Diplomatic-Pragmatic Korea and Northeast Asia
The diplomatic de-escalation of Japan-South Korea tensions in 2020 has focused attention on cooperation in the field of economics. Even though the dispute over travel restrictions has been rejected by the government, bilateral economic initiatives have remained or gotten more extensive.
Brown (2013) was the first to document the resistance to pragmatics of L2 Korean learners. His research revealed that a variety of factors such as identity and personal beliefs, can influence a learner's pragmatic choices.
The role played by pragmatism in South Korea's foreign policy
In a time of flux and change, South Korea's foreign policies must be bold and clear. It must be prepared to stand up for principles and work towards achieving the public good globally like climate change as well as sustainable development and maritime security. It must also be able to project its influence globally by providing tangible benefits. However, it must do so without compromising the stability of its domestic economy.
This is a difficult task. Domestic politics are the primary impediment to South Korea's foreign policy and it is crucial that the presidency manages these constraints domestically in ways that increase confidence of the public in the direction of the country and accountability of foreign policies. This isn't easy since the underlying structures that guide foreign policy are a complex and varied. This article focuses on the challenges of managing these domestic constraints to project a cohesive foreign policy.
South Korea will likely benefit from the current administration's focus on a pragmatic relationship with allies and partners who share similar values. This can help to counter the progressive attacks on GPS' values-based basis and open up the possibility for Seoul to interact with nondemocracies. It could also help strengthen its relationship with the United States, which remains an indispensable partner in advancing the liberal democratic world order.
Another issue facing Seoul is to revamp its relationship with China, the country's largest trading partner. While the Yoon administration has made strides in establishing multilateral security structures like the Quad, it must weigh these commitments against the need to maintain relations with Beijing.
While long-time observers of Korean politics point to regionalism and ideology as the primary factors in the political debate, younger voters seem less inclined to this outlook. This new generation is also more diverse, and their worldview and values are changing. This is evident in the recent rise of Kpop, as well as the growing global popularity of its exports of culture. It is too early to determine whether these factors will shape the future of South Korea's foreign policy. They are worth watching.
South Korea's diplomatic-pragmatic approach to North Korea
South Korea faces a delicate balance between the need to combat rogue state threats and the desire to avoid being entangled into power games with its big neighbors. It also needs to be aware of the trade-offs between values and interests, especially when it comes to supporting human rights activists and interacting with non-democratic governments. In this regard the Yoon administration's diplomatic and pragmatic approach to North Korea is a significant contrast to previous administrations.
As one of the most active pivotal nations in the world, South Korea needs to participate in multilateral engagements to position itself within regional and global security networks. In its first two years the Yoon Administration has actively bolstered bilateral ties and has increased participation in minilaterals and multilateral forums. These initiatives include the first Korea-Pacific Islands Summit and the second Asia-Pacific Summit for Democracy.
These efforts could appear to be small steps but they have helped Seoul to leverage its newly formed 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 deal with issues like corruption, digital transformation, and transparency. The summit also announced the execution of $100 million worth of development cooperation projects to promote democracy, including e-governance and anti-corruption measures.
The Yoon government has also actively engaged with other countries and organizations that share similar values and has prioritized its vision for a global network of security. These are countries and organizations that include the United States of America, Japan, China and the European Union. They also include ASEAN members as well as Pacific Island nations. These activities may be criticized by progressives as lacking in pragmatism and values but they can help South Korea build a more solid toolkit for foreign policy in dealing with rogue states like North Korea.
However, GPS' emphasis on values could put Seoul in a difficult position when confronted with trade-offs between values and desires. For instance, the government's sensitivity to human rights activism and its reluctance to deport North Korean refugees who have been accused of committing crimes could cause it to prioritize policies that are not democratic at home. This is especially true if the government faces an issue similar to that of Kwon Pyong, the Chinese activist who sought asylum in South Korea.
South Korea's trilateral partnership with Japan
In the midst a rising global uncertainty and a weak world economy, trilateral cooperation between South Korea, Japan, and China is a bright spot for Northeast Asia. The three countries have a shared security interest regarding the threat of nuclear war from North Korea, but they also share a strong economic concern over establishing a safe and secure supply chain and expanding trade opportunities. The resumption of their highest-level annual gathering is a clear signal that the three neighbors are keen to push for greater economic integration and cooperation.
The future of their partnership However, their relationship will be challenged by a variety of circumstances. The issue of how to tackle the issue of human rights violations committed by the Japanese or Korean militaries in their respective colonies is the most pressing. The three leaders agreed they will work together to solve the issues and develop an integrated system to prevent and punish abuses of human rights.
Another major issue is how to find a balance between the three countries' 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 disagreements over territorial and historical issues. Despite the recent signs of pragmatic stability however, these disputes continue to linger.
프라그마틱 슬롯버프 was briefly tainted, for example, by North Korea's announcement to launch a satellite during the summit and by Japan's decision, received with protests from Beijing to extend its military exercises with South Korea and the U.S.
It is possible to bring back the trilateral relationship in the current circumstances however, it will require the initiative and reciprocity from President Yoon and Premier Kishida. If they fail to act accordingly this time around, the current period of trilateral cooperation may only be a brief respite from the otherwise turbulent future. If the current trend continues over the long term the three countries could encounter conflict with each other over their shared security concerns. In this scenario the only way to ensure the trilateral relationship to last is if each of the countries is able to overcome its own national obstacles to peace and prosperity.
South Korea's trilateral partnership with China China
The Ninth China-Japan-Korea Trilateral Summit wrapped up this week with the leaders of South Korea, Japan and China signing a variety of important and tangible outcomes. These include the Joint Declaration of the Summit as well as a statement on Future Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response and a Joint Vision on Trilateral Intellectual Property Cooperation. These documents are significant for their lofty goals, which, in some instances, are contrary to the collaboration between Tokyo and Seoul with the United States.
The aim is to build the framework for multilateral cooperation that will benefit all three countries. The projects will include low-carbon transformations, innovative technologies to help an aging population as well as joint responses to global issues like climate change as well as food security and epidemics. It would also concentrate on strengthening people-to-people exchanges and the establishment of a trilateral innovation cooperation center.
These efforts will also improve stability in the area. It is crucial that South Korea maintains a positive relationship with both China and Japan particularly when faced by regional issues such as North Korean provocation, escalating tensions in the Taiwan Strait, and Sino-American rivalry. A deteriorating relationship with one of these countries could result in instability in the other which could negatively impact trilateral collaboration with both.
It is vital that the Korean government makes the distinction between trilateral cooperation and bilateral engagement with one of these countries. A clear distinction will minimize the negative impact that a strained relationship between China and Japan could impact trilateral relations.
China is primarily seeking to build support in Seoul and Tokyo against any possible protectionist policies that could be implemented by the next U.S. administration. China's emphasis on economic cooperation especially through the resumption of negotiations for a China-Japan-Korea FTA and an agreement on trade in the services market is a reflection of this goal. Beijing also hopes to prevent the United States' security cooperation from affecting its own trilateral economic and military ties. This is a smart move to counter the threat from U.S. protectionism and create an opportunity to combat it with other powers.