Joel Atkinson
@joelatkinson.bsky.social
Researching and teaching Northeast Asian international politics in Seoul. Opinions my own. joel.p.atkinson@gmail.com
The new issue of the Journal of East Asian Affairs @JOEAA_INSS is out, the English-language journal of South Korea’s Institute for National Security Strategy (INSS). (I am executive editor, with Mason Richey as editor-in-chief)
www.inss.re.kr/en/publicati...
www.inss.re.kr/en/publicati...
November 7, 2025 at 8:20 AM
The new issue of the Journal of East Asian Affairs @JOEAA_INSS is out, the English-language journal of South Korea’s Institute for National Security Strategy (INSS). (I am executive editor, with Mason Richey as editor-in-chief)
www.inss.re.kr/en/publicati...
www.inss.re.kr/en/publicati...
Most newsworthy thing coming out of APEC and it's not even close
November 1, 2025 at 10:45 PM
Most newsworthy thing coming out of APEC and it's not even close
If you want to know how Koreans are reacting to the immigration raid at the battery plant in Georgia, a recent poll has 59.2% responding “I am greatly disappointed in the Trump administration” and 30.7% responding “I understand the Trump administration’s measures”
www.realmeter.net/%eb%a6%ac%ec...
www.realmeter.net/%eb%a6%ac%ec...
September 9, 2025 at 4:44 AM
If you want to know how Koreans are reacting to the immigration raid at the battery plant in Georgia, a recent poll has 59.2% responding “I am greatly disappointed in the Trump administration” and 30.7% responding “I understand the Trump administration’s measures”
www.realmeter.net/%eb%a6%ac%ec...
www.realmeter.net/%eb%a6%ac%ec...
Kim Jong Un's daughter, Ju-ae, has apparently accompanied him on the visit to Beijing
September 2, 2025 at 12:18 PM
Kim Jong Un's daughter, Ju-ae, has apparently accompanied him on the visit to Beijing
Asking if students have done the readings
August 29, 2025 at 2:14 AM
Asking if students have done the readings
Ah, the customary and highly symbolic presidential exchange of MAGA hats
www.koreatimes.co.kr/photos/photo...
www.koreatimes.co.kr/photos/photo...
August 26, 2025 at 7:03 AM
Ah, the customary and highly symbolic presidential exchange of MAGA hats
www.koreatimes.co.kr/photos/photo...
www.koreatimes.co.kr/photos/photo...
This is pretty dark stuff from Lankov: "achieving success in nuclear development will be difficult. But if it does not succeed, I doubt whether the Republic of Korea will have a long-term future"
m.news.nate.com/view/2025082...
m.news.nate.com/view/2025082...
August 24, 2025 at 10:28 PM
This is pretty dark stuff from Lankov: "achieving success in nuclear development will be difficult. But if it does not succeed, I doubt whether the Republic of Korea will have a long-term future"
m.news.nate.com/view/2025082...
m.news.nate.com/view/2025082...
My new Pacific Review article explains why China’s economic & diplomatic coercion of South Korea over the USFK THAAD deployment had little—if anything—to do with protecting its nuclear deterrent
www.tandfonline.com/eprint/PAWTC...
www.tandfonline.com/eprint/PAWTC...
August 10, 2025 at 11:01 PM
My new Pacific Review article explains why China’s economic & diplomatic coercion of South Korea over the USFK THAAD deployment had little—if anything—to do with protecting its nuclear deterrent
www.tandfonline.com/eprint/PAWTC...
www.tandfonline.com/eprint/PAWTC...
This from prof of Chinese foreign policy at Kyung Hee University Jaewoo Choo in 2019 on South Korean progressives’ “pro-China approach” & “a more balanced US policy” helps contextualize the current Lee Jae Myung admin & progressive legislature (if you’re into that kind of thing)t kind of thing):
August 4, 2025 at 1:30 AM
This from prof of Chinese foreign policy at Kyung Hee University Jaewoo Choo in 2019 on South Korean progressives’ “pro-China approach” & “a more balanced US policy” helps contextualize the current Lee Jae Myung admin & progressive legislature (if you’re into that kind of thing)t kind of thing):
Some extra context on the dearth of unity that was cut. This re-broke my brain when I was writing it
June 24, 2025 at 10:54 PM
Some extra context on the dearth of unity that was cut. This re-broke my brain when I was writing it
Sympathetic article drawing parallels between Korean President Lee Jae-myung and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
www.hani.co.kr/arti/english...
www.hani.co.kr/arti/english...
June 19, 2025 at 9:26 AM
Sympathetic article drawing parallels between Korean President Lee Jae-myung and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
www.hani.co.kr/arti/english...
www.hani.co.kr/arti/english...
