Commentary and Analysis

Seoul has balanced between domestic concerns and external threats, Karl Friedhoff writes, but economic realities now threaten the equilibrium.

The South Korean president rode polarization to steady the ship through his first year in office.

The backlash to the South Korean leader's comments to the Washington Post served as an important test of his underlying support, Karl Friedhoff writes.

"According to the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, America's positive view of Korea are reaching the highest levels since 1978," President Yoon Suk-yeol told Congress.

President Yoon will likely sell the idea of “lining up major investments coming into South Korea from American companies,” says Karl Friedhoff.

President Yoon Suk-yeol is under fire for his administration’s US relationship following the Pentagon leak, Karl Friedhoff says.

"Yoon Suk-yeol likely pays closer attention to one metric above all else — his base support," writes Karl Friedhoff.

Although the agreement is unpopular among South Koreans, it hasn't had much impact on the president's approval rating, Karl Friedhoff writes.

A gap between polling results could lead the administration to draw dramatically different conclusions about which policies to pursue going forward, Karl Friedhoff writes.

"Early poll suggests South Koreans prefer Democratic leader as next peastolitical leader, but caveats abound," writes Marshall M. Bouton Fellow Karl Friedhoff.