Diplomatic-Pragmatic Korea and Northeast Asia
The de-escalation in tensions between Japan and South Korea in 2020 has refocused the attention on economic cooperation. Even as the issue of travel restrictions was rejected and bilateral economic initiatives were continued or expanded.
Brown (2013) was the first researcher to study the resistance of pragmatics among L2 Korean learners. His research found that a myriad of factors such as identity and personal beliefs, can influence a student's practical decisions.
The role of pragmatism in South Korea's foreign policy
In a time of constant change and uncertainty, South Korea's foreign policy needs to be clear and bold. It must be willing to take a stand on principles and pursue global public goods like sustainable development, climate change and maritime security. It should also be able to project its influence globally through delivering concrete benefits. But, it should do so without jeopardizing its stability within the country.
This is a difficult task. South Korea's foreign policies are hindered by domestic politics. It is essential that the leadership of the country manages the domestic obstacles to build public confidence in the direction and accountability for foreign policies. This is not easy because the structures that support foreign policy development are complex and diverse. This article examines the difficulties of overcoming these domestic constraints to project a cohesive foreign policy.
South Korea will likely benefit from the current government's emphasis on a pragmatic relationship with allies and partners who share similar values. This can help to counter radical attacks on GPS' values-based foundation and open the way for Seoul to interact with non-democratic nations. It could also help improve the relationship with the United States which remains an essential partner in advancing the liberal democratic world order.
Another challenge facing Seoul is to revamp its complicated relationship with China the nation's largest trading partner. The Yoon administration has made significant progress in establishing multilateral security structures like the Quad. However it must balance this commitment with its need to maintain economic ties with Beijing.
Younger voters appear to be less influenced by this view. The younger generation has more diverse views of the world, and its beliefs and worldview are changing. This is evident in the recent growth of Kpop and the increasing global popularity of its exports of culture. It is still too early to determine whether these trends will affect the future of South Korea’s foreign policy. They are worth watching.
South Korea's diplomatic and pragmatic approach to North Korea
South Korea faces a delicate balance between the need to face threats from rogue states and the desire to avoid being entangled into power games among its big neighbors. It also needs to think about the trade-offs between values and interests particularly when it comes to helping non-democratic countries and engaging with human rights defenders. In this regard, the Yoon administration's diplomatic-pragmatic attitude towards North Korea is a significant contrast to previous governments.
As one of the most active pivotal states South Korea must strive for multilateral engagement as a means to position itself within a global and regional security network. In the first two years of its office, the Yoon administration has actively strengthened relations with democratic allies and expanded participation in multilateral and minilateral 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 however they have enabled Seoul to make use of its new partnerships to promote its views on global and regional issues. The 2023 Summit for Democracy, for example, emphasized the importance and necessity of a democratic reform and practice to address issues 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 electronic governance efforts.
The Yoon government has also engaging with organizations and countries with similar values and has prioritized its vision for an international network of security. These organizations and countries include the United States, Japan, China, the European Union, ASEAN members, and Pacific Island nations. Progressives may have criticized these activities as lacking in values and pragmatism, however they can help South Korea develop a more robust toolkit to deal with countries that are in a state of rogue, like North Korea.
GPS's emphasis on values however, could put Seoul in a difficult position when it has to make a choice between values and interests. The government's concern for human rights and refusal to deport North Koreans convicted of committing crimes could lead it, for example, to prioritize policies that are undemocratic in Korea. This is especially true if the government faces a scenario similar to the one of Kwon Pong, a Chinese advocate who sought asylum in South Korea.
South Korea's trilateral cooperation with Japan
In the midst of increasing global uncertainty and a fragile world economy, trilateral cooperation between South Korea, Japan, and China is an opportunity for Northeast Asia. While the three countries share a common security concern with North Korea's nuclear threat, they also have a strong economic interest in developing secure and safe supply chains pragmatic korea and expanding trade opportunities. The three countries' participation in their annual summit at the highest level every year is an obvious indication that they want to encourage greater economic integration and cooperation.
However, the future of their relationship will be tested by a variety of issues. 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 urgent. The three leaders agreed that they would work together to resolve the issues and establish an integrated system for preventing and punishing abuses of human rights.
A third challenge is to find a balance between the competing interests of three countries of East Asia. This is especially important in the context of maintaining stability in the region as well as dealing with China's increasing influence. In the past, trilateral security cooperation was often hampered by disputes relating to historical and territorial issues. These disputes are still present despite recent signs of a more pragmatic stabilization.
For instance, the summit was briefly overshadowed by North Korea's announcement of plans to attempt to launch satellites during the summit, and by Japan's decision to extend its military drills with South Korea and the U.S. This prompted protests from Beijing.
The current situation offers a window of opportunity to revitalize the trilateral relationship, but it will require the leadership and cooperation of President Yoon and Prime Minister Kishida to bring it to fruition. If they don't and they don't, the current trilateral cooperation will only be a temporary relief in a rocky future. In the long run, if the current trajectory continues, the three countries will end up at odds over their mutual security interests. In this situation, the only way the trilateral relationship will last is if each country overcomes its own barriers to prosper and peace.
South Korea's trilateral cooperation with China China
The Ninth China, Japan, and Korea Trilateral Summit concluded this week with the leaders of South Korea and Japan signing several tangible and significant outcomes. These 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 ambitious goals that, in some instances are in opposition to Seoul and Tokyo's cooperation with the United States.
The objective is to develop an environment of multilateral cooperation that is 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 strengthen joint responses to global challenges like climate change, epidemics, as well as food security. It will also focus on enhancing exchanges between people and establishing a three-way innovation cooperation center.
These efforts will also contribute to improving stability in the region. South Korea must maintain a positive relationship with China and Japan. This is particularly important when dealing with regional issues, such as North Korean provocations, tensions in the Taiwan Strait and Sino-American rivalry. A weakening relationship with one of these countries could cause instability in the other and consequently negatively affect trilateral cooperation between both.
It is vital to ensure that the Korean government makes a clear distinction between bilateral and trilateral engagement with any 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 is mostly trying to build support between Seoul and Tokyo against protectionist policies under the upcoming U.S. administration. China's focus on economic co-operation especially through the resumption of negotiations for a China-Japan-Korea FTA and an agreement regarding trade in services markets reflect this intention. Beijing is also seeking to stop the United States' security cooperation from undermining its own trilateral economic and military relations. This is a strategic move to counter the growing threat of U.S. protectionism and establish a platform for countering it with other powers.