2026 Research Projects

2026 Research Projects

Research Focuses Call for Topics

RESEARCH

Macroeconomic Spillover Effects of Changes in the Global Trade Environment

Based on a reinterpretation of the ongoing reconfiguration of the global economic order as an era of “managed interdependence,” the study highlights declining trade openness and the restructuring of global value chains.
Identifies the macroeconomic transmission channels and impacts of trade barriers to assess structural vulnerabilities and opportunity factors in the Korean economy
Quantitatively estimates the effects of the U.S.–China trade dispute on Korea’s GDP and key industries, and proposes sustainable growth policies for Korea under a new, risk-dispersed global economic order

Potential Changes in the International Monetary System amid Fragmentation and the Expansion of Digital Finance

The study aims to review the U.S. dollar–centered international monetary system and propose alternatives through historical developments and theoretical debates.
Analyzes how recent global fragmentation, shifts in international asset allocation, and the evolution of digital finance—such as stablecoins and CBDCs—may affect changes in the international monetary system
Assesses the impact of expectation shocks related to changes in the international monetary system on global financial markets and proposes directions for Korea’s external economic policy

Changes in Factor Input Structures in Major Economies amid the Spread of AI

In this study, we aim to explain how the diffusion of AI reshapes countries’ factor input structures, considering cross-border mobility of labor and capital and capital–labor substitution.
Use of data and modeling to assess how AI advances in the United States and other advanced economies affect factor composition (shares of human and physical capital) in AI-exposed industries in other countries
Policy recommendations offered for Korea amid an anticipated restructuring of global production patterns.

Impacts of the Global Expansion of Industrial Policy on Trade and Investment

Recognizing a sharp rise in the number of industrial policy initiatives led by advanced economies (including the United States, the EU, and Japan), rather than developing countries,
The study identifies the key features of newly introduced industrial policies adopted in a competitive manner and analyzes their impacts on the economy and trade.
Also explores short-term policy responses and revisits the framework for Korea’s medium- to long-term trade policy.

Study on Strategies for Responding to Foreign Direct Investment from an Economic Security Perspective

Viewing foreign direct investment not merely as capital inflows but as a policy instrument for industrial, technological, and national security objectives,
This study analyzes security risks inherent in FDI inflows—such as technology leakage and supply chain dependence—and proposes directions for improving screening mechanisms and regulatory frameworks.
Compares institutional and governance frameworks in major economies and Korea to derive FDI protection policies tailored to Korea’s specific conditions

A Geoeconomic Analysis of the International Trade Environment and the Search for a New Trade Order

We organize the recent trend of trade policy being instrumentalized by geoeconomic considerations in the formulation of external economic policy, focusing on the United States, China, and other major neighboring economies.
Examine how major powers project influence and how countries’ anti-coercion policies shape changes in the international trade environment, and explore options for multilateral approaches or cooperation among like-minded countries.
Use an idea workshop in the form of a tabletop exercise with an expert focus group to define Korea’s strategic objectives and policy responses in the emerging international trade environment.

Analyzing Competitiveness in the AI Global Value Chain and Korea’s Participation Strategy

With major economies—including the United States and China—launching national AI strategies and announcing investments worth hundreds of trillions of won, and considering Korea’s limitations in budget, talent pool, and domestic market size, it is challenging for Korea to secure competitiveness across all stages of the AI global value chain (AI GVC).
In this study we will assess major economies’ AI competitiveness along the value chain and employ network analysis of trade, investment, patents, and academic publications to map stage- and country-level linkages in the AI GVC, identifying strategic nodes and bottlenecks.
The study also aims to set priority technology and market areas and identify targets for focused investment and cooperation, based on Korea’s comparative advantages by stage and the identified bottlenecks.

Political Landscape Behind U.S. and EU Economic Policies and Their Implications

[Political Landscape Analysis] As efforts to strengthen domestic industrial competitiveness and economic security policies become more complex—and political support increasingly fragmented across policy areas—understanding the political landscape behind policy formulation has emerged as a key task for identifying decision-making drivers.
[United States and EU] Given that the United States and the EU are major export markets for Korea and exert mutual influence on each other’s policies, an integrated analysis is needed to examine sector-specific factors shaping their economic security and supply chain policies, and to develop cooperation strategies vis-à-vis the United States and the EU.

