Journal of Global and Area Studies Vol. 9 No. 2
Table of Contents
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Contents |
| Released |
June 30, 2025 |
Articles
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The ASEAN Community and the Digital Economy: Promoting Regional Connectivity and Trans-Pacific Integration |
p.1-18 |
| Author |
Goh Hong Lip |
| Released |
June 30, 2025 |
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- Abstract
- Initiatives such as the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA), the
Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and Malaysia’s ASEAN
Chairmanship in 2025 (MyASEAN2025) have contributed to advancing the ASEAN
Community’s digital economy. These frameworks work to improve regional
connectivity. They also aim to facilitate smooth cross-border trade, align regulations
and position ASEAN as a central participant in the trans-Pacific digital economy. At
the core of this transformation lies the rapid uptake of QR-based cashless payment
systems, which promote financial inclusion. These systems support the tourism sector
by shifting away from reliance on major global currencies through Local Currency
Settlement (LCS). They enable seamless transactions across ASEAN, with possible
extension throughout the Asia-Pacific region. Despite this progress, regulatory
fragmentation continues to pose difficulties. Differences in digital infrastructure and
cybersecurity threats also remain, requiring coordinated policy measures. This work
focuses on the changing landscape of the ASEAN digital economy. It examines mobile
payments, cross-border digital transactions and the current governance environment
to assess their impact on the region’s integration into the global digital economy.
Realizing ASEAN’s digital potential and fostering growth within the region and beyond
depends on effective policy coordination and the adoption of innovative financial
technologies. By using these tools, the community may strengthen its role in shaping
the Asia-Pacific’s digital future.
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Why does ASEAN Centrality (still) Define Regional Cooperation? |
p.19-47 |
| Author |
Tonny Dian Effendi |
| Released |
June 30, 2025 |
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- Abstract
- For decades, ASEAN has played a central role in regional cooperation in the
Asia-Pacific, fostering dialogue and facilitating agreements through key platforms such
as the East Asia Summit (EAS) and the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF). However, the
region’s geopolitical landscape is undergoing significant changes. Intensifying great
power competition, emerging multilateral initiatives, and shifting strategic priorities
are challenging ASEAN’s centrality and the effectiveness of its established mechanisms.
This paper examines the continued significance of ASEAN centrality in the Indo-Pacific
regional architecture. Rather than adopting a material-rational perspective, this study
employs a Wendtian theoretical lens to explore ASEAN’s potential role as a regional
identity entrepreneur. The findings suggest that ASEAN possesses the capability to
function as a principal entity in the development of a unified regional identity, owing
to its experience and proficiency in fostering interdependence, a collective sense of
destiny, uniformity, and moderation among external stakeholders. Additionally, the
values that are both constructed and inherited, which form the foundation of ASEAN
identity―a crucial component of ASEAN centrality―are congruent with and
acknowledged by external parties. Consequently, at a conceptual level, ASEAN is
positioned to broaden its collective identity beyond its conventional domain in
Southeast Asia.
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MIGRATION AND GEOPOLITICS: STUDY OF THE ROLES OF INDONESIAN LABOR MIGRATION IN TAIWAN’s NEW SOUTHBOUND POLI CY AND SOUTH KOREA’s NEW SOUTHERN POLICY |
p.49-79 |
| Author |
Yufita Ng , Tonny Dian Effendi |
| Released |
June 30, 2025 |
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- Abstract
- Taiwan’s New Southbound Policy and South Korea’s New Southern Policy are flagship
foreign policies emphasizing economic cooperation with Southeast Asian countries
with a people-centered focus. While most discussions on these policies highlight
economic perspectives, the role of labor migration within them is often overlooked.
This study examines the role of labor migration in regional economic cooperation,
using the case of Indonesian labor migration in Taiwan and South Korea. The study
finds that labor migration plays a critical role in both economic and socio-cultural
relations, fostering not only economic cooperation and integration but also
people-to-people relations. However, the management of labor migration presents
challenges to this regional economic cooperation. Furthermore, while the two policies
aim to avoid direct geopolitical associations, they are inevitably influenced by regional
dynamics, and in this context, labor migration plays a significant role. By emphasizing
the role of labor migration in these two cases, this study encourages the integration
of labor migration into discussions on these economic flagship foreign policies.
