Eye on Korea

Korea Economic Institute
  • 5.0 (2)
  • POLITICS

The Korea Economic Institute of America is pleased to present Eye on Korea, a program designed to provide expert analysis on the most pressing issues shaping US-Korea relations. [KEI is registered under the FARA as an agent of the KIEP, a public corporation established by the government of the Republic of Korea. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.]

  1. FEB 7

    How to Fight Back Against China's Economic Coercion | Ep. 26

    Dr. Ellen Kim discusses her new coauthored book, “China's Weaponization of Trade: Resistance Through Collective Resilience,” which tracks hundreds of cases where China has used its economic power to punish or pressure other countries and companies. Ellen Kim is the Director of Academic Affairs at KEI. Previously, she was deputy director and senior fellow with the Korea Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).   Ellen reveals a surprising finding: the United States and its allies have more leverage over China than most people realize—especially when it comes to critical minerals like nickel that China desperately needs.   The book explains how China's approach to economic pressure is fundamentally different from tools the United States often uses, like sanctions, and puts forth a strategy called "collective resilience,” drawing from NATO's "attack on one is an attack on all" principle, but applied to trade and economics. Ellen also discusses "predatory liberalism," a phenomenon where countries using trade as a weapon encourages others to do the same, while smaller nations stay quiet to avoid becoming targets.   The conversation tackles critical questions for the United States, but also for South Korea, Australia, and other middle powers. Specifically, how does a mid-sized economy protect itself when caught between the United States and China? Ellen explores the Lee Jae Myung administration's efforts to reduce Korea's economic vulnerabilities and the unique challenges Korea faces as competition between Washington and Beijing intensifies.   About the Book: China's Weaponization of Trade provides the most detailed analysis yet of how China uses economic coercion, identifies where targeted countries actually have bargaining power, and offers practical strategies for how democracies can defend themselves in an era where trade has become a weapon. You can order a copy from Columbia University Press here: https://cup.columbia.edu/book/chinas-weaponization-of-trade/9780231564205/  Like and subscribe to the Korea Economic Institute of America on YouTube for more U.S.-South Korea news, analysis, politics and more! Social Links: Website: https://keia.org/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/korea-economic-institute-of-america/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KoreaEconInstitute/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/koreaeconinst/ Twitter/X: https://x.com/koreaeconinst [KEI is registered under the FARA as an agent of the KIEP, a public corporation established by the government of the Republic of Korea. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.] ________________________________________ Eye on Korea is distributed under a CC BY-SA 4.0 License, which can be found at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

    26 min

  2. JAN 27

    Nuclear Power, AI Demand, and the Next U.S.-Korea Industrial Bet | Ep. 25

    As artificial intelligence drives unprecedented electricity demand, the United States and South Korea are exploring a new strategic frontier: nuclear energy cooperation. Dr. Yongsoo Hwang, Distinguished Professor for Special Affairs at the KEPCO International Nuclear Graduate School, joins Eye on Korea to explain how South Korea’s proven record of delivering nuclear projects on time and on cost, through KHNP, Doosan Enerbility, and other private sector players, coupled with deep expertise in engineering, procurement, construction, and management, positions it as a compelling partner in America’s push to scale reliable baseload power for the AI era.  Together with KEI President & CEO Scott Snyder, Dr. Hwang unpacks the technical and commercial unknowns still separating U.S. and Korean reactor pathways, including AP1000 versus AP1400 deployment, private-sector decision-making, supply chain constraints, and timelines beyond 2026. The conversation also explores South Korea’s European track record as a benchmark for U.S. market prospects, public opinion shifts driven by cost realities and NIMBY constraints, nuclear safety and waste challenges, enrichment and reprocessing debates, the growing discussion around nuclear latency, and more. The TL;DR? The U.S. and Korea can deliver secure, scalable power for the AI economy with nuclear energy.  Like and subscribe to the Korea Economic Institute of America on YouTube for more U.S.-South Korea news, analysis, politics and more! Social Links: Website: https://keia.org/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/korea-economic-institute-of-america/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KoreaEconInstitute/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/koreaeconinst/ Twitter/X: https://x.com/koreaeconinst [KEI is registered under the FARA as an agent of the KIEP, a public corporation established by the government of the Republic of Korea. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.] ________________________________________ Eye on Korea is distributed under a CC BY-SA 4.0 License, which can be found at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

    33 min

  3. JAN 8

    Schrödinger’s Alliance: Why the US–ROK Relationship Feels Both Better and Worse | Ep. 24