A Study on the Drivers and Implications of Changes in China’s Innovation Competitiveness

The study uses a range of indices and statistical indicators to examine shifts in China’s innovation competitiveness, focusing on long-term trends and sector-specific features.
Analyzes China’s national innovation strategy and identifies key drivers of strengthened innovation competitiveness, including dynamics among innovation actors, financing, talent and education policies, and innovation clusters
Focuses on AI and robotics—where China’s innovation strategy is concentrated and spillovers are significant—to assess current competitiveness, support measures, and ecosystem characteristics
Evaluates implications for Korea in terms of U.S.–China competition over technology and standards, global supply chain restructuring, and changes in Korea–China economic relations, and draws policy implications

Assessing China’s Shift in Growth Strategy and Implications for Korea

Analyzes the drivers, key initiatives, outcomes, and limitations of China’s growth-strategy shifts across major periods, and examines the features and objectives of the shift under Xi Jinping
Assesses major policy agendas under Xi—consumption-led growth, innovation-led growth and industrial upgrading, green transition, and balanced regional development—by reviewing implementation, achievements, and constraints
Examines how China’s shift in growth strategy and related structural changes affect the Korean economy and draws implications for Korea’s economy and Korea–China relations

Current State of Korea–Japan Economic Security Cooperation and Key Challenges

Our study analyzes Japan’s economic security strategy since the launch of the second Trump administration, focusing on supply chain resilience and the promotion and protection of advanced technologies, and reviews the current state and challenges of Korea–Japan cooperation.
We identify potential areas for Korea–Japan cooperation on supply chains and propose concrete cooperation agendas.
The study also develops and proposes agendas for cooperation between Korea and Japan in advanced industries and technologies.

A Study on Strategies for Managing Geoeconomic Risks on the Korean Peninsula

Examination of how geoeconomic risks stemming from North Korea affect Korea’s financial markets, proposing a vision of a “manageable Korean Peninsula” along with strategies to achieve it
Empirical analysis on the impact of North Korea–related risks on Korea’s financial markets and the mitigating effects of engagement-oriented North Korea policies
The study draws strategies and policy tasks across diplomacy, security, economy, and institutions to achieve a “manageable Korean Peninsula,” based on analyses of Korea’s diplomatic experience, the strategic environment, and unification-related institutional and fiscal frameworks.

Cooperation Strategies by Development Pathways in Global South Countries

Derives Korea’s country- and region-specific cooperation strategies for the Global South amid rapidly changing global economic conditions and analyzes their implications
While previous studies largely focused on broad cooperation directions in response to the rise of the Global South, this study groups Global South countries by development pathways and proposes more structured cooperation approaches.

Structural Challenges in Southeast Asian Economies and Korea’s Strategic Cooperation Directions

Theoretical and empirical models and field research conducted to confirm the need for changes in growth strategies among latecomer economies in response to shifts in the external environment
Analyzes the challenges facing major Southeast Asian economies and the supply chain, industrial, and demographic and labor utilization strategies available to them
Proposes Korea–Southeast Asia cooperation measures based on the study’s findings

Analyzing Labor Market Mismatches in India and Industrial Workforce Cooperation Options

Despite India’s abundant labor supply, structural labor market mismatches persist, with educated unemployment coexisting alongside shortages of skilled workers. This study seeks to analyze these imbalances empirically.
The study quantitatively examines workforce mismatches in the labor market, identifies structural causes on both the demand and supply sides, and complements the analysis with qualitative assessments based on case studies of local firms to provide a more comprehensive view.
Going beyond a diagnosis of current conditions, the study provides foundational evidence for addressing workforce-related risks embedded in expanding Korea–India industrial cooperation—particularly in semiconductors, electronics, automobiles, and renewable energy—and to support Korean firms’ market entry strategies and the government’s industrial workforce cooperation policies.

