South Korea needs to recharge foreign engagement
As the political drama of the recent general elections slowly winds down and gradually subsides, the question of what needs to be done next stands as urgent as ever, particularly in the sphere of international relations.
South Korea, a leading technological innovator and economic force in the East Asian economy, has traditionally focused its international engagement on its immediate region and established allies like the United States.
However, the escalating polarization between the U.S. and China, compounded by developments in Ukraine and the Middle East, present new challenges for South Korea.
Analyzing economic data from the last five years, sourced from entities like The Economist or Korea Customs Service and incorporating insights from political analysts reveals several discernible trends.
First of all, the trading world is not exactly what it used to be. The COVID-19 pandemic had its negative impact and economies are still trying to recuperate from it. As a result, the trade landscape appears quite tumultuous.
Secondly, geopolitics also plays a significant role. As the countries are realigning their trading along their alliances, they tend to strengthen relations with certain partners while weakening ties with those who are siding with adversaries.
The third one is the advancement in technology. Here I am talking about advanced technologies, like ultra-precision and micromanufacturing, nanoimprint lithography and AI semiconductors.
Next come new energy technologies, like fast-charging and high-density EV batteries and advanced photovoltaics in production of efficient solar panels.
Most of South Korea’s partners have made big changes and, in some case, big advances — look at the U.S. or China who are forging forward with their renewable energy projects. Japan and Taiwan are not far behind, with significant investments being made in bleeding-edge technologies. It seems Korea is somewhat lagging behind.
The question that begs for an answer is why Korea hasn’t been able to adjust to those changes effectively. Once again, most analysts would point towards domestic politics.
The past three months have shown a critical gap in South Korea’s foreign policy — a neglect of fostering stronger ties with other states.
For example, at the end of last month, the United Nations Security Council failed to extend the mechanism monitoring member states’ compliance with and enforcement of the U.N. sanctions regime on North Korea, as Russia decided to veto the extension of the mandate.
Some argue that this outcome was unavoidable, pointing to the rift between the U.S. and Russia.
Indeed, there has been a noticeable deterioration in the U.N. sanctions regime since 2019.
However, it is conceivable that preventive diplomacy could have mitigated this process. Even in the aftermath, it is still possible to sustain the effort by engaging countries and groups, for example the EU or G7, directly. In other words, we need a more proactive state diplomacy.
Speaking of the EU, in February President Yoon Suk Yeol canceled a state visit to Germany and Denmark.
And that has played against South Korea’s national interests. Germany currently is promoting its China Strategy which seeks to de-risk its ties with China, a lesson from the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The visit could have been an opportunity to welcome German businesses seeking to relocate from China.
In March, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz met with the Malaysian prime minister, Philippine president and Thai prime minister in one week resulting in cooperation agreements.
The Danes were able to minimize the fallout by sending their delegation led by the Minister of Climate, Energy and Utilities in return.
The visit ended in signing an agreement to install offshore wind farms in Korea, a boon for the Danish businesses and promised energy returns six years later for South Korea.
Then there is silence regarding the scheduled visit to Central Asia in April. Beyond their abundant natural resources, Central Asian states share interests in South Korea’s technological advancements, education, labor, renewable energy and smart cities.
While South Korea’s current focus on trade with China is significant, it has left untapped potential for collaboration with Central Asia in these rapidly growing sectors.
And then there was Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s visit to Washington a week ago. You might be wondering if it really matters? Actually, it does.
The outcome was over 70 agreements in defense, business, culture and research. Among these, cooperation on the F-35 jet and space programs is exactly what Korea needs. In fact, some see this visit as the most important since World War II, as it raised the profile of Japan and also changed its stance in the global arena.
The implications of this visit are critical for South Korean defense. For example, as it elevates the level of engagement between Japan and the U.S., it may change expectations regarding how U.S. assets located here are used in the event of a conflict involving Taiwan.
This could be of paramount importance in case of any escalation on the peninsula.
State visits are important events — they are scheduled months in advance. It is like a complicated dance between two countries — diplomats behind scenes work hard preparing and making them successful.
And when they do take place, the president is like a big guarantor — allows many business agreements to get a different scale support — on intergovernmental level, and get government backing, i.e. it is like the best insurance one can get. Many business agreements may not be realized but if they do, they become pillars of relations between two countries.
So, it should be our head of state traveling and getting the best deals for the country. It isn’t that any inaction breeds trouble.
I’d go a step further by saying, any inaction breeds prejudice towards you, and how other states treat you. So, ideas of “Korea passing” or “North Korea discount” are largely of our own making.
If we want a better future for our country, we cannot just sit around — we have to move, meet others and, by shaping those attitudes towards ourselves, make things happen.