South Korea

No honeymoon for South Korea’s post-election security posture
No honeymoon for South Korea’s post-election security posture
With a left-leaning leader back in command in the Blue House following two consecutive conservative administrations, South Korea's new President is crafting an approach to…
In China, changing online attitudes towards Korea
In China, changing online attitudes towards Korea
Additional research by Zixin Wang, an intern in the Lowy Institute's East Asia Program. Shen Zhihua, a world-renowned Chinese scholar of the Cold War, recently proposed that …
What South Korea’s politics will look like after the election
What South Korea’s politics will look like after the election
After months of turmoil and confusion, South Korea will finally have a proper president next week. The South Korean presidential election will take place on Tuesday, 9 May, and…
South Korea’s finest hour: Lessons from the impeachment
South Korea’s finest hour: Lessons from the impeachment
South Korean President Park Geun-Hye was removed from office in March. She was originally impeached by the legislature, the National Assembly, in December. The Constitutional…
How would a President Moon Jae-in approach North Korea and China?
How would a President Moon Jae-in approach North Korea and China?
Having narrowly lost his bid for the South Korean Presidency in 2012, Moon Jae-in’s second chance is not far away. What a time to be a left-wing candidate when Park Geun-hye, the…
South Korea’s dangerous drift
South Korea’s dangerous drift
The tragedy of the Park Geun-hye scandal and impeachment in South Korea should not obfuscate the larger forces that are driving Korean politics. The political pendulum had been…
Tense times for South Korea, the shrimp surrounded by whales
Tense times for South Korea, the shrimp surrounded by whales
The decision by South Korea’s Constitutional Court to uphold the National Assembly’s impeachment of beleaguered President Park Geun-hye is the starting gun in a 60-day race to the…
South Korea lost without its mojo
South Korea lost without its mojo
Last week I visited the Republic of Korea (ROK), where I had the opportunity to meet with officials, think tankers and journalists. My impression is that South Koreans feel set…
North Korea: The case for engagement
North Korea: The case for engagement
Earlier this month the Lowy Institute's International Security Program, supported by the Korea Foundation, hosted the Australia-Republic of Korea (ROK) Emerging Leaders…
South Korea-Japan relations: Threat and identity
South Korea-Japan relations: Threat and identity
In May 2012, Japan and Australia signed a bilateral information-sharing agreement. There was little media coverage in either country and neither government faced any political…