Diplomacy Journal Kim Tae Yeon | The concept introduced by international relations scholar Joseph Nye has become one of the defining frameworks for understanding South Korea's rising global standing. Just as the end of the Cold War was shaped not by military force alone but by the spread of values, culture, and information, South Korea in the 21st century is building a new form of national influence — one grounded in culture, technology, and industrial competitiveness. "Soft power is the ability to get what you want through attraction rather than coercion or payment," In 2026, South Korea is n
Diplomacy Journal reporter Lee Gilju | The strategic competition between the United States and China has entered a new phase. What began as a trade war defined by tariffs has evolved into a far more consequential contest over financial access, technological standards, and systemic control. The end of the tariff eraWashington’s current focus is no longer on penalising Chinese exports through customs duties, but on restricting China’s participation in the core mechanisms of global capitalism.Investment screening, limits on outbound capital, restrictions on advanced semiconductor and AI technolog