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 :)

Rubio-Cho meeting highlights illusion of shared interests

The 15 February meeting between U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul was little more than a diplomatic ritual devoid of substance. Although dressed up as a high-level reaffirmation of U.S.-South Korea ties, the meeting delivered nothing new.

2025 02 16

Korea, Japan, China foreign ministers meeting

The proposed trilateral meeting between the foreign ministers of China, Japan, and South Korea on 22 March in Tokyo represents a notable step in regional diplomacy.

2025 02 14

We are living in a simulation and Korea’s at the center

Now, if we are, in fact, living in a simulation and this simulation is created by advanced beings that share similarities to ourselves, then the question then becomes: What is the simulation for?

2025 02 12

South Korea’s household debt gangrene

South Korea’s growing household debt has reached levels that present a significant risk in the context of increasing global economic uncertainty. Household debt in South Korea is among the highest in the world relative to GDP, reflecting years of low-interest rates and easy access to credit.

2025 02 10

Humanities in the age of AI

For years, critics have lamented the decline of the humanities, particularly within the framework of the corporate university.

2025 02 04

Current candidate choice augurs poorly for South Korea’s political future

South Korea's political landscape is marred by a history of contentious candidate selection processes, leading to public disillusionment and political instability.

2025 02 04

Trump’s press conference as a reminder of ‘fire and fury’

The recent press conference following the tragic midair collision near Washington, D.C., provides a glimpse into a crisis management style we’ve all forgotten.

2025 01 31

South Korea’s tourisn and hospitality sector faces challenges

In South Korea, two recent airline accidents have intensified concerns over aviation safety, raising questions about the reliability of domestic carriers. As South Korea positions itself as a major travel hub in Northeast Asia, incidents that undermine trust in air travel directly affect its tourism sector.

2025 01 31

South Korea’s perfect storm and no one’s at the helm

South Korea stands at a precarious crossroads where economic challenges, security concerns, and shifting diplomatic alliances are converging in ways that could define its trajectory for years to come.

2025 01 30

Lies, damned lies, and South Korean opinion polls

Opinion polls are big in Korea. You can find one to support your views, no matter what they are. Now, this is concerning in itself, and from what I’ve seen, it pays to be pretty skeptical about polls when it comes to gauging public sentiment.

2025 01 24