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Transition in ASEAN Trade with CPTPP |
p.81-111 |
| Author |
Kunhyui Kim , Hyun Min |
| Released |
June 30, 2025 |
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- Abstract
- Recent literature acknowledges the role of the mega-regional trade agreements which
focus on trade facilitation among member countries. However, the agreement also
brings forth complexities that could disrupt existing trade dynamics and require
member nations to adapt to higher standards of governance and market practices.
While the economic impact of CPTPP may be similar to the past efforts of economic
integration on international trade, at the same time, the economic impact of CPTPP
is also dubious with complex progress such as rules of origin and also with information asymmetry from a tangled noodle bowl effects. We aim to evaluate the role of CPTPP on exports and imports of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) economies. For the ASEAN, the CPTPP holds particular relevance, offering opportunities and challenges that will shape the region’s economic trajectory in the coming decades. ASEAN, a regional organization known for its economic integration and collaborative efforts among its member states, is poised to benefit from the CPTPP’s framework of liberalized trade, regulatory alignment, and enhanced market access. Our results indicate that trade diversion is trivial while trade creation occurred for majority of the ASEAN member states regardless of the CPTPP membership. Furthermore, CPTPP members benefitted from backward participation in Global Value Chains (GVCs).
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Provincial Squabbles, Imperial Entanglements: The Case of Fray Lorenzo de León, 1596-1606 |
p.113-130 |
| Author |
Jeremy Gerald F. Clemente |
| Released |
June 30, 2025 |
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- Abstract
- In 1605, a series of letters was sent to King Philip III of Spain by the Augustinians
in Manila. It contained a series of complaints and allegations against their own
provincial, fray Lorenzo de León. The accusations ranged from election manipulation
to the usurpation of authority. What stood out from these letters was the extreme
antagonism exhibited by the religious who hailed from Spain towards their brothers
who came from Mexico. These religious were characterized by their peninsular peers
as either incompetent or of dubious character. To complicate matters, fray Lorenzo
de León was accused of having preferential treatment for these religious.
This paper looks into the obscure figure of fray Lorenzo de León and how his case
provides a looking glass into the complex politics of the Spanish Empire during the
early years of colonization in the Philippines. It shows how the experience of a
religious provincial (microhistory) can be used to make sense of the larger world
of the Spanish Empire (macrohistory). Likewise, it reveals how local ecclesiastical
politics were closely intertwined and influenced by the larger dynamics within the
Spanish Empire. Competing actors exploited concepts such as limpieza de sangre
(purity of blood) and the patronato real (royal patronage) to further their respective
agendas. This paper concludes that events in the peripheries provide glimpses into
the larger dynamics within a transnational/transpacific empire. This paper hopes to
lay the foundation for similar studies on the religious orders found in other parts
of the Spanish Empire.
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Forged by Waves: Lingling-o and the Entangled Histories of Pacific Asia |
p.131-148 |
| Author |
Andre O. Magpantay |
| Released |
June 30, 2025 |
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- Abstract
- Maritime cities in Pacific Asia boast a rich history of trade and cultural exchange.
One significant artifact of this interconnected past is the lingling-o, an ancient
ornament found across maritime East and Southeast Asia. I examine this object
through contemporary curatorial perspectives, particularly Patrick Flores’s vision for
Tie a String Around the World, the Philippine Pavilion at the 56th Venice Biennale
(2015). Drawing from archaeological research and entangled histories (Burson 2003),
I align this method with Ivakhiv’s (2004) “three ecologies” framework as an art
historiographical methodology.
Within this framework, the lingling-o’s evolving materiality – such as jade and gold
– reveals enduring networks of exchange, migration, and cultural entanglement. It
becomes a symbol of contested histories of trade and expansion, as explored through
Flores’s curatorial framing and Victor Paz’s (2015) writings. My analysis highlights how
the trade routes that enabled the circulation of materials like jade position maritime
cities as dynamic hubs of connectivity and cultural production.
