strip of water at the mouth of the Persian
Apr 143 min read


Ukraine’s Unmanned Capture of a Russian Position and the Emerging Logic of Autonomous Warfare
The ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine has gradually transformed into one of the most technologically dynamic conflicts of the 21st century. In a recent announcement, Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed that Ukrainian forces had captured a Russian defensive position using only drones and unmanned ground vehicles, without deploying infantry. If verified, the operation represents a significant inflection point in the evolution of modern warfare: the transfer of the most dangerous
Apr 144 min read


Lessons from Iran’s Drone Warfare and the Case for Stronger USA–South Korea Cooperation
Modern warfare is increasingly defined by the rapid spread of unmanned aerial systems. Once viewed primarily as surveillance tools, drones have evolved into versatile weapons capable of reconnaissance, precision strikes, and large-scale saturation attacks. Recent conflicts have demonstrated that relatively inexpensive unmanned systems can produce significant operational and strategic effects. One country that has refined this approach is Iran. Over the past decade, Tehran has
Apr 142 min read




South Korea’s Digital Regulations Align with EU’s Digital Markets Act Standards
1. Introduction The rapid expansion of digital platforms has transformed the structure of the global economy. Online platforms increasingly function as central gateways through which users access digital services, conduct commerce, and interact socially. As their scale and influence grow, policymakers around the world have begun reassessing how regulatory frameworks should evolve to address the structural power of large technology platforms. In recent years, the global policy
Apr 76 min read


South Korea-USA Alliance : A key contribution to USA security
Secure Korea, A path to unified peninsular defence
Apr 51 min read


Between Butter and Jang: A French Chef’s Story in Seoul
Chloe, a French chef When I was born and trained as a cook in France, Korea was a distant and unfamiliar country to me. While my friends were immersed in K-pop and Korean dramas, I was devoted solely to the kitchen—my knives, my craft, and the traditions of French cuisine. With a firm belief that French cuisine represented the pinnacle of gastronomy, I nurtured a dream of becoming a renowned chef. Then, an unexpected connection appeared in my life. I discovered that the baker
Apr 32 min read




Brazil and Korea: Beyond the Skies into the Future
Bruno Costa, Former Pilot For over 30 years, I worked as an aircraft pilot in Brazil, traveling across many countries around the world. Among them, Korea remained unfamiliar to me for a long time. However, I still vividly remember my first landing at Incheon International Airport while working for a foreign airline. Its vast scale, efficient operations, and meticulous service clearly demonstrated how rapidly the country had developed. Interestingly, it was my family that brou
Mar 272 min read
bottom of page






