Why non-Korean academics can't help but praise South Korea

Angling for the next research grant, fellowship, or invitation… Be sure to praise Korea!

South Korea comes across as the darling of non-Korean academics. From scholarly articles to international conferences, South Korea’s political and diplomatic maneuvers are showered with glowing accolades. It’s as if every foreign academic is competing in an unspoken game of "Who can praise Seoul the most?"

Is South Korea’s political and diplomatic success really that spotless, or are these scholars just angling for their next research grant, fellowship, or invitation to a fancy event at one of those swank hotels around City Hall?

Sure, South Korea has achieved impressive things, but the level of uncritical adoration it receives often feels less like rigorous analysis and more like a strategic career move wrapped in a veneer of intellectual admiration. Beneath the layers of compliments and buzzwords about "resilience" and "diplomatic finesse" lies a more cynical reality: sometimes, it pays—literally and figuratively—to stay on South Korea’s good side.

Let’s dive into why so many non-Korea…