By tracing these interregional links, I argue that ancient artifacts like the lingling-o
are not static remnants but active agents in reimagining shared pasts and presents
– central to curatorial practice and the critical rethinking of identity, agency, and
regional belonging.
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Return Migration and Diaspora Entrepreneurship: Establishing and Managing the “Buenos Aires” Argentine Restaurants in Seoul, South Korea |
p.149-171 |
| Author |
Jin Suk Bae |
| Released |
June 30, 2025 |
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- Abstract
- This article explores the intersection of return migration, entrepreneurship, and reverse transnationalism through the case of Park Yu-joong, a Korean returnee from Argentina. Park immigrated to Argentina in 1981 and returned to the Republic of Korea in 2006. This research employs an oral life history approach to examine his migration trajectories and post-return entrepreneurial involvement in the Argentine restaurant business in Seoul. By broadening the discourse on generational dynamics among Korean returnees, the study shows that Park's motivations for return migration were related to new business ventures in the home country. Through his dining establishments, media coverage, and related social events, he served as a cultural broker, facilitating the flow of Argentine culture, including its culinary, wine, and tango cultures. Furthermore, the article highlights Park's ongoing transnational connections and engagement with the Korean-Argentine community in Buenos Aires and Seoul. Park has used the diverse economic, cultural, and social capital he acquired in Latin America in various ways, maintaining close relations with the “Sociedad Argentina de Corea” and the Argentine Embassy in Korea to foster a sense of community and promote Argentine culture to Korean society.
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Nhà Bè under the Silk Road's Imprint: A Strategic Trade Port for Regional Economic integration of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam |
p.173-192 |
| Author |
LE Thi Ngoc Diep , TRAN, Cao Boi Ngoc |
| Released |
June 30, 2025 |
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- Abstract
- Nestled at the confluence of inland rivers and maritime routes in southern Vietnam, Nhà
Bè District occupies a pivotal geostrategic position linking the Mekong Delta to the East
Sea and beyond. Historically overlooked in dominant port narratives, Nhà Bè has
functioned for centuries as a connective intermediary – facilitating flows of goods, people,
and cultural exchange along both domestic and transregional axes. Today, this role
continues under new configurations, as infrastructure projects such as the Hiệp Phước
Port Urban Area reinsert the district into the logic of global trade and urban expansion.
This paper contends that Nhà Bè’s strategic significance is neither accidental nor
entirely modern, but deeply rooted in the historical dynamics of the Maritime Silk
Road. Through critical engagement with historical records, spatial-economic analysis,
and theorizations of port urbanism, the study repositions Nhà Bè as a key, though
often underestimated, node in Vietnam's long-standing maritime economy. Rather
than treating development as a linear process, the paper foregrounds the layered
continuities between past and present, showing how Nhà Bè’s logistical, cultural, and
ecological functions have adapted over time.
Relying on interdisciplinary methods and secondary source materials, the study charts
Nhà Bè’s transformation from a decentralized fluvial settlement into an emergent model
for integrated, sustainable port urbanism in Southeast Asia. It also examines the district's
contemporary challenges ranging from environmental precarity to socio-spatial
inequality, arguing for a development approach that honors historical memory while
promoting inclusive and context-sensitive growth. In doing so, the research contributes
to wider scholarly debates on how peripheral geographies can inform sustainable
infrastructure planning and regional economic integration in the Global South.
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A Study on trained human resources in Ho Chi Minh City and three provinces of Southern Vietnam |
p.193-210 |
| Author |
Ho Quoc Bang , Nguyen Ngoc Tho , Nguyen Phuong Thao , Pham Hoang Uyen , Luc Anh Duy , Hoang Thi Hanh , Tran Thi To Uyen, Tran Chau Huan, Nguyen Tan Tu |
| Released |
June 30, 2025 |
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- Abstract
- Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), Ba Ria - Vung Tau (BRVT), Binh Duong (BD), and Dong
Nai (DN) provinces are the four pillars of Vietnam’s key economic zone in the Southern
region. In 2022, the percentage of GRDP for each province compared to the total
GRDP of Vietnam is as follow: HCMC (15.51%), DN (4.56%), BD (4.81%), and BRVT
(4.09%). This highly urbanized and industrialized region has experienced a strong
shift in its economic structure towards the development of manufacturing and
high-tech services. These directly affect the current situation and characteristics of
talent cultivation needs in various fields in the region and have become social
education issues worthy of attention in the current period.
