One of the most significant events to impact the Korean Peninsula in 2022 was Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The war reshaped South Korean sanctions policy, furthered inflation, significantly drove up energy costs, and pushed South Korea into only its second trade deficit this century. However, the war wasn’t the only issue to influence events on the Korean Peninsula as North Korea experienced its first acknowledged wave of COVID outbreaks and ramped up its ballistic missile tests to record levels. While Russia’s invasion, COVID, inflation, and elections in South Korea were among the key issues that shaped the Korean Peninsula last year, what will be the key issues for the year ahead?
0:00 Intro
0:44 The War in Ukraine and the Korean Peninsula
2:48 Will North Korea Transition to Living with COVID?
4:30 North Korea's Weapons Tests & Prospects for Renewed Negotiations
7:03 70th Anniversary of the U.S.-ROK Alliance
9:07 Adjusting the Inflation Reduction Act
10:39 Efforts to Deepen Digitization in South Korea
12:45 Prospects for South Korean Soft Power
14:20 Busan's Bid for the 2030 World Expo
16:11 South Korea's Indo-Pacific Strategy
18:15 South Korea's Relations with Japan
