The opening session of the Shangri-La Dialogue on May 29, 2026, captured the central tension in Vietnam’s diplomacy. Tô Lâm, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam and State President, spoke of a rules-based order, strategic trust, preventive diplomacy,
Beyond Recruitment: Korea’s Ambition to Attract and Retain Global TalentOver the past two decades, Korea has undergone a quiet but significant transformation in its role within global higher education. Once primarily a sender of students abroad, Korea is now actively
Geopolitical Transformation and the Emergence of Korea–Mongolia Strategic ConvergenceThe contemporary international order is increasingly characterized by intensified geopolitical competition, deepening economic fragmentation, and the strategic reconfiguration of interdependence across regions. In this evolving environment, states that do not possess the
Middle Power Constraints and Korea’s Strategic Turn to South AsiaThe contemporary international order is increasingly shaped by intensifying geopolitical competition, economic fragmentation, and the growing politicization of interdependence. In this evolving environment, middle powers face structural constraints in projecting influence
IntroductionAs global energy systems undergo rapid transformation driven by decarbonization pressures, technological innovation, and shifting geopolitical alignments, energy-producing states are increasingly redefining their strategies to remain competitive. In this evolving landscape, Azerbaijan has begun to move beyond its traditional role
The Strategic Significance of the Korea–EU SummitThe reality that yesterday’s allies are turning into today’s adversarial partners is emerging due to the reorganisation of the international order. In this environment, it is necessary to establish relations with existing partners that
Introduction: Beyond the Arms Export StoryKorea’s defense industry has spent the past three years moving from being a notable arms exporter to becoming a structural participant in the production networks of major allies. The shift is visible in headline contracts.
Beyond the Denuclearization–Engagement BinarySouth Korea’s diplomacy toward North Korea has long been trapped between two familiar but insufficient choices. One is a principled but often unrealistic insistence on immediate denuclearization. The other is an engagement-oriented approach that is easily criticized
IntroductionBilateral social security agreements are essential in today’s globalized world to guarantee expatriates’ welfare, facilitate international labor mobility, and promote global cooperation. They prevent migrant workers from paying social security contributions in two countries at the same time, coordinate the
The Myth of the Multipolar Buffer in a Bipolar RealityFor a diverse, geographically dispersed array of middle powers spanning from the institutional, regulatory corridors of Brussels to the dynamic, diplomatic hubs of Jakarta and Singapore, the absolute defining strategic puzzle