This study uses a combination of theoretical analysis (logical reasoning) and
questionnaire surveys conducted on 1,779 survey units to analyze the demand and
supply characteristics of different types of professional labor in the studied region,
providing scientific and practical basis for Vietnam’s current and upcoming education
and training policies. Research shows that the private sector has a high demand for
highly skilled personnel in the fields of technology, engineering and economicsfinance,
while the professional training capacity of the on-site education system can
only meet the basic and minimum level of the above needs. The study shows the
current social status and development needs of contemporary Vietnamese society,
especially in the southern region, and raises several issues that need to be improved
in the policy of cultivating high-quality human resources in the entire country.
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Fighting Under Communist Colours: A portrait of Viet Cong Soldiers in the Vietnam War |
p.211-235 |
| Author |
Hà Trọng Nghĩa |
| Released |
January 1, 2016 |
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- Abstract
- One of the primary factors contributing to the Democratic Republic of Vietnam’s
victory over the Republic of Vietnam in the Vietnam War (1955 - 1975) was the fighting
spirit of the North Vietnamese soldiers (also known as Viet Cong). This study employs
thematic analysis of the ‘Vietnam War Diaries,’ a collection of four volumes, each
exceeding 1,000 pages, written between 1965 and 1975 by soldiers from the North
to the South. The analysis investigates the integration of traditional values and
communist ideology among Viet Cong soldiers. The study identifies key characteristics
of Vietnamese communist soldiers: (1) perseverance in the pursuit of national
independence and socialism, (2) passion for combat and determination to overcome
challenges, (3) prioritization of collectivism and critique of individualism, and (4)
viewing membership in the Communist Party as a life purpose. These traits fostered
a combat-ready army with an indomitable fighting spirit, which was instrumental in
the communist victory in the Vietnam War.
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RECONNECTING THAI TOURISTS WITH KOREA: A LOGISTIC REGRESSION ANALYSIS OF BANGKOKIANS |
p.237-254 |
| Author |
Chokchai Chuateskhajorn , Ampinee Lapsomboondee |
| Released |
January 1, 2016 |
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- Abstract
- Currently, the number of Thai tourists traveling to Korea is not as high as it was
before the outbreak of COVID-19, which may have a negative impact on Korea’s
tourism revenue. Therefore, this study aims to examine which demographic tourism
factors (Attractions, Amenities, Accessibility, Ancillary Services, and Announcements)
can be used to predict and stimulate the decision-making process of Thai tourists
to visit Korea. The study was conducted in Bangkok, where the population has a
higher consumption capacity for travel compared to other regions. Questionnaires
were used to gather data from November to December 2024 with a sample of 385
Bangkokian travelers who used to and never traveled to Korea. Binary logistic
regression analysis was employed to test hypotheses regarding correlation, influence,
and demographic differences in travel decisions.
The results show that gender, educational level, occupation, and income are
demographic factors affecting Bangkokian tourists’ decisions to travel to Korea with
a statistically significant level of 0.05 and 0.01. Female tourists have more probability
on decisions to visiting Korea than their male counterparts, accounting for 7.17%.
The higher educational level increases the probability of travel decisions to 8.87%.
Government and state enterprise officials have more possibilities to visit Korea,
accounting for 4.2%, and Bangkokians with higher incomes are more prone to travel
to Korea. In terms of tourism factors, Amenities, Accessibility, and Ancillary Services
are influential factors in their travel decisions with a p-value less than 0.01. Tourists’
perceptions of Amenities and Accessibility augment the probability of going to Korea
at 10.47% and 10.44% respectively. However, their perceptions of Ancillary Services
show the opposite trend with a 9.03% decrease in journeys to Korea. By bringing
these results into tourism promotion policies, the Korean government may connect
Thai tourists with Korea again.
