Diplomatic-Pragmatic Korea and Northeast Asia
The de-escalation of tensions between Japan and South Korea in 2020 has brought the focus back to economic cooperation. Even as the dispute over travel restrictions was rebuffed and bilateral economic initiatives were continued or grew.
Brown (2013) was the first to document pragmatic resistance among L2 Korean learners. His study found that a variety of factors such as personal identity and beliefs can affect a learner's practical choices.
The role of pragmatism in South Korea's foreign policy
In a time of change and flux, South Korea's foreign policy must be bold and clear. It should be ready to defend its principles and work towards achieving the public good globally including climate change as well as sustainable development and maritime security. It should be able to demonstrate its influence globally through providing tangible benefits. But, it should do so without compromising its stability within the country.
This is an extremely difficult task. Domestic politics are a key obstacle to South Korea's international policy and it is crucial that the presidential leadership manages these constraints domestically in ways that boost confidence in the direction of the nation and accountability of foreign policy. It's not an easy task as the structures that support the formulation of foreign policy are varied and complex. This article focuses on the challenges of overcoming these domestic constraints to create a coherent foreign policy.
The current administration's focus on cooperation that is pragmatic with similar partners and allies will likely be a positive step for South Korea. This strategy can help in defending against the emergence of progressive criticisms against GPS' values-based foundation and open the way for Seoul to interact with non-democratic nations. It will also strengthen Seoul's relationship with the United States, which remains an essential partner in the advancement of the liberal democratic world order.
Seoul's complicated relationship with China - the country's largest trading partner - is yet another problem. The Yoon administration has made significant progress in building multilateral security structures, such as the Quad. However, it must be mindful of its need to maintain economic relations with Beijing.
Long-time observers of Korean politics have pointed to ideology and regionalism as the primary factors in the political debate, younger voters are less influenced by this outlook. This new generation has an increasingly diverse worldview and its beliefs and worldview are changing. This is reflected in the recent rise of K-pop and the growing global appeal of its cultural exports. It's too early to know if these factors will affect the future of South Korea's foreign policy. 프라그마틱 환수율 are worth watching.
South Korea's pragmatic and diplomatic approach to North Korea
South Korea faces a delicate balance between the need to confront rogue state threats and the desire to stay out of being drawn into power games among its big neighbors. It also needs to take into account the trade-offs between values and interests, especially when it comes down to supporting human rights activists and working with non-democratic countries. In this respect, the Yoon government's diplomatic and pragmatic approach to North Korea is an important departure from past governments.
As one of the most active pivotal countries in the world, South Korea needs to engage in multilateral engagements as a means of positioning its self within global and regional security networks. In its first two years the Yoon Administration has actively bolstered bilateral ties and has increased participation in minilaterals as well as multilateral forums. These initiatives include the first Korea-Pacific Islands Summit as well as the second Asia-Pacific Summit for Democracy.
These efforts could appear to be small steps, but they have positioned Seoul to leverage its newfound partnerships to promote its views on regional and global issues. The 2023 Summit for Democracy, for example, emphasized the importance and necessity of a democratic reform and practice to address challenges such as corruption, digital transformation, and transparency. The summit announced $100 million in development cooperation projects that will help support democracy, including anti-corruption as well as the e-governance effort.
Additionally the Yoon government has been actively engaging with organizations and countries with similar values and priorities to support its vision of the creation of a global security network. These include the United States, Japan, China, the European Union, ASEAN members and Pacific Island nations. These actions may be criticized by progressives as lacking in pragmatism or values, however, they can assist South Korea build a more robust foreign policy toolkit when dealing with rogue states like North Korea.
The emphasis placed on values by GPS however it could put Seoul in a difficult position when it has to decide between interests and values. The government's concern for human rights and its refusal to deport North Koreans who are accused of committing crimes could lead it, for example to put a premium on policies that are undemocratic in Korea. This is especially true if the government has to deal with an issue similar to that of Kwon Pyong, an activist from China. Chinese activist who sought asylum in South Korea.
South Korea's trilateral partnership with Japan
In the face of global uncertainty and a volatile world economy, trilateral collaboration between South Korea and Japan is an optimistic signpost in Northeast Asia. Although the three countries share a security concern with North Korea's nuclear threat, they also share a strong economic stake in establishing safe and secure supply chains and expanding trade opportunities. The three countries' resumption in their highest-level meeting every year is a clear indication that they want to encourage more economic integration and cooperation.
However, the future of their alliance will be tested by a number of issues. The question of how to deal with the issue of human right violations committed by the Japanese or Korean militaries in their respective colonies is most pressing. The three leaders agreed to cooperate to address these issues, and to develop a common procedure for preventing and reprimanding human rights violations.
Another major issue is how to keep in balance the competing interests in East Asia, especially when it comes to maintaining international stability and addressing China's increasing influence in the region. In the past trilateral security cooperation was often hampered by disputes over historical and territorial issues. Despite the recent signs of a more pragmatic stability, these disputes remain latent.
For instance, the summit was briefly overshadowed by North Korea's announcement that it will attempt to launch a satellite during the summit, and by Japan's decision to extend its military exercises with South Korea and the U.S., which drew protests from Beijing.
It is possible to revive the trilateral partnership in the current situation however, it will require initiative and cooperation of President Yoon and Premier Kishida. If they fail to do so, the current era of trilateral cooperation may only be a brief respite from an otherwise rocky future. In the long run If the current trend continues the three countries will end up at odds with respect to their respective security interests. In such a scenario, the only way for the trilateral relationship to endure will be if each country can overcome its own domestic obstacles to peace and prosperity.
South Korea's trilateral cooperation with China
The Ninth China, Japan, and Korea Trilateral Summit concluded this week with the leaders of South Korea and Japan signing numerous tangible and significant outcomes. They include the Joint Declaration of the Summit, a Statement on Future Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response and a Joint Vision on Trilateral Intellectual Property Cooperation. These documents are notable for laying out lofty goals which, in some cases, run counter to Seoul and Tokyo's cooperation with the United States.
The goal is to establish a framework for multilateral cooperation that benefits all three countries. The projects will include the use of low-carbon technologies, innovative solutions for a aging population, and joint responses to global issues like climate change, food security, and epidemics. It would also concentrate on strengthening people-to-people exchanges and creating a trilateral innovation collaboration center.
These efforts would aid in ensuring stability in the region. South Korea must maintain a positive relationship with China and Japan. This is especially crucial when it comes to regional issues like North Korean provocations, tensions in Taiwan Strait and Sino-American rivalry. A deteriorating relationship with one of these nations could result in instability in another which could negatively impact trilateral collaboration with both.
It is crucial however that the Korean government makes a clear distinction between bilateral and trilateral engagement with either of these countries. A clear separation can help reduce the negative impact a strained relationship between China and Japan can have on trilateral relations.
China's primary goal is to get support from Seoul and Tokyo in opposition to any protectionist policies by the new U.S. Administration. This is evident in China's focus on economic cooperation. Additionally, Beijing is likely hoping to stop security cooperation with the United States from undermining the importance of its own trilateral military and economic relations with these East Asian allies. This is a strategic decision to counter the increasing threat from U.S. protectionism and create an opportunity to combat it with other powers.