Between October 2016 and April 2017, more than 17 million South Koreans took to the streets to demand the resignation of their President over a corruption scandal involving the government. Without a single arrest or casualty, the 2016-2017 candlelight protests paved the way for a peaceful regime change in South Korea. In stark contrast to Korea’s past when pro-democracy protests had been crushed by armed forces, in 2017, South Korean people have ensured a peaceful and orderly transition of...

Thanks to the widespread popularity of K-pop and K-drama, more and more people take an interest in Korean history and culture. Watching Korean historical TV dramas and films is a highly entertaining way to gain knowledge of Korean history. This book is written as a guide to navigate through a host of historical Korean dramas. Separating facts from fiction, it provides a historical context of some events dramatized in films and TV series. Each chapter begins with an overview of major politi...

The IMF and WTO: Geopolitical Tools?Global governance organizations such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Word Trade Organization (WTO) serve geopolitical objectives of powerful member states. From credit lending to free trade, geopolitical interests of powerful member states determine policy outcomes of the IMF and WTO. In response to power inequality embedded in global governance organizations, emerging economies such as the BRICS nations have established alternat...