    Bruce Klingner, Senior Fellow at the Mansfield Foundation, unpacks why the U.S.-South Korea alliance feels simultaneously more stable than many predicted and more uncertain than it appears. Describing the relationship as a “Schrödinger’s alliance,” Bruce explores how turbulence, misperceptions, and competing strategic impulses in Washington and Seoul are shaping alliance politics. He examines the different factions within the Trump administration pulling policy in opposing directions, touches on the implications of the Maduro capture for alliance optics, the sharp contrasts between President Trump’s first and second National Security Strategies, the unresolved questions surrounding South Korea’s pursuit of nuclear-powered submarines, and more. Bruce Klingner is a Senior Fellow at the Mansfield Foundation and a leading analyst on North Korea, deterrence, and U.S.-Korea alliance dynamics, with decades of experience examining security challenges on the Korean Peninsula and in the Indo-Pacific. Like and subscribe to the Korea Economic Institute of America on YouTube for more U.S.-South Korea news, analysis, politics and more! Social Links: Website: https://keia.org/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/korea-economic-institute-of-america/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KoreaEconInstitute/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/koreaeconinst/ Twitter/X: https://x.com/koreaeconinst [KEI is registered under the FARA as an agent of the KIEP, a public corporation established by the government of the Republic of Korea. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.] ________________________________________ Eye on Korea is distributed under a CC BY-SA 4.0 License, which can be found at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

    28 min

  4. 12/18/2025

    Are Trump’s Tariffs a Threat to the U.S.–South Korea Partnership? | Ep. 23

    Troy Stangarone, Non-Resident Fellow at the Carnegie Mellon Institute for Strategy and Technology, joins KEI President and CEO Scott Snyder to discuss the Trump administration’s tariff framework and how it's reshaping the U.S.-South Korea economic relationship. The conversation examines the shift away from the KORUS Free Trade Agreement toward sector-specific tariffs and how this change is influencing Korea’s trade and investment strategy. Troy analyzes the implications for automobiles, electric vehicles, semiconductors, steel, and shipbuilding, and discusses how Korean firms are navigating heightened uncertainty while working to remain competitive in the U.S. market. The discussion also looks at Korea’s efforts to diversify its global trade partnerships, rising competitive pressure from China—particularly in electric vehicles and critical technologies—and the role of new U.S.–Korea investment mechanisms outlined in recent memoranda of understanding. The episode concludes with a deeper look at shipbuilding cooperation, workforce constraints, and the long-term challenge of rebuilding U.S. industrial capacity.   Troy Stangarone is a non-resident fellow with the Carnegie Mellon Institute for Strategy and Technology. Previously he was the Director of the Hyundai Motor-Korea Foundation Center for Korean History and Public Policy and the Deputy Director of the Indo-Pacific Program at the Wilson Center. Mr. Stangarone specializes in economic and foreign policy relations on the Korean Peninsula and the Indo-Pacific region.

    30 min

  5. 11/18/2025

    Export Controls, AI Strategy, and Korea’s Tech Future | Ep. 22

    In this episode of Eye on Korea, Jeannette Chu describes the evolution of U.S. export controls, from multilateral coordination to today’s more unilateral “small yard, high fence” approach. These shifts fit into a broader national security strategy, she argues, and have important implications for Korea’s role as a leading innovation partner in semiconductors, AI, and advanced manufacturing.   The conversation also looks at the White House’s AI Action Plan and where U.S. policy is heading next. Jeannette discusses why the traditional separation between security and economics is becoming less relevant for understanding South Korea’s foreign-policy priorities. The discussion also explores the Supreme Court case surrounding IEEPA tariff authorities, the trade and economic priorities shaping Trump’s 2025 agenda, and the biggest trade and technology issues to watch as we head into 2026.    Jeannette L. Chu is Vice President for National Security Policy at the National Foreign Trade Council, where she leads the Council’s work on export controls, sanctions, and national security regulatory policy. A former Senior Managing Director at PwC and Senior Policy Advisor at the Bureau of Industry and Security, she served nearly six years in China as the Senior Export Control Attache at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing and Consulate General in Guangzhou. She is also a Non-Resident Senior Associate with the Trustee Chair in Chinese Business and Economics at CSIS. Like and subscribe to the Korea Economic Institute of America on YouTube for more U.S.-South Korea news, analysis, politics and more!   Social Links: Website: https://keia.org/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/korea-economic-institute-of-america/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KoreaEconInstitute/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/koreaeconinst/ Twitter/X: https://x.com/koreaeconinst   [KEI is registered under the FARA as an agent of the KIEP, a public corporation established by the government of the Republic of Korea. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.]

