A Korean firm may build the next advanced reactor in Kansas, Korean factories may supply its components, and a Korean bank may help finance it. None of that requires the USD 350 billion investment MOU. https://keia.org/analysis/kansas-citys-competitive-edge-for-south-korean-investors/

Kansas City’s Competitive Edge for South Korean Investors - Korea Economic Institute of America

The Kansas City metro has the contracted power, the nuclear partners, and the engineering depth foreign investors look for.

keia.org

All 51 million residents of South Korea get free, unmetered access to AI. Henry Haggard on President Lee's "AI for All" bet, the AI Basic Act now fully in force, and where U.S.-Korea cooperation on AI matters most. https://keia.org/analysis/why-south-korea-is-giving-51-million-people-unlimited-ai/

Why South Korea Is Giving 51 Million People Unlimited AI - Korea Economic Institute of America

In December 2026, 51 million people will get a free chatbot with no usage limits, running on Korean models. No other country has attempted anything close

keia.org

🌎 South Korea Should Be an Economic Model for Besieged Cuba Why is Cuba looking to South Korea? Benjamin R. Young examines what Korea's development model could mean for Cuba's economic future. 🔗 Read more: https://keia.org/analysis/south-korea-should-be-an-economic-model-for-besieged-cuba/

South Korea Should Be an Economic Model for Besieged Cuba - Korea Economic Institute of America

Cuba’s recent outreach to South Korea suggests that the island country views Korea as a potential model for state planning and export-driven economics under autocratic conditions.

keia.org

🎥 ICYMI: The Future of U.S.-South Korea-Japan Trilateralism Watch our discussion featuring Eun A Jo, Ayumi Teraoka, and Bruce Klingner, moderated by Arius Derr. 📺 Full video: https://keia.org/event/evaluating-the-future-of-u-s-south-korea-japan-trilateralism/

📝 Continued Anticipation for Strategic Projects Under the U.S.-South Korea Investment MOU Why haven't the first projects been announced yet? Nils Wollesen Osterberg examines what's behind the delay and what it signals for the MOU's implementation. 🔗 Read more: https://bit.ly/4cxLLxJ

Continued Anticipation for Strategic Projects Under the U.S.-South Korea Investment MOU - Korea Economic Institute of America

Korea has set up a more robust framework by establishing supporting institutions and appropriate funding, which helps explain the longer timeline.

keia.org

📝 Congress Supports Action for Human Rights in North Korea But Still Does Not Act Congress has long supported North Korean human rights—but the North Korean Human Rights Act remains expired, and the special envoy position remains vacant. 🔗 Read Robert King's latest analysis: https://bit.ly/4zAX9m2

Congress Supports Action for Human Rights in North Korea But Still Does Not Act - Korea Economic Institute of America

There is little chance that Congress will reauthorize the North Korean Human Rights Act, which expired in September 2022, before the midterm elections, leaving the position of special envoy for North ...

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📝 Washington's Cold Peace Is Seoul's Hot Risk A U.S.-North Korea deal that makes America safer while leaving South Korea with greater responsibility is not de-escalation—it's risk relocation. 🔗 Read Shin-wha Lee's analysis: https://keia.org/analysis/washingtons-cold-peace-is-seouls-hot-risk/

🔴 We're live! Join our discussion on the future of U.S.-South Korea-Japan trilateral cooperation featuring Eun A Jo, Ayumi Teraoka, and Bruce Klingner, moderated by Arius Derr. 📺 Watch now: https://youtube.com/live/w2K72bRF550?feature=share

Evaluating the Future of U.S.-South Korea-Japan Trilateralism

YouTube video by Korea Economic Institute of America

youtube.com

📬 New KEI Weekly! Explore the latest analysis on U.S.-North Korea relations, ship repair and the U.S.-ROK alliance, trilateral cooperation, cybersecurity, and more. 🔗 Read more: https://bit.ly/3U6KtTZ

📅 Join us tomorrow! Three years after the Camp David Summit, where does U.S.-South Korea-Japan trilateral cooperation stand? Hear from Eun A Jo, Ayumi Teraoka, and Bruce Klingner. 🗓️ Aug. 25 | 10–11 AM ET 🔗 https://bit.ly/4gkp8xK

Evaluating the Future of U.S.-South Korea-Japan Trilateralism  - Korea Economic Institute of America

Join KEI on the third anniversary of the summit for a discussion of what the trilateral framework has institutionalized, where cooperation has stalled, and what its next three years require.

