South Korea

Politics

Lee Jae-myung, the head of South Korea's Democratic Party of Korea, or DPK, was inaugurated as president, Reuters reported on June 4.

South Korea: New President's Party Pursues Day-One Court Packing

United States

China

Military & Security

A senior U.S. defense official, part of U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's delegation to Singapore, gave a press briefing in which he cited a desire to recalibrate U.S. Forces Korea to "reflect the realities of the regional security environment" in deterring China, Yonhap News Agency reported on May 29.

U.S., South Korea: Pentagon Confirms Aim To Reorient USFK Toward China

The Wall Street Journal claimed late on May 22 that White House officials are preparing a proposal to withdraw 4,500 out of the 28,500 U.S. troops stationed in South Korea and redeploy them elsewhere in the Indo-Pacific, including to Guam.

U.S., South Korea: White House Considering Drawdown of Troops in South Korea

During a televised presidential debate on May 18, frontrunner candidate Lee Jae-myung from South Korea's Democratic Party recognized the importance of the U.S. alliance, but added "relationships with China and Russia [were] also important and must be managed wisely," and that "diplomacy must always prioritize national interest and be approached pragmatically," the South China Mornign Post reported May 19.

South Korea: Presidential Frontrunner Touts Rebalancing Ties With China

South Korea's ruling People Power Party, or PPP, nominated former labor minister Kim Moon-soo to be its candidate for the June 3 early presidential election, with Kim beating out former PPP head Han Dong-hoon to secure 57% of the primary vote, AP reported May 3.

South Korea: Ruling Party Picks Pro-Yoon Candidate for Presidential Election

South Korea's Supreme Court on May 1 overturned the Seoul High Court's decision to acquit former head of the opposition Democratic Party (DPK) and current frontrunner for the June 3 presidential election, Lee Jae-myung, of violating the election law related to false statements he made during the 2022 presidential election campaign, Korea JoongAng Daily reported the same day.

South Korea: Court Ruling for Presidential Frontrunner Prolongs Political, Market Uncertainty

South Korea's Supreme Court will rule on an election law violation case against Lee Jae-myung, the former head of the opposition Democratic Party of Korea and current frontrunner for the June 3 early presidential election, on May 1, Yonhap News Agency reported on April 29.

South Korea: Court To Rule on Presidential Frontrunner on May 1

Economics

South Korea's first-quarter gross domestic product dropped 0.1% year on year, while consumption fell 0.1%, exports dropped 1.1%, and construction and facility investment fell 3.2% and 2.1%, respectively, according to the Bank of Korea on April 24. 

South Korea: First Quarter GDP Contracts, Second Quarter Off to a Poor Start

Assessments

Lee Jae-myung and his wife celebrate his projected victory in South Korea's presidential election on June 4, 2025, in Seoul, South Korea.

Global Elections

Global Trade

Lee Jae-myung and his progressive party will pursue pro-labor domestic policies, along with U.S. tariff relief and improved ties with China and North Korea.

After Months of Political Tumult, South Korea Elects a New President

Mexico

Poland

Ukraine

Russia

Ukrainian, U.S. and Russian delegates meet for peace talks in Istanbul, Turkey, on May 16, 2025. 

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

A look at what the coming week will bring -- and a list of recommended RANE articles from the week that was.

The Weekly Rundown: Ukraine-Russia Talks, Mexico's First-Ever Judicial Elections

Snapshots

Canada

Japan

Europe

A U.S. courthouse facade with columns in lower Manhattan, New York.

The court ruling nullifies most -- though not all -- of the Trump administration's tariffs, giving U.S. trading partners temporary breathing room in negotiations while the White House searches for alternative trade measures.

The White House's Tariff Ambitions Bend -- But Do Not Break -- Under the Weight of a Court Ruling

Supporters of Kim Moon Soo, the opposition candidate running in South Korea's June 3 presidential election, react during a campaign event in Seoul on May 19, 2025.

Energy

A ruling party victory would portend a continuation of Yoon's pro-business, pro-U.S. policies, while an opposition victory would see Seoul focus more on improving domestic economic equity and increasing engagement with North Korea and China.

South Korea's Presidential Election: Potential Outcomes and Their Implications

The Geopolitics of Trade

U.S. reciprocal tariffs will have major economic and political impacts on Japan and South Korea, particularly as both East Asian countries prepare for summer elections.

The Geopolitics of Trade: The Impact of U.S. Tariffs on South Korea and Japan

Turkey

Germany

France

United Kingdom

People wave flags and chant slogans during a protest in front of the municipality headquarters in support of arrested Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on March 19, 2025, in Istanbul, Turkey. 

