Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs, Douglas Research Advisory

Douglas Kim

Nearly 30 years of experience in the Korean/Asian equity research. Major sectors coverage include the following:
- Technology 
- Consumer 
- Special Situations/Deep Value Plays
- Tender Offers/M&As
- Holdcos/Stubs
- Asian Unicorns/Private Companies

Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs

Poverty/Economy/Hong Kong/UK-China/EU-China

Cross Asset Strategy

Multiple Countries / Cross Asset Strategy

<ul>
<li>Economic Prosperity Network (EPN) is a recent terminology that will likely gain more prominence in the coming months and years, especially as it relates to the strategic importance of how South Korea aligns itself between the two global superpowers - the United States and China. </li>
<li>
<a href="https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20200520011000325" target="_blank" rel="noopener">EPN</a> refers to an initiative started by the United States to diversify global supply chains away from China. The EPN is a clear contrast to China's "Belt &amp; Road Initiative," which has tried to bring China, other parts of Asia, Europe, and the Middle East closer together to eventually better serve China's long term strategic interests.</li>
<li>Unlike his predecessors including President Park Geun-Hye and Lee Myung-Bak who had very pro-U.S. foreign policies, President Moon has been "sitting on the fence" with regards to trying to not upset either China or the United States. In fact, one could make a strong case that in the past three years, President Moon has been a lot more pro-China than his two previous predecessors. Given this precedent, it is highly unlikely for President Moon to order the South Korean government to join the EPN, in our view. The more likely scenario is for President Moon to try to postpone any kind of formal decision to join the EPN.</li>
</ul>


Economic Prosperity Network (EPN) is a recent terminology that will likely gain more prominence in the coming months and years, especially as it relates to the strategic importance of how South Korea aligns itself between the two global superpowers - the United States and China. 

EPN refers to an initiative started by the United States to diversify global supply chains away from China. The EPN is a clear contrast to China's "Belt &amp; Road Initiative," which has tried to bring China, other parts of Asia, Europe, and the Middle East closer together to eventually better serve China's long term strategic interests.
Unlike his predecessors including President Park Geun-Hye and Lee Myung-Bak who had very pro-U.S. foreign policies, President Moon has been "sitting on the fence" with regards to trying to not upset either China or the United States. In fact, one could make a strong case that in the past three years, President Moon has been a lot more pro-China than his two previous predecessors. Given this precedent, it is highly unlikely for President Moon to order the South Korean government to join the EPN, in our view. The more likely scenario is for President Moon to try to postpone any kind of formal decision to join the EPN.


Trump Wants South Korea to Join EPN - Will Moon Agree?