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Eiichi Shibusawa’s Views on Economics and Occupations: A focus on koueki (public interest) and shokubun (duty) |
p.255-271 |
| Author |
Yuichi Machida |
| Released |
June 30, 2025 |
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- Abstract
- This paper examines Eiichi Shibusawa’s discourse on economic and occupational
perspectives, discussing their significance in history and contemporary society through
a comprehensive analysis using historical sources. As a prominent businessman in
Meiji Japan, he pursued the concept of koueki (“public interest”) through education
and public welfare projects. However, there has been no diachronic study that
investigates how Shibusawa’s perspective on economics and occupations, centered
on “public interest” and shokubun (one’s duty or role), has changed.
Commerce had often been despised during the Edo period. However, he encouraged
the merchants of the Meiji period to pursue the “public interest” advocating that
they should fulfill their roles with diligence and morality. He was personally involved
in the founding or supporting of more than 500 companies, promoting open
management practices through the corporate system and supporting education in
commerce that fostered moral development.
After the establishment of capitalism in Japan, he criticized social inequality, urging
business leaders, young people, and the poor to fulfill their respective duties in society
and contribute to the “public interest”. His philosophy serves as the principle that
underpins Japan’s economic growth, and also asserts the necessity of “public interest”
in the face of modern neoliberalism.
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The 2025 “Great Recall Wave” and the Normative Crisis of Taiwan’s Democratic Processes |
p.273-291 |
| Author |
Li Weiming , Dongsoo Kim |
| Released |
June 30, 2025 |
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- Abstract
- In 2025, Taiwan’s “Great Recall Wave” targeted 58 legislators and one local executive
from the DPP, KMT, and TPP, revealing institutional dysfunction amid an increasingly
polarized political climate. The combination of low recall thresholds and intense
partisan mobilization led to widespread procedural irregularities—including forged
signatures, coerced participation, and endorsements by deceased individuals—
undermining the legitimacy of the recall process. The cases of Fu Kun-chi (傅崐萁),
Wu Szu-yao (吳思瑤), and Kao Hung-an (高虹安) illustrate how the recall mechanism
was appropriated for partisan purposes, departing from its intended function of public
accountability. This normative crisis is marked by deepening political polarization,
governance instability, and the erosion of social trust. To restore procedural integrity
and democratic resilience, proposed reforms include raising the petition threshold,
clearly defining legitimate grounds for recall, limiting recall frequency, and improving
the transparency of review processes.
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Bringing two world-system analysis’ methodologies to the discourse on East Asian Studies |
p.293-316 |
| Author |
Sung Hee Ru |
| Released |
June 30, 2025 |
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- Abstract
- In this study, the author examines various theoretical, methodological, historical, and
discursive perspectives on East Asian studies and points out the common
methodological limitation (lack of discussion on connecting East Asia and the
globalized system) of these perspectives. And as an alternative to this, this paper
will apply incorporating dynamics, a new global systemic methodology. Immanuel
Wallerstein’s world-systems methodology, which emphasizes only global dynamics,
has been criticized by researchers for being functionalist and holistic in that it does
not take into account the dynamic context of the elements within the world-systems.
As a methodological alternative to this, incorporating comparison and incorporating
dynamics focused on the interactions between the global dimension and the
underlying unit structures connected to the global dimension, i.e., regional order
systems, countries, regions, and actor dimensions, rather than the dynamics of the
global unit itself. Based on the two methodologies, this study aims to show how
East Asian studies can more clearly demonstrate the East Asian specificity and how
East Asia can be connected to other regions and further contextualized within the
larger global system.