Positioning Central American Countries as Forward Bases for Exports to the United States: Opportunities and Constraints amid the Restructuring of North American Supply Chains

As the renegotiation of the USMCA for extension in July 2026 is expected to trigger a restructuring of North American supply chains, and as economic cooperation with some Central American countries may expand under a second Trump administration, there is a need to prepare strategies for these scenarios.
In this study we examine potential outcomes of the USMCA renegotiation, prospects for building a new Americas supply chain, the opportunities and constraints for Central American countries to serve as forward export bases to the United States, and policy responses for Korea.
The study envisions risk diversification beyond Mexico for U.S.-bound exports in selected low–value-added industries, the development of a Korea-led supply chain reflecting local demand in Latin America, and the design of Korea-style strategies linking development cooperation with trade policy.

A Study on Innovative Financing Mechanisms for Climate Change Response in Africa

Africa is expected to face growing difficulties in mobilizing climate finance due to a combination of factors, including reductions in development assistance from major donors, declining public investment driven by rising government debt burdens, and lower foreign investment amid slowing growth in key economic partners such as Europe and China.
This study reviews innovative climate financing approaches by type to reduce reliance on official development assistance (ODA) and support sustainable development in developing countries with underdeveloped financial systems.
It also proposes reforms to financing mechanisms to scale up innovative climate finance tailored to Africa’s fiscal conditions and institutional capacity, alongside policy and institutional improvements, region-specific cooperation strategies, and policy recommendations to strengthen Korea’s role in global climate governance.

Russia’s Far East and Arctic Development Strategy under Putin’s Fifth Term and Policy Implications

Russia’s Far East and Arctic regions are emerging as new geopolitical and geoeconomic hubs, driven by natural resource development and the growth potential of Arctic shipping routes.
Development of the Far East and Arctic under Putin’s fifth term occupies a central place in Russia’s national development strategy, serving as a new driver of economic growth and expanded geopolitical influence.
This highlights the need for Korea to undertake systematic preparations to pursue cooperation with Russia on Far East and Arctic development, with a view to restoring bilateral relations and securing new growth engines

A Study on Strategies to Expand Participation in International Organization Procurement Markets

Diagnoses the gap between Korea’s financial contributions to international organizations and its relatively low procurement contract awards, and provides empirically grounded evidence to support a more strategic approach to international organization procurement markets
Uses the ADB procurement market as a case study to quantitatively analyze Korean firms’ contract performance and international collaboration structures, and derives cooperation strategies to strengthen procurement competitiveness
Empirically examines how participation in KOICA procurement affects domestic firms’ export performance and overseas market entry, and develops policy recommendations to strengthen linkages between ODA policy and industrial policy

Rise of Nationalism and Development Cooperation: Reconfiguration of ODA Policies among Major Donor Countries and Implications

This study aims to analyze how the strengthening of nationalism in major donor countries—reflected in shifts in external economic policy directions driven by domestic political changes—has affected international development cooperation.
Changes in development cooperation policy orientations among major donors and examined, together with shifts in substitutability and complementarity across countries, drawing implications for bilateral and multilateral development cooperation and for enhancing the effectiveness and sustainability of Korea’s ODA.
Micro-level and project-level data are used to empirically estimate the impacts of changes in major donors’ development cooperation policies on recipient countries’ economies and perceptions.

Challenges in Establishing Global AI Norms and Korea’s Policy Responses

Reviews the context and specific challenges facing global AI norm-setting (Chapter 2), compares AI norms among leading countries, middle powers, and the Global South (Chapter 3), and identifies achievements and challenges in international discussions across multilateral organizations, regional frameworks, intergovernmental channels, and private-sector initiatives (Chapter 4)
Proposes directions and policy implications for global AI norm-setting and for Korea, including positioning in global norms, agenda leadership across cooperation channels, public–private collaboration, linkages between norms and industry (overseas expansion), and integrated packages combining norms and development cooperation