Global South

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