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Two Perspectives on Spain: A Comparative Analysis of News Articles and Social Media Contents from Korean Portal Sites |
p.317-333 |
| Author |
Yoonji Jang , Gilberto Javier Cabrera Trimiño , Hoyoon Jung |
| Released |
June 30, 2025 |
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- Abstract
- This study investigates how Spain is variously framed within Korean society by
comparing Spain‑related news articles and blog posts published on the Naver and
Daum portal sites between January 2023 and December 2024. A total of 1,385 news
items and 1,155 blog posts were collected and processed with Textom; TF‑IDF
weighting identified all-important keywords, and bigram N‑gram analysis captured
recurrent phrase patterns. Guided by framing theory, results reveal a clear division
into two parts. Mainstream news employs episodic frames that spotlight Spain as
a venue for international triumphs—such as the Women’s World Cup—or crises—such
as flash‑flood disasters—thus presenting a fragmented, event‑driven national image.
Blogs, by contrast, adopt thematic, experience‑oriented frames: Barcelona, Seville, and
Madrid anchor narratives of travel planning, high-quality restaurants, and cultural
leisure, recasting Spain as a consumable tourism brand. These competing frames
co‑construct a hybrid but selective Korean perception of Spain, highlighting the
distinct agenda‑setting roles of institutional versus user‑generated media. The study
extends nation‑image research by integrating personalized platforms into the
analytical scope and demonstrates that computational text‑mining can uncover
contextual as well as quantitative insights. Limitations include reliance on two
domestic portals, a two‑year sampling window, and the absence of qualitative
audience data. Future work should widen platform coverage, employ mixed methods,
and conduct longitudinal and cross‑national comparisons to deepen understanding
of how diverse media ecologies negotiate foreign‑nation frames in the digital era.
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Spatial Diffusion of the Korean Lifestyle and Place Branding Driven by Cultural Consumption Scenes: A Case Study of Qingdao |
p.335-360 |
| Author |
Yu-shi Jin , Ning Wang , Wen-ting Zhou |
| Released |
January 1, 2016 |
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- Abstract
- With the deepening of Sino-Korean cultural exchanges and the rapid transformation
of urban consumption spaces, Qingdao has emerged as a key site for the localization
and normalization of Korean lifestyle practices in China. This study investigates the
diffusion of Korean-style consumption and its entanglement with local place branding,
drawing on perspectives from urban cultural geography and social space theory. The
research traces the formation logic, evolutionary trajectory, and governance
mechanisms of Korean lifestyle consumption spaces in Qingdao. Findings suggest
that these spaces have undergone a transformation from immigrant-driven cultural
reproduction to active adoption by local middle-class consumers, reflecting a spatial
mechanism of transnational cultural adaptation. The diffusion process is driven not
only by market dynamics and cultural identification but is also embedded within
institutional strategies and image-building efforts by local governments. Korean-style
consumption spaces in Qingdao have evolved beyond ethnic enclaves or exoticized
displays, becoming nodes of urban renewal, lifestyle reconstruction, and pluralistic
cultural governance. This paper argues that local governments should approach the
governance of cultural spaces through the lenses of aesthetic life, spatial practice,
and institutional embedding, in order to foster both cultural diversity and place
identity in urban development.
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Voting, Random Forest, and Gradient Boosting Ensemble Machine Learning Models and Learning Effects of Reading Classics |
p.361-381 |
| Author |
Kyung-Ae Ryu , Chae-Deug Yi |
| Released |
June 30, 2025 |
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- Abstract
- This study examines the satisfaction effect of classics learn course using deep learning
Ensemble models such as Voting, Random Forest, and Gradient Boosting models. The
following were the main findings of the comparison of their predictive abilities. First,
in the classification predictions of the necessity of classics learning courses, the
Ensemble models were sensitive to hyperparameters but generally provided higher
R-squared values compared to individual machine learning models. Second, in the
regression predictions of satisfaction, the Voting ensemble model showed a higher
R-squared and lower RMSE compared to individual deep learning models. Third, in
the Random Forest model, which made it the best model with the least risk of
overfitting if we chose the appropriate hyperparameters. Fourth, for the Gradient
Boosting model, by increasing the learning rate to 0.2 the R-squared values for the
evaluation dataset were higher, and the RMSE was lower, indicating that this setup
led to better predictions, showing that the necessity of classics learning course
increased after the course.