June 5, 2025 at 2:22 AM
First phone calls and summits with major powers by former South Korean presidents. Trump hasn't called Lee yet (who took office on June 4), nor has Xi
June 5, 2025 at 2:22 AM
First phone calls and summits with major powers by former South Korean presidents. Trump hasn't called Lee yet (who took office on June 4), nor has Xi
Ok not close and not going to be close
June 3, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Ok not close and not going to be close
Wow, actually looking close with nearly 12% of votes counted
June 3, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Wow, actually looking close with nearly 12% of votes counted
Kim Moon-soo (at 37.4) now within 9.3 points of Lee Jae-Myung (at 46.7). Lee Jun-seok is yellow at 9.3 (up 1.4 compared to Kim's +1.3 ad Lee Jae-myung's -2.1)
www.hani.co.kr/arti/politic...
www.hani.co.kr/arti/politic...
May 26, 2025 at 5:27 AM
Kim Moon-soo (at 37.4) now within 9.3 points of Lee Jae-Myung (at 46.7). Lee Jun-seok is yellow at 9.3 (up 1.4 compared to Kim's +1.3 ad Lee Jae-myung's -2.1)
www.hani.co.kr/arti/politic...
www.hani.co.kr/arti/politic...
The era of Lee Jae-myung has begun
"지금은 이재명"
"지금은 이재명"
May 14, 2025 at 1:41 AM
The era of Lee Jae-myung has begun
"지금은 이재명"
"지금은 이재명"
Ethiopian airlines flight to Seoul nearly flew into Kashmir this morning h/t Tanvi Madan
May 7, 2025 at 2:38 AM
Ethiopian airlines flight to Seoul nearly flew into Kashmir this morning h/t Tanvi Madan
Very interesting encapsulation of the Beijing-Pyongyang nuclearization dynamic from Thae Yong-ho's recently translated book "Passcode to the Third Floor"
April 30, 2025 at 12:22 AM
Very interesting encapsulation of the Beijing-Pyongyang nuclearization dynamic from Thae Yong-ho's recently translated book "Passcode to the Third Floor"
Apple and others have been so stupid the stock market *should* go down:
"Chinese authorities are delaying or blocking shipments of iPhone equipment to India without explanation"
9to5mac.com/2025/04/24/a...
"Chinese authorities are delaying or blocking shipments of iPhone equipment to India without explanation"
9to5mac.com/2025/04/24/a...
April 25, 2025 at 3:00 AM
Apple and others have been so stupid the stock market *should* go down:
"Chinese authorities are delaying or blocking shipments of iPhone equipment to India without explanation"
9to5mac.com/2025/04/24/a...
"Chinese authorities are delaying or blocking shipments of iPhone equipment to India without explanation"
9to5mac.com/2025/04/24/a...
A buddha's birthday lantern stupa
April 21, 2025 at 12:36 PM
A buddha's birthday lantern stupa
"In essence, the court rejected Yoon’s claims that the imposition of martial law was merely a warning to his political opponents, that it was within his presidential authority and that it followed a legitimate Cabinet process"
www.koreatimes.co.kr/southkorea/p...
www.koreatimes.co.kr/southkorea/p...
April 4, 2025 at 9:57 AM
"In essence, the court rejected Yoon’s claims that the imposition of martial law was merely a warning to his political opponents, that it was within his presidential authority and that it followed a legitimate Cabinet process"
www.koreatimes.co.kr/southkorea/p...
www.koreatimes.co.kr/southkorea/p...
Something weird on Weibo, as far as I can tell no one is talking/can talk about Trump putting tariffs on China and what impact that might have on China. It's all "global reciprocal tariffs" generalities or tariffs on any country you can think of except China
April 2, 2025 at 12:29 PM
Something weird on Weibo, as far as I can tell no one is talking/can talk about Trump putting tariffs on China and what impact that might have on China. It's all "global reciprocal tariffs" generalities or tariffs on any country you can think of except China
Koreans visiting China (blue) vs. all international departures (orange), 2000-2024
www.traveltimes.co.kr/news/article...
www.traveltimes.co.kr/news/article...
March 19, 2025 at 11:29 AM
Koreans visiting China (blue) vs. all international departures (orange), 2000-2024
www.traveltimes.co.kr/news/article...
www.traveltimes.co.kr/news/article...
Former People Power Party (PPP) leader Han Dong-hoon explained his reasoning on voting to overturn martial law
n.news.naver.com/mnews/articl...
n.news.naver.com/mnews/articl...
March 6, 2025 at 11:06 PM
Former People Power Party (PPP) leader Han Dong-hoon explained his reasoning on voting to overturn martial law
n.news.naver.com/mnews/articl...
n.news.naver.com/mnews/articl...