Eye on Korea

Jeff Schott, Senior Fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, joins KEI President & CEO Scott Snyder to break down the challenges and opportunities in U.S.–Korea trade relations. We discuss how U.S. tariff policy under the Trump administration has reshaped Korea’s auto exports and the U.S. Korea free trade agreement (KORUS FTA), the fallout from the Hyundai raid in Georgia, and what it means for South Korean investment in the United States. Jeff also explores opportunities for deeper cooperation in shipbuilding and LNG, Korea’s balancing act between Washington and Beijing, and how Seoul is weighing the benefits of joining the CPTPP alongside partners in the Asia-Pacific and Europe. Finally, we look at what’s at stake for the future of U.S.–Korea economic ties and explain why durable, coordinated trade and investment policy is critical for both countries.
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.]

Rachel Minyoung Lee, Senior Fellow at the Stimson Center’s Korea Program and 38 North, unpacks Kim Jong Un’s high-profile visit to Beijing in early September. This was Kim’s first multilateral gathering, aimed at showing the world he is a leader—not just a player—in an emerging Cold War dynamic between China, Russia, and North Korea on one side, and the U.S. and its allies on the other.
We discuss how Kim sought propaganda wins ahead of a major political event in Pyongyang, his strengthening long-term relationship with Vladimir Putin, and the growing defense and munitions cooperation between North Korea and Russia. We also look at the quieter but more ambiguous ties between Kim and Xi Jinping, with their latest summit producing the vaguest readout yet.
Rachel also breaks down North Korea’s effort to balance Beijing and Moscow for its own gain, Pyongyang’s role in the war in Ukraine, and why the future of inter-Korean relations looks increasingly bleak. Finally, we explore what to expect from the upcoming 9th Party Congress, how North Korea sets its long-term agenda, and why Pyongyang remains firmly anti-U.S.—but not necessarily anti-Trump.
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[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.]

Zack Cooper, senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, unpacks the Trump administration’s national security priorities, which he groups into homeland defense and the Indo-Pacific. He weighs in on why he’s impressed with South Korea’s early moves under the Lee administration, but warns that Seoul may be overly optimistic about Washington’s expectations.
Dr. Cooper also discusses Trump’s demands of allies to increase defense spending, the possibility of U.S. troop withdrawals from South Korea as leverage, and how extended deterrence guarantees could gradually weaken until Seoul offers more. The conversation also explores where North Korea sits on the U.S.-ROK priority list, how China factors into the Trump-Lee summit, and the future of OP-CON and strategic flexibility.
Looking ahead at the summit in DC on August 25, Dr. Cooper explains why shipbuilding is a smart bet for President Lee to keep Washington engaged and invested in South Korea’s defense.
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[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.]

Dr. Hyo-young Lee, Associate Professor at the Korea National Diplomatic Academy and an expert in international trade and diplomacy, joins KEI President & CEO Scott Snyder for a detailed discussion of the recently announced U.S.–South Korea trade deal. Our conversation explores how Korean negotiators navigated the pressure of earlier U.S. trade deals with Japan and the EU, and how Seoul secured a 15 percent reciprocal tariff agreement while protecting red-line sectors such as rice and beef. Dr. Lee also explains the significance of Korea’s $350 billion investment pledge, including the distinctive “Make America Shipbuilding Great Again” initiative, and what it reveals about Korea’s evolving economic strategy toward the United States. We also discuss the sidelining of the KORUS FTA, the growing role of Korean conglomerates, emerging frictions over digital trade, and the risks of closely linking trade and security. With an upcoming summit between President Trump and President Lee expected in Washington, Dr. Lee offers insight into which issues are likely to be addressed by the two leaders and which should remain the focus of working-level discussions. Like and subscribe to the Korea Economic Institute of America on YouTube for more content on 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.]

Michael Beeman, former Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Japan, Korea, and APEC, joins KEI President and CEO Scott Snyder to unpack what’s really driving U.S.–South Korea trade negotiations under President Donald Trump’s second term.
Drawing from his time at USTR and insights from his book Walking Out: America’s New Trade Policy in the Asia-Pacific and Beyond, Dr. Beeman explains Trump’s 25% tariff rate threat on South Korea, why economic security and non-tariff measures dominate the White House agenda, and why he thinks South Korea is unlikely to escape a double-digit tariff rate—even after negotiations and even if newly elected President Lee Jae-myung holds a successful summit in Washington.
The conversation touches on the growing use of Section 232 tariffs, the challenges of sectoral tariffs on autos, steel, semiconductors, and pharmaceuticals, and what early trade deals with the UK and Vietnam signal for Korea. President Snyder and Dr. Beeman also discuss digital trade, country of origin rules, and how transshipment through China fits into the bigger picture.
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You can find Dr. Beeman’s book, Walking Out: America’s New Trade Policy in the Asia-Pacific and Beyond, here: https://www.amazon.com/Walking-Out-Americas-Policy-Asia-Pacific/dp/1931368740
https://www.sup.org/books/politics/walking-out
A recording of KEI’s November 2024 event with Dr. Beeman is available here: https://www.youtube.com/live/8LTrlsvBuTo?si=elMGFBk7F4XtYhGM
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[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.]