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📝 Kim Jong Un Has No Interest in Meeting Donald Trump Benjamin R. Young argues that North Korea's stronger geopolitical position leaves Kim Jong Un with little incentive to meet President Trump or seek U.S. sanctions relief. 🔗 Read more: https://bit.ly/3Sqc9mb

Kim Jong Un Has No Interest in Meeting Donald Trump - Korea Economic Institute of America

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is in a far stronger negotiating position than in 2019 and sees little need for U.S. sanctions relief or a meeting with President Donald Trump.

keia.org

📅 Join us next week! Three years after the Camp David Summit, where does U.S.-South Korea-Japan trilateral cooperation stand? Join Eun A Jo, Ayumi Teraoka, and Bruce Klingner for a discussion on the future of trilateral cooperation. 🗓️ Aug. 25 | 10–11 AM ET 🔗 https://bit.ly/4gkp8xK

Evaluating the Future of U.S.-South Korea-Japan Trilateralism  - Korea Economic Institute of America

Join KEI on the third anniversary of the summit for a discussion of what the trilateral framework has institutionalized, where cooperation has stalled, and what its next three years require.

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📝 Ship Repair Offers Best Pathway for Modernizing the U.S.-South Korea Alliance As U.S.-ROK shipbuilding ties grow, Namyeon Kwon argues that naval MRO can strengthen alliance readiness and defense industrial cooperation. 🔗 Read more: https://bit.ly/4bXjGiY

Ship Repair Offers Best Pathway for Modernizing the U.S.-South Korea Alliance - Korea Economic Institute of America

Korea can more effectively showcase its industrial capacity and fulfill the U.S. push for alliance modernization in ship repair, or maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO).

keia.org

📰 KEI in the News KEI President & CEO Scott A. Snyder was featured in @nytimes discussing President Trump's approach to the U.S.-ROK alliance: "Trump defaults back to the complaint about South Korean free-riding” on America’s troop presence on the Korean Peninsula. 🔗 https://bit.ly/4hGlZL1

Facing Quagmire in Iran, Trump Turns to a Familiar Face: North Korea’s Kim Jong-un

Seven years ago, President Trump failed to disarm North Korea and walked away. Could the same thing happen with Iran?

nytimes.com

📢 Still accepting applications for our Fall 2026 Communications Intern! Join KEI in Washington, DC this fall and gain hands-on experience in policy communications, social media, and multimedia storytelling. 🔗 Learn more and apply below! https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/4455355449/

📝 Op-Ed | Why Kim and Trump Should Meet Troy Stangarone argues that President Donald Trump may be North Korea's best opportunity to reshape relations with the United States before a future administration takes a different approach. 🌏🤝 🔗 https://keia.org/analysis/why-kim-and-trump-should-meet/

Why Kim and Trump Should Meet - Korea Economic Institute of America

President Donald Trump is willing to pursue a more unconventional approach than traditional U.S. politicians, and the next U.S. leader may not be as accommodating to North Korean demands.

keia.org

📢 Event | The Future of U.S.-ROK-Japan Trilateral Cooperation Three years after the Camp David Summit, where does U.S.-ROK-Japan trilateral cooperation go from here? 🤝🌏 Join KEI for a discussion on the future of the trilateral framework. 🔗 Register: https://bit.ly/4gkp8xK

Evaluating the Future of U.S.-South Korea-Japan Trilateralism  - Korea Economic Institute of America

Join KEI on the third anniversary of the summit for a discussion of what the trilateral framework has institutionalized, where cooperation has stalled, and what its next three years require.

keia.org

📝 North Korea Doubles Down on Its Alliance With Russia, For Now As North Korea deepens its partnership with Russia, Daniel Sneider examines what Kim Jong Un stands to gain—and how the war in Ukraine could shape the future of the relationship. 🌍🤝 🔗 Read more: https://bit.ly/4wXGaJa

North Korea Doubles Down on Its Alliance With Russia, For Now - Korea Economic Institute of America

Kim Jong Un’s strategic calculus toward the North Korea-Russia partnership depends on the outcome of the war in Ukraine and its economic and political impact on Russia.

keia.org

🎙️ New Episode | Eye on Korea Can U.S.-ROK nuclear cooperation move beyond the 123 Agreement? ⚛️🤝 Joyce Connery discusses nuclear-powered submarines, AUKUS, and the future of the U.S.-ROK nuclear agenda. ▶️ Watch now: https://youtu.be/M2wf00gSciM?si=p5GKuNUb6csFcXYx

Nuclear Submarines and the Limits of the 123 Agreement | Eye on Korea Ep. 41

YouTube video by Korea Economic Institute of America

youtu.be

📝 Why South Korea Cannot Reach Carbon Neutrality on Renewables Alone 🌱⚡ Randall Jones examines why a stronger carbon pricing system and a balanced energy mix will be essential to meeting Korea's climate goals. 🔗 Read more: https://bit.ly/4wtbqi6

Why South Korea Cannot Reach Carbon Neutrality on Renewables Alone - Korea Economic Institute of America

Achieving South Korea’s objective of carbon neutrality requires a comprehensive plan to develop a range of renewable energy sources.

