Junotane

My name is Jeffrey Robertson, aka Junotane. On this site, I write on foreign policy, diplomacy and the Korean Peninsula.

As an advisory warning, it’s direct, no holds barred, cutting commentary from in-country. It may offend. There’s no government baloney, no corporate cream, and no thinktank spruiking. Just free-thinking insight - commentary, analysis and fiction.

From here you can head on over to read About Junotane, including subscriptions and contact details; or you can head straight to the Writing section where you will find Analysis, Commentary, and Fiction on the Korean Peninsula and the the region.

Thanks for visiting and remember: be thankful, be nice, and help people - life is short :)

Marginal increase doesn’t solve South Korea’s demographic crisis

Significance: South Korea’s demographic crisis is the defining challenge of its economic, social and potentially security landscape.

2025 03 06

Is Sisyphus the North Korea watcher happy?

Every North Korea Watcher sooner or later questions what they do.There’s the relentless routine of reading write-ups on North Korea, scanning academic dribble for insight, and dissecting the latest KCNA image. They see highly respected and feted North Korea Watchers rehashing the same crap year after year, and they know that their own ideas will never be heard beyond two graduate students and a dyslexic professor who ended up in the wrong room at an academic conference.

2025 02 28

South Korea’s continuing political extremism

Significance. South Korea is experiencing a surge in political extremism among its youth, driven by economic frustration, social disillusionment, and digital radicalization.

2025 02 27

Germany and Europe’s political divide as a lesson for Korea

2025 02 25

North Korean troops when the Ukraine conflict ends

As the war in Ukraine winds down (hopefully), attention will turn to what happens to the foreign contingents who joined the fight—particularly North Korea’s troops deployed in support of Russian forces.

2025 02 22

The star North Korea defector and formulaic narratives

There are a small number of North Korean defectors who make it onto the global stage. Some of them, don’t just tell their stories—they tell the right kind of stories.

2025 02 21

The American threat to South Korea’s conservatives

At conservative protests in South Korea, it is not uncommon to see demonstrators waving American flags - or even (in)famously dressing up as Captain America. The symbolic act underscores a deep-rooted belief that the United States is an unwavering ally, committed to South Korea, and acting in its interests.

2025 02 19

Limited debate and extremist ideology clouds Korea’s position on Taiwan

Significance. South Korea’s lack of discussion on a Taiwan conflict leaves its leadership and public unprepared. As a key U.S. ally and regional player, South Korea will face pressure to take a position.

2025 02 19

Gen-Z disaffection to increase as foreign investors enter rental market

Significance. Foreign investors are rapidly expanding into South Korea’s monthly rental market, which will exacerbate Gen-Z’s existing frustrations with housing affordability. Traditionally reliant on jeonse—a long-term deposit-based rental system—young Koreans now face rising monthly rents as jeonse options dwindle.

2025 02 17

Tariffs present challenge to ROKUS relationship

Significance. The imposition of tariffs under President Donald Trump threatens the stability of the South Korea-U.S. relationship, which relies heavily on mutual economic and security cooperation.

2025 02 16