Eye on Korea

In this episode of Eye on Korea, KEI President Scott Snyder sits down with former U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Philip Goldberg for a wide-ranging conversation on South Korea's domestic political transformation with the election of new president Lee Jae-myung, and its implications for foreign policy and U.S.-ROK relations. Ambassador Goldberg reflects on the final months of his tenure in Seoul, i...

In this episode of Eye on Korea, KEI President Scott Snyder speaks with Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute about how the U.S.-South Korea alliance might evolve in a second Trump administration and under new leadership in Seoul. Drawing from Cronin’s new report, Strategic Alignment in an Era of Uncertainty, the episode examines how the two allies could recalibrate defense cooperation, navig...

KEI’s Director of Public Opinion and External Relations James Kim joins the show to speak about his recently published report, “Untethered Sentiments: How Politics, Visibility, Perception, and Demographic Differences Shape American Views on Foreign Investment and Trade.” Together with host and President Scott Snyder, the two dive into the report’s examination of sentiments in the United States aro...

In this episode of Eye on Korea, we speak with Professor Barry Eichengreen (UC Berkeley) about the evolving role of the U.S. dollar in the global economy and the far-reaching implications of its potential decline as the world's reserve currency. Professor Eichengreen speaks to what this shift could mean for U.S. financial and geopolitical leverage, why Korea and other allies are navigating economi...

Former Pentagon official Abraham Denmark joins the show to unpack the strategic future of AUKUS and what it means for South Korea. Drawing on his prominent role in the partnership’s rollout, Abraham explains why AUKUS is more than submarines — and how the pact’s second pillar, focused on advanced technologies like AI, cyber, and quantum, opens new doors for broader U.S. ally participation. We disc...

KEI’s Fellow and Director of Academic Affairs Clint Work joins the show to speak about his recently published report, “Siloed No More: The U.S.-ROK Alliance and a Taiwan Conflict.” Accompanied by KEI’s Director of Communications Arius Derr, the two dive into the report’s examination of sentiments in both South Korea and the United States around a potential conflict over Taiwan, as well as the poss...

Former U.S. government official Don Graves joins the show to break down key issues in trade and investment, from cleantech and semiconductors to AI and robotics. He explains why these are “smart” investments for South Korea and what U.S. companies can unlock in the Indo-Pacific market through greater trade on the peninsula. We discuss the long-term impact of the CHIPS Act and how it’s making it ea...

The U.S. shipbuilding industry is facing major challenges, but could South Korea be the key to revitalizing it? In this episode of Eye on Korea, we explore the growing collaboration between Korean and American shipbuilders, the role of AI and automation in naval production, and the legislative efforts that could reshape the future of naval defense manufacturing.   Our guest, Steve Brock, retired U...

In this episode of Eye on Korea, Ambassador Ahn Ho-Young, former South Korean Ambassador to the U.S., shares his insights on the evolving U.S.-Korea relationship during President Trump's second term. Drawing from his experience during the first Trump administration, Ambassador Ahn discusses how current policies may shape the alliance. Our discussion covers key challenges and opportunities, includi...

In this episode of Eye on Korea, we are joined by Wendy Cutler, Vice President of the Asia Society Policy Institute and a former senior U.S. trade negotiator. With extensive experience shaping U.S. trade policy, Wendy provides insights into the evolving economic relationship between the United States and Korea.   We examine how the Trump administration’s trade policies and tariffs will influence K...

This week's episode of Eye on Korea explores the evolving U.S.-Korea alliance and its implications for regional security and North Korea policy. Dr. Jung H. Pak, former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, shares her expertise on North Korea’s cyber threats, the future of trilateral cooperation with Japan, and the broader Indo-Pacific security landscape. Dr. Pak...

KEI is proud to debut Eye on Korea, a program designed to provide expert analysis on the most pressing issues shaping US-Korea relations. Today's episode highlights how the new US administration’s trade policies could reshape economic ties with South Korea. As former senior vice president for Asia at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Tami Overby brings decades of experience in trade negotiations, mark...