Inlay

Daily analysis on South Korea's foreign policy, politics and the economy. Produced by the team behind @nknewsorg.

South Korea’s debate over a military logistics pact with Japan is no longer about whether the agreement makes strategic sense. Successive governments have acknowledged the military logic of an Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA). Nevertheless, Seoul has retreated when confronted with the domestic political costs, suggesting that the real obstacle is political rather than strategic. […] The post Why South Korea still hesitates over a military logistics pact with Japan appeared first on Korea Pro.

The U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee expressed support for U.S.-South Korea cooperation on nuclear-powered submarines while directing the Pentagon and State Department to assess the strategic implications of such a program, according to report language accompanying the Senate’s fiscal year 2027 defense authorization bill. The committee said it supports bilateral cooperation on submarine manufacturing and […] The post US Senate support for Korean submarines shifts debate toward alliance roles appeared first on Korea Pro.

South Korea is building the entry points of an artificial intelligence (AI) talent hub faster than it is building the career conditions that would keep foreign AI workers. Korea ranks first globally in AI patents per capita, has expanded visa tracks for senior technology recruits and plans to spend $6.6 billion (9.9 trillion won) on […] The post Building an AI hub is easier than keeping foreign AI workers in South Korea appeared first on Korea Pro.

The Bank of Korea (BOK) warned on Wednesday that inflation pressures stemming from the Iran war could spread more broadly through the economy even if oil prices decline, while unusually large bonuses in the information technology (IT) sector may create additional risks through wages and services. In its semiannual inflation assessment, the BOK said consumer […] The post Central bank says inflation risks may spread from energy to wages and services appeared first on Korea Pro.

South Korea is preparing for the possibility that disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz could continue despite ongoing diplomacy between the U.S. and Iran, as uncertainty over shipping routes and regional security persists after President Donald Trump signed a memorandum of understanding to end the war. Iran said on Saturday that the strait would remain […] The post Iran’s Hormuz stance leaves South Korea preparing for a crisis that may not end appeared first on Korea Pro.

South Korea and Saudi Arabia signed a memorandum of understanding on oil and gas cooperation during Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan visit to Riyadh over the weekend, expanding a wartime energy partnership into a broader framework covering stockpiling, pipelines, petrochemicals and industrial technologies. The two countries agreed to ensure stable crude oil and naphtha supplies through […] The post Seoul turns Iran war lessons into long-term energy strategy with Riyadh appeared first on Korea Pro.

South Korea said Tuesday that it hopes to play a “constructive role” in rebuilding the Middle East following a preliminary peace agreement between the U.S. and Iran, but emphasized that any discussion of a reconstruction fund remains part of broader negotiations between Washington and Tehran. Foreign ministry spokesperson Park Il said Seoul would have to […] The post South Korea eyes postwar role in Iran as Trump weighs $300bn reconstruction fund appeared first on Korea Pro.

The main opposition People Power Party’s (PPP) sudden resurgence highlights how younger voters are increasingly judging Korean politics through the lens of procedural fairness, rather than ideology. While the June 3 ballot shortage controversy accelerated that shift, the PPP has yet to prove it can convert disillusionment with the ruling Democratic Party (DP) into lasting […] The post South Korea’s young voters are reshaping politics through fairness, not ideology appeared first on Korea Pro.