Diplomatic-Pragmatic Korea and Northeast Asia
The diplomatic de-escalation of Japan-South Korea tensions in 2020 has refocused attention on economic cooperation. Despite the issue of travel restrictions has been rejected by the government and bilateral economic initiatives have continued or gotten more extensive.
Brown (2013) pioneered the documentation of resistance to pragmatics in L2 Korean learners. His research revealed that a myriad of factors such as identity and personal beliefs, can affect a learner's practical choices.
The role of pragmatism South Korea's foreign policy
In the midst of flux and change, South Korea's Foreign Policy needs to be bold and clear. It should be able to stand up for principles and pursue global public goods like sustainable development, climate change and maritime security. It must also be able to project its influence globally by delivering tangible benefits. However, it must do so without compromising the stability of its own economy.
This is a difficult task. South Korea's foreign policy is restricted by domestic politics. It is crucial that the leadership of the country is able to manage these internal constraints to increase confidence in the direction and accountability for foreign policy. It's not an easy task because the structures that facilitate foreign policy formation are diverse and complex. This article examines how to handle these domestic constraints to create a coherent foreign policy.
South Korea will likely benefit from the current government's emphasis on pragmatic cooperation with allies and partners who have the same values. This can help to counter the emergence of progressive criticisms against GPS' values-based foundation and create space for Seoul to interact with non-democratic nations. It can also strengthen the relationship with the United States which remains an essential partner in advancing an order of world democracy that is liberal and democratic.
Seoul's complicated relationship with China - the country's biggest trading partner - is a further issue. The Yoon administration has made significant progress in building multilateral security structures like the Quad. However it must balance this commitment with the need to maintain economic relations with Beijing.
Younger voters appear to be less attached to this view. The younger generation is more diverse, and its worldview and values are evolving. This is reflected in the recent growth of K-pop and the growing global appeal of its cultural exports. It is too early to determine whether these factors will shape the future of South Korea's foreign policy. It is worth keeping an eye on them.
South Korea's diplomatic-pragmatic approach towards North Korea
South Korea must strike a delicate balance in order to protect itself from rogue states while avoiding getting caught up in power battles with its big neighbors. It must also be aware of the balance between interests and values especially when it comes to supporting human rights activists and engaging with nondemocracies. In this respect the Yoon administration's diplomatic-pragmatic attitude towards North Korea is a significant departure from previous governments.
As one of the most active pivotal countries in the world, South Korea needs to engage in multilateral partnerships to position itself within regional and global security networks. In its first two-year tenure, the Yoon Administration has actively bolstered bilateral ties and expanded participation in minilaterals as well as multilateral forums. These initiatives include the first Korea-Pacific Islands Summit, and the second Asia-Pacific Summit for Democracy.
These actions may appear to be tiny steps, but they have enabled Seoul to build new partnerships to further promote its views regarding global and regional issues. The 2023 Summit for Democracy, for instance, highlighted the importance and necessity of democratic reform and practice to address challenges such as corruption, digital transformation, and transparency. The summit announced $100 million in development cooperation projects to support the democratic process, including anti-corruption and e-governance efforts.
The Yoon government has also engaged with other countries and organizations that share the same values and prioritizes to support its vision of an international network of security. These countries and organizations include the United States, Japan, China and the European Union, ASEAN members, and Pacific Island nations. These activities may have been criticized by progressives as lacking in pragmatism and values, but they can help South Korea build a more robust toolkit for foreign policy when dealing with rogue states like North Korea.
GPS's emphasis on values however it could put Seoul in a precarious position when it has to make a choice between values and interests. The government's concern for human rights and its refusal to deport North Koreans accused of crimes could cause to it, for example, to prioritize policies that are undemocratic in Korea. This is particularly true if the government has to deal with a situation like that of Kwon Pyong, the Chinese activist who sought asylum in South Korea.
South Korea's trilateral cooperation with Japan
In the midst of rising global uncertainty and a weak global economy, trilateral cooperation between South Korea, Japan, and China is a bright spot for Northeast Asia. The three countries share a shared security interest regarding the threat of nuclear war from North Korea, but they also share a strong economic concern over establishing a secure and safe supply chains and expanding trade opportunities. The return of their highest-level annual gathering is a clear signal that the three neighbors would like to encourage greater economic integration and co-operation.
The future of their relationship is, however, determined by a variety of factors. The question of how to handle the issue of human rights violations committed by the Japanese or Korean militaries in their respective colonies is most pressing. The three leaders agreed to work together to solve these issues and create a joint procedure for preventing and reprimanding human rights violations.
Another major issue is how to find a balance between 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 has frequently been stifled by disputes about territorial and historical issues. These disputes persist despite recent signs of a pragmatic stabilization.
프라그마틱 체험 was briefly overshadowed, for example, by North Korea's announcement it would launch a satellite during the summit and by Japan's decision, opposed by Beijing, to extend its military exercises with South Korea and the U.S.
The current situation provides an opportunity to revitalize the trilateral partnership, but it will require the leadership and cooperation of President Yoon and Prime Minister Kishida to bring it to fruition. If they fail to take this step, the current era of trilateral cooperation could be only a brief respite from an otherwise turbulent future. If the current trajectory continues over the long term, the three countries may find themselves at odds with each other due to their shared security concerns. In this scenario the only way to ensure the trilateral relationship to endure is if each of the countries is able to overcome its own domestic obstacles to prosperity and peace.
South Korea's trilateral cooperation with China China
The 9th China-Japan Korea-China Trilateral Summit wrapped up this week with the leaders of South Korea, Japan and China signing a number of significant and tangible outcomes. The Summit's outcomes include a joint Declaration, a Statement on Future Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response, and an Agreement on Trilateral Intellectual Property Cooperation. These documents are notable because they set high-level goals, which in some cases run counter to Tokyo's and Seoul's cooperation with the United States.
The aim is to establish a framework of multilateral cooperation to the benefit of all three countries. It will include projects that will help develop low-carbon transformations, develop innovative technologies for aging populations and improve collaboration in responding to global challenges like climate change, epidemics, and food security. It will also focus on enhancing exchanges between people and establishing a 3-way innovation cooperation center.
These efforts will help to improve stability in the region. It is important that South Korea maintains a positive relationship with both China and Japan particularly when faced with regional issues like North Korean provocation, escalating tensions in the Taiwan Strait, and Sino-American rivalry. A deteriorating partnership with one of these countries could cause instability in the other, and consequently negatively affect trilateral cooperation between both.
However, it is vital that the Korean government makes a clear distinction between bilateral and trilateral collaboration with one of these countries. A clear distinction can aid in minimizing the negative effects of a tension-filled relationship with either China or Japan on trilateral relations with both.
China is primarily seeking to build support in Seoul and Tokyo against any possible protectionist policies in the next U.S. administration. China's emphasis on economic cooperation particularly through the resumption of talks on a China-Japan Korea FTA and the joint statement regarding trade in services markets, reflects this aim. Beijing also hopes to prevent the United States' security cooperation from undermining its own trilateral economic ties and military relationships. Thus, this is a strategic move to combat the increasing threat of U.S. protectionism and establish an avenue to counter it with other powers.