The Korea Times

Wars are easier to start, harder to end

An age-old question: why do countries start wars? More importantly, why do contemporary leaders still start wars, or some versions of “special military operations”? Today, the world faces at least two major international military conflicts: the Russia-Ukraine war and the war involving the United States, Israel and Iran. The Russia-Ukraine War has now lasted for more than four years, inflicting significant human casualties and socioeconomic losses on both sides. The war in the Middle East has also destabilized the region and placed a severe strain on global energy markets. Among multiple explanations for the start of a war, the one that deserves serious scrutiny is the countries’ confidence in a quick military victory. Leaders may be influenced either by an overestimation of their own country’s military capabilities or by an underestimation of those of their adversary. As a result, they may conclude that a swift military victory would be more advantageous than prolonged diplomatic negotiations. Both World War I and World War II resulted, in part, from such optimistic — and ult

Jul 28, 2026By Lee Jong-eun

Lee Jong-eun

Upgrading Korea's election system

On June 3, Korea held its local elections. The election procedures, however, became subject to widespread public outrage over the National Election Commission’s (NEC) mismanagement, including insufficient ballots at multiple polling stations. For more than a week, crowds of mostly young people gathered in Seoul to protest, with some even demanding a new election. Political figures have also weighed in on the controversy. Some have used the controversy to spread election conspiracy theories. Many others have called for government audits or special prosecutor investigations into the NEC to restore public trust in election administration. Beyond overhauling the NEC’s operations, broader policy debates will likely arise from the ongoing controversy regarding reform of election and campaign procedures. As a professor who teaches courses on U.S. politics and elections, I compare how elections are conducted in Korea and the United States. Such a comparison may help Koreans evaluate both the strengths and limitations of their current election system. Korea establishes a fixed time frame fo

Jun 23, 2026By Lee Jong-eun

Lee Jong-eun

3 summits in East Asia: Diplomacy amid geopolitical uncertainties

This month, a series of summits was held in East Asia. The first summit was between the two superpowers: the United States and China. A few days later, summits between Korea and Japan, and then between Russia and China, followed. As the current international order undergoes significant geopolitical shifts, these summits have conveyed the participating countries’ overlapping and divergent strategic calculations. The summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping was held in the context of fluctuations in the geopolitical balance between the two nations. After decades of leading the international order as the post-Cold War superpower, the United States has struggled with domestic political polarization, tensions with traditional allies and prolonged conflicts with adversarial regimes such as Iran. China, despite its own internal socioeconomic challenges, has appeared relatively better positioned when it comes to geopolitical bargaining. Outwardly, the summit displayed a conciliatory affirmation of “constructive strategic stability” between the two super

May 24, 2026By Lee Jong-eun

3 summits in East Asia: Diplomacy amid geopolitical uncertainties

Lee Jong-eun

Geopolitical stalemates require patient statesmanship

The progress of human history has sometimes been depicted by distinguishing the winners from the losers. Rome won; Carthage lost. England won; Napoleon’s France lost. The Allies won; the Axis powers lost. The United States won; the Soviet Union lost. The winners of geopolitical conflicts then shaped the regional or international order according to their preferences. Today, the world is again encountering multiple geopolitical conflicts: Ukraine vs. Russia, Israel vs. Iran, North Korea vs. South Korea, and the United States vs. China. We frequently encounter predictions about which country is winning or losing and what the postconflict consequences will be. At present, however, no major conflict actor seems to be decisively winning or losing. Instead, there appears to be a prolonged geopolitical stalemate. In Europe, the Ukraine war has lasted for over four years. Despite enduring steep war costs, neither country has achieved a strategic breakthrough. Russia has failed in its objective of keeping Ukraine under its sphere of influence, while Ukraine has failed to deter Russia as a mili

May 7, 2026By Lee Jong-eun

Geopolitical stalemates require patient statesmanship

Lee Jong-eun

Will Trump swing hard or go for singles in foreign policy?

When former U.S. President Barack Obama faced criticisms that his foreign policy was too cautious, he used two phrases to justify his decisions. The first was “don’t do stupid stuff,” defending his caution in taking foreign policy risks. The second was an analogy of “hitting singles and doubles” rather than a “home run” in foreign policy achievements. In contrast, current President Donald Trump, who has decried that the U.S. wasn’t “winning” on the international stage because its leaders lacked boldness in their actions, promised an aggressive pursuit of his “America First” foreign policy. Despite the rhetoric, however, Trump’s first term still largely displayed policy restraints. Trump’s policy advisors dissuaded him from several high-risk foreign policy decisions, such as making a “big deal” with North Korea, prolonging a trade war with China or attempting regime changes in the Middle East and Latin America. Trump’s second term has featured significantly more aggressive, risky foreign policy behavior, becoming less restrained in the use of military f

Mar 23, 2026By Lee Jong-eun

Will Trump swing hard or go for singles in foreign policy?