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📢 KEI is hiring! Applications are now open for the Fall 2026 Internship Program in Washington, DC. We're seeking one Research Intern and one Communications Intern to join our team this fall. 🔗 Learn more and apply: https://bit.ly/4hvqYxT

📬 New KEI Weekly! Explore the latest analysis on South Korea's path to carbon neutrality, NATO defense cooperation, the U.S.-Korea nuclear partnership, and more. 🔗 Read more: https://bit.ly/4bItI7v

📝 South Korea Wants to Be a NATO Partner, Not Just a Vendor As NATO re-arms, South Korea is looking beyond bilateral arms sales toward deeper cooperation on defense production, R&D, and procurement. 🤝🛡️ 🔗 Read Troy Stangarone's latest analysis: https://bit.ly/4bA9I6W

South Korea Wants to Be a NATO Partner, Not Just a Vendor - Korea Economic Institute of America

Korean President Lee Jae Myung proposes a defense industry partnership between Korea and NATO that positions Korea as a participant in the alliance’s rearmament that helps fill critical gaps in the br...

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📝 ICYMI | South Korean Firms Are Powering U.S. Energy Storage As AI-driven electricity demand grows, South Korean firms are playing an increasingly important role in U.S. energy storage, supply chain resilience, and energy security. ⚡🤝 🔗 Read more: https://bit.ly/4wGAS4z

South Korean Firms Are Powering U.S. Energy Storage - Korea Economic Institute of America

Storing electricity is just as critical as the ability to generate it, making battery energy storage systems (BESS) an essential component of power systems.

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📝 Op-Ed | The U.S.-Saudi Nuclear Deal Is a Test Case for South Korean Uranium Enrichment Ellen Kim argues that the U.S.-Saudi nuclear agreement could shape future U.S.-South Korea cooperation on uranium enrichment and nuclear-powered submarines. ⚛️🤝 🔗 Read more: https://bit.ly/4qece9b

The U.S.-Saudi Nuclear Deal Is a Test Case for South Korean Uranium Enrichment - Korea Economic Institute of America

U.S. and South Korean policymakers should develop diplomatic and institutional measures to address potential concerns and opposition surrounding nuclear-powered submarine and fuel cooperation.

keia.org

📬 New KEI Weekly! Explore the latest analysis on U.S.-Korea trade and investment, energy storage, prediction markets, North Korea, and more. 🔗 Read more: https://bit.ly/4fz4JWy

📝 Q2 2026 U.S.-South Korea Trade and Investment Ledger South Korean investment continued to grow across U.S. energy, AI, and defense in Q2 2026. 🤝⚡ Read Tom Ramage's latest overview of key trade and investment developments. 🔗 Read more: https://bit.ly/45514cU

Q2 2026 U.S.-South Korea Trade and Investment Ledger - Korea Economic Institute of America

America’s new tariff framework comes alongside significant South Korean investment into strategic sectors across the United States.

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📝 After a Decade, the North Korea Travel Ban Needs a Second Look Ten years after the U.S. travel ban on North Korea, Robert King argues it's time to expand humanitarian access while maintaining restrictions on tourism. ✈️ 🔗 Read more: https://bit.ly/4fJTYiP

After a Decade, the North Korea Travel Ban Needs a Second Look - Korea Economic Institute of America

It is unclear whether the current U.S. ban on Americans traveling to North Korea has improved North Korea’s attitude toward the United States or the conditions under which the North Korean people suff...

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📝 Betting on the Future: Prediction Markets, Cryptocurrency, and South Korean Law ⚖️💻 As South Korea expands its digital asset ambitions, prediction markets like Polymarket are testing the country's gambling laws. Terrence Matsuo explores what's next. 🔗 https://shorturl.at/otYu7

Betting on the Future: Prediction Markets, Cryptocurrency, and South Korean Law - Korea Economic Institute of America

How South Korea navigates the opportunities and challenges of prediction markets and squares them with ongoing efforts to lead in the cryptocurrency space will determine whether Polymarket and its com...

keia.org

📝 South Korean Firms Are Powering U.S. Energy Storage Soobeen Park and Hyun Jung "Jessie" Je examine how South Korean firms are helping strengthen U.S. energy storage, supply chain resilience, and energy security. ⚡🤝 🔗 https://keia.org/analysis/south-korean-firms-are-powering-u-s-energy-storage/

South Korean Firms Are Powering U.S. Energy Storage - Korea Economic Institute of America

Storing electricity is just as critical as the ability to generate it, making battery energy storage systems (BESS) an essential component of power systems.

keia.org