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 though the dispute over travel restrictions has been denied by the government and bilateral economic initiatives have been pushed forward or gotten more extensive.
Brown (2013) was the first to pioneer the study of the phenomenon of pragmatic resistance in L2 Korean learners. His research revealed that a variety of variables such as personal identity and beliefs can influence a learner's pragmatic choices.
The role played by pragmatism in South Korea's foreign policy
In this time of uncertainty and changes, South Korea's Foreign Policy needs to be clear and bold. It must be willing to stand up for principle and pursue global public goods, like sustainable development, climate change and maritime security. It should also have the ability to project its global influence by delivering tangible benefits. But, it should be able to do this without compromising its stability in the domestic sphere.
This is a difficult task. Domestic politics are the primary obstacle to South Korea's international policy, and it is critical that the presidential leadership manages the domestic challenges in a manner that increase confidence of the public in the direction of the country and accountability of foreign policies. It's not an easy task as the structures that support foreign policy formation are diverse and complicated. This article examines how to deal with the domestic constraints to project a coherent foreign policy.
pragmatic kr will likely benefit from the current government's focus on pragmatic cooperation with allies and partners who have similar values. This can help to counter progressive attacks against GPS its values-based foundation and allow Seoul to work with non-democratic countries. It could also help strengthen its relationship with the United States, which remains an essential partner in advancing the liberal democratic world order.
Seoul's complicated relationship with China - the country's largest trading partner - is a further challenge. While the Yoon administration has made progress in establishing multilateral security structures like the Quad however, it must balance these commitments with the need to maintain economic ties with Beijing.
Long-time observers of Korean politics point to ideology and regionalism as the main drivers of the political debate, younger voters are less influenced by this view. This new generation has more diverse views of the world, and its beliefs and worldview are changing. This is reflected in the recent rise of K-pop and the growing global appeal of its culture exports. It's too early to tell if these factors will affect the future of South Korea's foreign policy. They are worth watching.
South Korea's pragmatic and diplomatic approach to North Korea
South Korea faces a delicate balance between the need to combat threats from rogue states and the desire to avoid being entangled into power struggles with its large neighbors. It must also consider the trade-offs that are made between values and interests particularly when it comes down to aiding non-democratic nations and collaborating with human rights defenders. In this respect the Yoon administration's diplomatic-pragmatic attitude towards North Korea is a significant contrast to previous administrations.
As one of the most active pivotal countries in the world, South Korea needs to engage in multilateral partnerships as a way of establishing itself within regional and global security networks. In its first two years in office, the Yoon administration has actively strengthened relations with democratic allies and expanded participation in minilateral and multilateral forums. These initiatives include the Korea-Pacific Islands Summit and the Second Asia-Pacific Summit for Democracy.
These efforts may seem like small steps, but they have positioned Seoul to leverage its newly formed partnerships to spread its opinions on global and regional issues. For instance, the 2023 Summit for Democracy emphasized the importance of democratic practice and reform to address challenges such as corruption, digital transformation and transparency. The summit also announced the launching of $100 million worth of development cooperation projects for democracy, including e-governance and anti-corruption measures.
Additionally to that, the Yoon government has actively engaged with organizations and countries with similar values and priorities to further support its vision of the creation of a global security network. These organizations and countries include the United States, Japan, China as well as the European Union, ASEAN members and Pacific Island nations. Progressives may have criticized these activities as lacking in values and pragmatism. However, they can assist South Korea develop a more robust toolkit to deal with countries that are in a state of rogue, like North Korea.
The emphasis placed on values by GPS however it could put Seoul in a difficult position if it is forced to choose between values and interests. For instance, the government's sensitivity to human rights activism and its inability to deport North Korean refugees who have been accused of committing crimes may lead it to prioritize policies that appear undemocratic at home. This is especially true when 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 midst of global uncertainty and a volatile world economy, trilateral collaboration between South Korea and Japan is an optimistic signpost in Northeast Asia. While the three countries share a security interest in North Korea's nuclear threat, they also have a strong economic stake in creating safe and secure supply chains and expanding trade opportunities. The three countries' resumption at their most high-level meetings every year is a clear indication of their desire to push for more economic integration and cooperation.
The future of their partnership However, their relationship will be tested by several factors. The question of how to handle the issue of human rights violations committed by the Japanese or Korean militaries within their respective colonies is most urgent. The three leaders agreed to work together to resolve these issues and establish a joint procedure for preventing and reprimanding human rights violations.
A third issue is to find a compromise between the competing interests of the three countries in East Asia. This is especially important when it comes to maintaining peace in the region and addressing China’s increasing influence. In the past the trilateral security cooperation often been hindered by disagreements about territorial and historical issues. Despite recent evidence of stability in the pragmatics the disputes are still lingering.
For example, the meeting was briefly tainted by North Korea's announcement of plans to attempt to launch satellites during the summit, and also 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 circumstances however, it will require leadership and reciprocity of President Yoon and Premier Kishida. If they fail to do so, the current era of trilateral cooperation will only be only a brief respite from an otherwise rocky future. In the long run If the current trend continues all three countries will be at odds over their mutual security interests. In such a scenario the only way for the trilateral relationship to endure will be if each country is able to overcome its own national barriers to peace and prosperity.
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 a number tangible and significant outcomes. The Summit's outcomes include a Joint Declaration and a Statement on Future Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response and an agreement on Trilateral Intellectual Property Cooperation. These documents are noteworthy because they set lofty goals that, in some cases, may be contrary to Seoul's and Tokyo's collaboration with the United States.
The goal is to establish the framework for multilateral cooperation that will benefit all three countries. The projects would focus on low-carbon transformations, innovative technologies for an aging population and collective responses to global challenges such as climate changes, food security, and epidemics. It will also focus on enhancing exchanges between people and establishing a 3-way innovation cooperation center.
These efforts would aid in ensuring stability in the region. South Korea must maintain a positive relationship with China and Japan. This is particularly crucial when it comes to regional issues, such as North Korean provocations, tensions in the Taiwan Strait and Sino-American rivalry. A deteriorating partnership with one of these countries could lead to instability in the other and consequently negatively affect trilateral cooperation between both.
It is important however that the Korean government draws a clear distinction between bilateral and trilateral engagement with one or the other of these countries. A clear separation can help reduce the negative impact that a strained relationship between China and Japan can have on trilateral relations.
China is primarily seeking to build support among Seoul and Tokyo against any possible protectionist policies that could be implemented by the next U.S. administration. This is reflected in China's emphasis on economic cooperation. Beijing is also seeking to stop the United States' security cooperation from affecting its own trilateral economic ties and military ties. This is a strategic decision to counter the growing threat from U.S. protectionism and create an avenue to counter it with other powers.