GMS Focus

Prof. Shin Se-don of Department of Economics at Sookmyung Women’s University will tell us about the Bank of Japan's first interest rate hike in 17 years, ending Japan's negative interest rate era, alongside the US Federal Reserve's decision to hold rates steady and suggest potential rate cuts this year.

Prof. Kim Byung-joo ofInternational Relations at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies will tell us about both Joe Biden and Donald Trump securing their party nominations, the significance of the phrase "democracy is on the ballot" in the upcoming election, the current polls 8 months ahead, and what's next.

Prof. Shin Se-don of Department of Economics at Sookmyung Women’s University will tell us about the skyrocketing fruit prices driving South Korea's inflation to around 3%, posing challenges for the Bank of Korea amidst high inflation and rising household debt, and we'll discuss the possibility of future interest rate cuts.

Prof. Kim Byung-joo of International Relations at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies will tell us about the significance of the US-led Summit for Democracy, hosted by South Korea and involving over 60 countries, in countering authoritarianism and democratic decline amid a period of numerous national elections.

Prof. Shin Se-don of Department of Economics at Sookmyung Women’s University will tell us about the recent record highs in cryptocurrency Bitcoin, gold prices, Nasdaq, and S&P 500, prompting questions about the driving forces behind this surge and whether the bullish upward trend is sustainable or indicative of a potential bubble.

Prof. Kim Byung-joo of International Relations at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies will tell us about China's annual "Two Sessions," a key political event shaping the legislative agenda for the year, with this 10-day congress being the most important of the year; notably, Beijing has canceled its usual premier-led press conference.

Prof. Kim Byung-joo of International Relations at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies will tell us about Sweden's historic departure from 200 years of neutrality as it officially joins NATO, a decision reached after almost two years of negotiations, dealing a significant blow to the Russian President and raising questions about the implications for the region's geopolitics and beyond.

Prof. Kim Byung-joo of International Relations at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies will tell us about the upcoming South Korea National Assembly election in 5½ weeks, characterized by a highly contentious political climate and the potential impact of breakaway factions and third parties, while also questioning the defining factors of President Yoon's remaining term.

Prof. Yang Jun-seok of Department of Economics at Catholic University will tell us about Nvidia's record-breaking one-day gain in Wall Street, fueled by exceptional quarterly earnings and sales outlook, solidifying its status as "the most important stock on earth" according to Goldman Sachs. We'll delve into what this means for Korean companies in the thriving AI market.

Prof. Kim Byung-joo of International Relations at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies will tell us about the recent G20 Foreign Ministers' meeting in Rio, Brazil, where the host country advocated for a UN overhaul, citing its failure to prevent wars and conflicts. We'll explore the crucial role of foreign ministers' meetings in addressing global challenges amid the rise of the New Col...

Prof. Yang Jun-seok of Department of Economics at Catholic University will tell us about South Korea's economic growth trailing behind Japan's for the first time in 25 years, prompting questions about Japan's recovery and Korea's potential path towards a prolonged period of low growth.

Prof. Kim Byung-joo of International Relations at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies will tell us about South Korea's unexpected diplomatic move last week, establishing relations with Cuba, and explore the implications of this development on North Korea, which has long considered Cuba a "brotherly country."

Prof. Yang Jun-seok will tell us about the challenges South Koreans face during the Lunar New Year, marked by soaring living costs prompting some to seek alternatives in Japan and South Asian countries, delving into the reasons behind the steep and prolonged price hikes, their potential peak, and the impact on future government fiscal policies

Prof. Kim Byung-joo of International Relations at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies will tell us about the strained Seoul-Moscow relations stemming from Russia's actions in Ukraine and its ties with North Korea, pondering whether it's in the best interest of both nations to manage and improve these tensions.

Prof. Yang Jun-seok will tell us about the recent selection of Stage X, a local consortium, as the winner of a heated spectrum auction, positioning them to become South Korea's fourth national mobile network operator and potentially reshape the longstanding dominance of the telecommunications market by SK, KT, and LG for over two decades.

Prof. 박원곤 of North Korean studies at Ewha Womans University will tell us about rising tensions on the Korean peninsula as North Korea redefines South Korea as its "primary foe," abandons unification goals, and advances its missile programs. Growing concerns surround its deepening ties with Russia, prompting experts to warn of a potential conflict, even the possibility of a full-fledge...

South Korea's economy, which grew by 1.4% in 2023, meeting the central bank's goal but marking the lowest growth since 2009 (excluding the Covid-19 years), with the gross national income per capita rebounding to around 33,000 USD.

At The World Economic Forum that took place in Davos, economists painted a grim outlook due to escalating geopolitical tensions, concerns about climate change, and the impact of AI on the global economy.

In the Middle East, there's a common belief that the conflict involving Israel is essentially a US proxy war. Without American diplomatic cover and weapons, it's suggested the war wouldn't exist. The question arises about the extent of US responsibility for the current troubles in the region.

Shareholders of Taeyoung Engineering and Construction voted for a workout program to rescue the company, granting a brief period for restructuring amid Korea’s looming real estate project financing(PF) crisis.

Lai Ching-the of the Democratic Progressive Party won the Taiwanese presidential election, making it the first time a party secured a third consecutive win. However, the DPP lost its parliamentary majority, complicating the passage of legislation for Lai.

The government aims to control inflation and boost domestic consumption in the new year. It plans to stabilize prices by injecting trillions of won and offer tax incentives to companies and individuals.

In preparation for the National Assembly elections on April 10th in South Korea, the recent attack on Democratic Party (DP) chief Lee Jae-myeong has caused a pause in political campaigning across the board. The incident raises questions about the impact on the upcoming general elections and prompts speculation about the future political landscape.

Professor Yang Jun-seok at the Catholic University of Korea goes over China, US, and Korea's forecast of the economy.

Prof. Kim Byung-joo at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies joins us to go over 2023 Korea's foreign and security policy.