Abstract

The dominance of new regionalist economic geographers in leading progressive regional economic research waned around 2010, marking a noticeable hiatus in progressive theoretical advancements within Anglophone academia. This change implies a significant challenge for South Korean progressive regionalists: the conventional approach of adapting and applying Anglophone theories to Korean contexts is no longer tenable. Yet, this challenge presents a unique opportunity for the advancement of regional economic studies in South Korea. The reduced workload on deciphering and integrating Anglophone theories allows for more focused, internal dialogues among South Korean scholars. This environment is conducive to developing innovative, progressive regional theories that are deeply rooted in the empirical realities of Korea's regional economies. To realise this potential, a critical reassessment of the theoretical and methodological foundations previously embraced by progressive regional researchers is needed.