The Korean peninsula lies at the centre of landmark geopolitical developments in the early 21st century.

North Korea’s nuclear weapons programme and tensions between the two Koreas serve as stark reminders of the fragility of regional and global orders.

South Korea has become a major global economic player and an important actor in development assistance.

Additionally, Korean culture (including pop culture) has surged to global popularity over the past decade and exported across the globe.

Understanding Korean culture, history, current political and economic developments and international relations is therefore crucial to make sense of key processes in global security, economics and politics in Asia and beyond.