    22 min

  6. 11/06/2025

    Nuclear Cooperation and South Korea’s New Trade Era | Ep. 21

    Tami Overby, Senior Counselor at DGA-Albright Stonebridge Group, analyzes the outcomes of the Trump-Lee meeting on the sidelines of APEC, and the long-awaited investment deal and what it signals about the next phase of the U.S.-Korea relationship. She explains how Washington’s green light for South Korean nuclear-powered submarine development fits into alliance strategy and how it may complement U.S. shipbuilding priorities at a moment when industrial capacity and defense production are becoming central to national security planning. The conversation also examines Trump’s meeting with Xi Jinping and why Tami believes that the semiconductor export controls and purchase agreements could hold at least through next year. She discusses the unknowns that still surround the U.S.-Korea trade agreement, including how tariffs and investment incentives will be implemented, and what further clarity businesses are looking for as capital begins to move. The discussion also explores the growing importance of critical minerals to U.S. and Korean defense industries, and what Korea’s path as next year’s APEC host suggests about its long-term position in the Indo-Pacific. Like and subscribe to the Korea Economic Institute of America on YouTube for more U.S.-South Korea news, analysis, politics and more! Social Links: Website: https://keia.org/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/korea-economic-institute-of-america/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KoreaEconInstitute/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/koreaeconinst/ Twitter/X: https://x.com/koreaeconinst [KEI is registered under the FARA as an agent of the KIEP, a public corporation established by the government of the Republic of Korea. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.]

    23 min

  7. 10/16/2025

    Why APEC Still Matters in a MAGA World | Ep. 20

    Matthew P. Goodman, Distinguished Fellow for Geoeconomic Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), joins Eye on Korea to discuss this year’s APEC Summit in South Korea and why expectations should be modest.  Goodman outlines the three tiers of APEC and how this year’s policy agenda fits within its broader framework. He also highlights the importance of working-level meetings that quietly sustain regional cooperation throughout the yearlong buildup to the event. The conversation explores how APEC’s long-standing mission of reducing trade barriers increasingly clashes with the U.S. shift toward tariffs and industrial policy, and how the geopolitics of tariffs are reshaping regional dynamics, including the U.S.–Japan investment deal and prospects for a U.S.–Korea trade agreement. Goodman also assesses whether Presidents Trump and Xi were ever on track for a trade breakthrough—and why that momentum stalled before APEC. Korea, Japan, and Australia continue to have huge stakes in the U.S. security alliance and market access, Goodman argues, making decoupling very unlikely. Instead, allies may increasingly hedge by deepening participation in parallel trade arrangements such as the CPTPP, which remains an attractive vehicle for Indo-Pacific economies seeking stable and rules-based trade integration. Like and subscribe to the Korea Economic Institute of America on YouTube for more U.S.-South Korea news, analysis, politics and more! Social Links: Website: https://keia.org/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/korea-economic-institute-of-america/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KoreaEconInstitute/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/koreaeconinst/ Twitter/X: https://x.com/koreaeconinst [KEI is registered under the FARA as an agent of the KIEP, a public corporation established by the government of the Republic of Korea. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.]

    23 min

  8. 10/02/2025

    The $350 Billion Gamble: What’s Really at Stake for U.S.-Korea Trade | Ep. 19

    Wendy Cutler, Vice President at the Asia Society Policy Institute and a former U.S. trade negotiator, joins KEI President & CEO Scott Snyder to break down the state of U.S.–Korea trade talks — and why a long-awaited deal remains elusive. We examine the sticking points at the heart of negotiations, including Washington’s push for a $350 billion Korean investment fund, Seoul’s concerns over U.S. demands, and how the recent U.S.–Japan trade agreement has complicated Korea’s bargaining position. Wendy also unpacks the continued fallout from the Hyundai immigration raid, how visa bottlenecks are slowing new investment, and why both sides may need to abandon a “take it or leave it” posture to reach an agreement. The conversation also explores what message Seoul might deliver directly to Donald Trump at the APEC summit, which tariff concessions matter most for autos, semiconductors, and steel, and how the 2026 USMCA review could reshape trade dynamics across the Indo-Pacific. Finally, we discuss how shifting public opinion and growing emphasis on economic security and supply chains are redefining the U.S.–Korea alliance for a new era. Like and subscribe to the Korea Economic Institute of America on YouTube for more U.S.-South Korea news, analysis, politics and more!   Social Links: Website: https://keia.org/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/korea-economic-institute-of-america/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KoreaEconInstitute/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/koreaeconinst/ Twitter/X: https://x.com/koreaeconinst   [KEI is registered under the FARA as an agent of the KIEP, a public corporation established by the government of the Republic of Korea. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.]

    23 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

The Korea Economic Institute of America is pleased to present Eye on Korea, a program designed to provide expert analysis on the most pressing issues shaping US-Korea relations. [KEI is registered under the FARA as an agent of the KIEP, a public corporation established by the government of the Republic of Korea. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.]

Information

  • Creator
    Korea Economic Institute
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    26
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Eye on Korea