China has become a land of economic opportunity for Koreans. Today, over 70.000 South Koreans reside in Wangjing, a district of Beijing known as the city’s Koreatown. To learn about how South Koreans interact with the Chinese citizens of Korean descent also living there, we spoke with Professor Sharon Yoon.
Just like South Korea is one of America’s most important partners in Asia, so is the United States a key ally for South Korea. An important role in the day-to-day management of this relationship is played by America’s diplomatic staff on site. We had the opportunity to meet Mark Lippert, the current Ambassador of the United States to South Korea.
Relations between Japan and South Korea are perplexing: the two countries are major trade partners and tourist destinations for each other’s people as well as alliance partners of the United States. Yet their relations are troubled by territorial and historical issues. To learn more about these disputes and their sources, we met with Scott Snyder.
Over the past decade, the number of foreign students in South Korea has increased eightfold. While welcome, they find themselves in a largely homogeneous society – and this causes friction. To learn more about their situation and multiculturalism at Korean universities, we spoke to Professor Rennie Moon.