Lee Jong-eun

4 years of Russia-Ukraine war: Old and new geopolitical lessons

This week marks the fourth anniversary of the beginning of the Russia–Ukraine war. On Feb. 24, 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a “special military operation” against Ukraine. Four years later, the “military operation” continues as the largest conventional war in Europe since World War II. Even now, the war’s end remains uncertain. The latest trilateral talks in Geneva among the United States, Russia, and Ukraine ended without success, once again failing to reach consensus on key settlement issues such as territorial sovereignty and the postwar security framework. In Russia and Ukraine — and worldwide — widespread war fatigue is accompanied by anxiety over the war’s eventual outcome. The war has reaffirmed a number of familiar geopolitical lessons. It has also introduced new lessons for policymakers facing contemporary geopolitical challenges. Although “learn from history” is a cliche that is often unfulfilled or misapplied, commemorating past and present military conflicts should challenge us to better understand the origins, prevention and termina

Feb 26, 2026By Lee Jong-eun

4 years of Russia-Ukraine war: Old and new geopolitical lessons

Lee Jong-eun

Will 2026 experience geopolitical attrition or transformation?

Some years, such as 1945 and 1991, are remembered for historic transformations. The existing international system was abolished, resulting in the establishment of a “new world order.” Today, the future of the current “liberal” international order has become a contentious topic. Challenges from revisionist states — and, more importantly, the decline in the United States’ capacity and willingness to enforce the post–World War II order it helped build — have fueled predictions that another historic transformation of the international system may be approaching. The year 2026 has begun with events that have bolstered these predictions. U.S. President Donald Trump has started the second year of his second term with an escalation of an “America First” unilateralist foreign policy. In January, the U.S. conducted military operations to abduct Venezuela’s leader, Nicolas Maduro. The Trump administration has announced withdrawal from additional international organizations and UN agencies and has intensified pressure on Europe to approve its acquisition of Greenland from Denm

Jan 25, 2026By Lee Jong-eun

Will 2026 experience geopolitical attrition or transformation?

Lee Jong-eun

2025: South Korea’s surprising continuity in foreign policy

Last December, Korean politics experienced an unexpected crisis when President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law across the country. In the months that followed, the country faced political uncertainty and deepening divisions that ultimately ended in Yoon’s impeachment and the subsequent election of opposition leader Lee Jae Myung as the next president. The turnover in government sparked speculation — and even anxiety —about potential shifts in South Korea’s foreign policy. In contrast to the Yoon government’s “value-based diplomacy” focused on explicit strategic alignment with the U.S. and Japan and hardline policies toward North Korea and Russia, some policy analysts predicted that Lee’s “pragmatic, national interest-based” diplomacy would seek greater strategic distance from the U.S. and Japan and renew more conciliatory policies toward North Korea and Russia. The first year of Lee’s government, however, has largely shown continuity in foreign policy. While South Korea’s domestic politics has continued to experience polarization and unrest, there has been fa

Dec 21, 2025By Lee Jong-eun

2025: South Korea’s surprising continuity in foreign policy

Lee Jong-eun

What is Trump's version of Pax Americana?

When U.S. President Donald Trump was reelected in 2025, there was speculation and anxiety about how his second term would transform the world. One of the more pessimistic predictions was that Trump would return the world to the geopolitics of the 1930s. According to this prediction, Trump’s America would turn fully isolationist, withdrawing from international trade and security alliances. With America disengaged from world affairs, today’s revisionist powers, similar to the Axis powers of the 1930s, would launch aggressive global expansion campaigns and subjugate countries in Asia and Europe. Ultimately, this scenario envisioned the United States being drawn into a Third World War against these resurgent powers, with the outcome uncertain. For the past year, the Trump administration has implemented some policies that reinforced critics’ worst fears. Even U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell, former Republican Senate Majority Leader, observed similarities with the 1930s when explaining his opposition to Trump’s tariff policies. Others have compared Trump’s diplomatic endeavors towards

Nov 20, 2025By Lee Jong-eun

What is Trump's version of Pax Americana?

Lee Jong-eun

Korea’s 5-dimensional diplomacy at APEC summit

Throughout its history, Korea has been burdened by a stark geographic challenge: being surrounded by multiple challenging, even adversarial neighbors. The struggle to navigate complex, multidimensional geopolitics has been a recurrent feature of Korea’s foreign policy. Contemporary Korea’s challenge is similar. On the surface, the geopolitical landscape appears simpler: a bipolar divide between its continental adversaries (Russia, China, North Korea) and its maritime allies (the United States and Japan). The region’s contemporary geopolitical environment, however, is far more complex. It is difficult for South Korea to confront North Korea and China unequivocally, not only because of economic and security risks, but also because of hopes for cooperation with the latter on the North's denuclearization and inter-Korean reconciliation. Korea’s strategic partnerships with Japan and the United States are also complicated, marked by diplomatic tensions over historical grievances and disputes about equitable alliance benefits and burden-sharing. To add to the geopolitical complexity, K

Oct 27, 2025By Lee Jong-eun

Lee Jong-eun

Wars are easier to start, harder to end

Upgrading Korea's election system

3 summits in East Asia: Diplomacy amid geopolitical uncertainties

Geopolitical stalemates require patient statesmanship

Will Trump swing hard or go for singles in foreign policy?

4 years of Russia-Ukraine war: Old and new geopolitical lessons

Will 2026 experience geopolitical attrition or transformation?

2025: South Korea’s surprising continuity in foreign policy

What is Trump's version of Pax Americana?

Korea’s 5-dimensional diplomacy at APEC summit

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