• The Southeast Asian review
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.145-171
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• 2018

Laos' 2017 is a year of political "stagnation" and economic "change". In the political arena, despite the achievements such as the improvement of the corruption perception index (CPI), it is necessary to watch the progress of the reform. Diplomatically, the influence of China is expected to increase further. In particular, since November 2017, Xi Jinping's visit to Laos is expected to strengthen the framework of cooperation between the economic corridor and Lanchang-Mekong Cooperation Meeting. And Laos continued to have friendly relations with other neighboring countries, the ASEAN countries. However, the issue of the Laos-Cambodian border issue following the general election in Cambodia may recur. The economic sector maintained a high growth rate due to capital inflows from the construction of large infrastructures and the favorable tourism industry, but structural problems such as deficits in the fiscal and current account should be resolved. Korea and Laos discussed the comprehensive cooperation between the two countries through the Mekong Senior Officials' Meeting in March 2017 and the Ministerial Meeting of the Korean-Lao Foreign Minister in September 2017. Laos is Korea's eighth ODA aid (grant), and ODA will become an important diplomatic cooperation channel between the two countries in the future. In the economic relationship, the trade sector is on a declining trend, but investment and human exchanges are steadily increasing.

• International Area Studies Review
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.341-367
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• 2009

This study is aimed to analyse the performances and market positions of Korean products at the Central and South America where recently come into the spotlight for the emerging markets with FTA. The main problems were not the communication or geographical distance but the faint Central and South American specific support of the government and indifferent market approaching concepts. New cultural merchandising approach, Korean enterprise can maintain the competitive advantage against with chinese low products which is main opponent in this market. In order to achieve the close cultural approach, Korean enterprise should use the 'elite groups' in the Central and South america whom are multi cultural leaders in there and also needs to use the Korean CQO merchandisers in the Central and South America. And the new FTA with rest of countries in the Central and South America more aggressively will be the inmost objet of maintaining competitive advantage and we could change the concept of the this market from 'big indifferent market' to 'strategic market' as a hopeful market for achieve the diversification of export.