The Weekly Rundown: U.S. To Announce Tariffs, Protests in Turkey Rage On

Saudi Arabia

India

Canadian flags are seen outside a building in Ottawa. 

The Weekly Rundown: Canada's Ruling Liberals Pick a New Leader, India and the EU Hold Trade Talks 

South Africa

The Reichstag on Jan. 22 in Berlin. The center-right alliance between the Christian Democratic Union and its Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union, is widely expected to emerge as the largest bloc in the Bundestag after the Feb. 23 general election and lead the next coalition government.

The Weekly Rundown: German Elections, Macron and Starmer Meet Trump

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol (second from right) attends the fifth hearing of his impeachment trial over his short-lived imposition of martial law at the Constitutional Court in Seoul on Feb. 4, 2025.

South Korea’s top court will likely uphold Yoon’s impeachment, clearing the way for a more progressive government. But the alternate scenario in which Yoon remains in office and fuels more protests and political instability cannot be ruled out. 

In South Korea, Yoon's Ouster Will Resolve Political Instability -- For Now

Media

Podcasts

Essential Geopolitics: Key Events in South Korean Politics, Part I

Essential Geopolitics: Key Events in South Korean Politics, Part II

People Power Party lawmakers (bottom) argue with National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik (top) during the plenary session for the impeachment vote of acting president Han Duck-soo on Dec. 27, 2024, at the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea. Meaningful constitutional reform in South Korea remains unlikely, while instability will limit regional security engagement, risk political fragmentation and impede policymaking.

Meaningful constitutional reform remains unlikely, while instability will limit regional security engagement, risk political fragmentation and impede policymaking.

Yoon's Impeachment Drama Reopens the Fraught Issue of Constitutional Reform

The Republic of Korea, also called South Korea, occupies the southern half of a peninsula that juts out of the Asian mainland toward Japan. The country shares its only land border with North Korea, which it also borders in the Yellow and East seas. It shares maritime borders with Japan to the east and China to the west. South Koreas primary geographic challenges are overcoming internal fractures to maintain cohesion, and securing its maritime sphere and its southwest lowland pockets from its more powerful neighbors.    The ancient kingdoms of Baekje and Silla occupied the distinct geographic pockets of the southern peninsula, standing in contrast to a more unified space where North Korea now sits. The Taebaek mountains run along much of South Korea's eastern coast, largely protecting the country from invasion by sea from this direction. These mountain ranges provide a level of protection to the peninsula's most vulnerable feature: a north-south corridor of lowlands and hills along the west coast. This coast (as well as much of South Korea's southern coastline) is protected from easy landing by countless islands, mudflats and tidal rips.     However, the Nakdong River valley at Pusan offers a point of incursion to would-be invaders. From here, they can pass over the lower elevations of the Sobaek Mountains and onward to the western core. This has been the gateway for those seeking to control the peninsula, from the failed 16th century invasions of Japanese Daimyō Toyotomi Hideyoshi to the Japanese empire's later efforts in the 19th century. A North Korean invasion in 1950 (repelled by U.N. forces defending the Pusan Perimeter) highlights another key vulnerability for South Korea: the potential for incursions from the north via the western coastal strip. To hedge against aggression from all directions, South Korea is focused on securing its maritime space, particularly in the south and west. The country has prioritized its possession of Jeju Island in the Jeju Strait and has in the past held claims to Tsushima Island. Disputes with China over the Socotra Rock in the Yellow Sea and with Japan over Dokdo in the East Sea are also important elements of South Korea's overall maritime strategy.     The Korean Peninsula's historic policy of isolation was one way of remaining out of the crosshairs of its neighbors, but it has also aligned itself with rival powers throughout its history. Most recently, South Korea has used a third party — the United States — to maintain balance against neighbors that threaten it from sea and land. 

SITUATION REPORTS

South Korea: New President's Party Pursues Day-One Court Packing

U.S., South Korea: Pentagon Confirms Aim To Reorient USFK Toward China

U.S., South Korea: White House Considering Drawdown of Troops in South Korea

South Korea: Presidential Frontrunner Touts Rebalancing Ties With China

South Korea: Ruling Party Picks Pro-Yoon Candidate for Presidential Election

South Korea: Court Ruling for Presidential Frontrunner Prolongs Political, Market Uncertainty

South Korea: Court To Rule on Presidential Frontrunner on May 1

South Korea: First Quarter GDP Contracts, Second Quarter Off to a Poor Start

Forecasts

ANALYSES

SECTIONS

Explore

Subscribe

Help & Support