Dr. John Blaxland, Director of the Australian National University’s North America Liaison Office and an expert in international security and intelligence, joins KEI President & CEO Scott Snyder for a deep dive into the evolving Australia-South Korea relationship.
The conversation covers Dr. Blaxland’s forthcoming article in Korea Policy, highlighting how Australia and South Korea are increasingly engaging in bilateral and multilateral cooperation with greater independence from the U.S. We also examine the growing defense-industrial ties between the two countries, the impact of the AUKUS agreement and its Pillar 2 technology-sharing scheme, and the strategic opportunities for deeper Australia-South Korea collaboration. Dr. Blaxland adds perspectives on political alignment, trade resilience, and the challenges of navigating transactional U.S. foreign policy.
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[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.]
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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/

In this episode of Eye on Korea, KEI President Scott Snyder sits down with former U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Philip Goldberg for a wide-ranging conversation on South Korea's domestic political transformation with the election of new president Lee Jae-myung, and its implications for foreign policy and U.S.-ROK relations. Ambassador Goldberg reflects on the final months of his tenure in Seoul, including the declaration of martial law and impeachment proceedings of former president Yoon Suk Yeol.
Drawing on decades of diplomatic experience, Goldberg assesses the health of Korean democracy, the shifting dynamics of the U.S.-Korea alliance under new leadership in both countries, and the growing strategic tension between economic ties to China and security cooperation with the U.S. We discuss South Korea’s global rise in industries like semiconductors and EVs, the demographic and economic challenges ahead, and the evolving posture toward North Korea in the face of renewed ties between Pyongyang and Moscow.
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[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/

In this episode of Eye on Korea, KEI President Scott Snyder speaks with Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute about how the U.S.-South Korea alliance might evolve in a second Trump administration and under new leadership in Seoul. Drawing from Cronin’s new report, Strategic Alignment in an Era of Uncertainty, the episode examines how the two allies could recalibrate defense cooperation, navigate shifting command structures, and manage extended deterrence in a more volatile security environment.
Dr. Cronin outlines a series of policy recommendations focused on defense industrial cooperation, technological competitiveness, and evolving command structures, including the ongoing discussion around wartime operational control. He also addresses challenges related to extended deterrence and debates surrounding South Korea’s nuclear policy, as well as the future of the Nuclear Consultative Group and other bilateral coordination mechanisms.
The episode also looks at the future of U.S.-Korea-Japan trilateral coordination in light of political transitions across all three countries. While recent progress has strengthened ties, upcoming anniversaries and unresolved historical issues could once again test the relationship. Cronin points to practical steps that sub-national actors in both countries can take to maintain momentum, regardless of political shifts at the top.
Read Dr. Cronin's full report here: https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/media.hudson.org/Strategic+Alignment+in+an+Era+of+Uncertainty+Patrick+Cronin.pdf
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[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.]

KEI’s Director of Public Opinion and External Relations James Kim joins the show to speak about his recently published report, “Untethered Sentiments: How Politics, Visibility, Perception, and Demographic Differences Shape American Views on Foreign Investment and Trade.” Together with host and President Scott Snyder, the two dive into the report’s examination of sentiments in the United States around the changing landscapes of trade and direct foreign investment.
From the report: Since his inauguration on January 20, the president has moved swiftly to sign numerous executive orders, including a sweeping new tranche of tariffs on key goods. Among them are 25 percent tariffs on steel and aluminum, auto tariffs, and the so-called “Liberation Day” tariffs targeting a wide swath of imports. Foreign multinational corporations have begun rerouting supply chains, building up inventories, and expanding manufacturing capacity in the United States—while others have pulled backinvestment plans due to heightened uncertainty.
In this volatile environment, how the American public perceives trade, tariffs, and foreign investment is of critical importance. To assess these attitudes, the Korea Economic Institute of America (KEI), in partnership with YouGov, conducted an original survey from December 17, 2024, to January 2, 2025. The survey involved 1,734 respondents matched to a representative sample of 1,500 across ten states, selected to reflect variations in the levels of South Korean foreign direct investment (FDI) andethnic Korean population. The study examined how state-level FDI visibility and individual perceptions influence attitudes toward trade and investment, employing both descriptive statistics and experimental methods, including image-based framing and discrete choice conjoint analysis.
Read the full report here: https://keia.org/publication/untethered-sentiments-how-politics-visibility-perception-and-demographic-differences-shape-american-views-on-foreign-investment-and-trade/
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[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.]

In this episode of Eye on Korea, we speak with Professor Barry Eichengreen (UC Berkeley) about the evolving role of the U.S. dollar in the global economy and the far-reaching implications of its potential decline as the world's reserve currency.
Professor Eichengreen speaks to what this shift could mean for U.S. financial and geopolitical leverage, why Korea and other allies are navigating economic ties with growing caution, and how current U.S. trade and tariff policies are reshaping global financial norms.
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[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.]