By Nilsen Maria Kloster
On April 25th, 2024, I had the opportunity to attend Dr. Choe’s global dialogue lecture hosted by Dr. Sojin Shin at the TIU Ikebukuro campus. The presenter, Dr. Choe Wongi, a professor of Indo-Pacific Studies and the Head of the Center for ASEAN–Indian Studies at the Korea National Diplomatic Academy. His academic background includes a B.A and M.A. from Seoul National University in international relations and a Ph.D from the University of Washington in political science. His research focuses on South Korea’s role in Indo-Pacific geopolitics. His most recent English publication was “South Korea’s New Southern Policy: The Limits of Indo-Pacific Geopolitics” (April 2023).
The lecture started with Dr. Choe outlining South Korea’s current political situation, stating that the South Korean opposition party (DPK) now holds the majority seats in the South Korean National Assembly, shaping a “minority government.” Dr. Choe continued his lecture by explaining South Korea’s strategic outlook, with its largest disadvantage being its “Tyranny of Geography.” Furthermore, South Korea borders “powerful” nations such as North Korea, Japan, China, and the United States, which presents a complex security environment. From a realist perspective, South Korea, with its limited geographical size and military capabilities compared to its neighbors, requires a cautious approach to regional security to prevent upsetting the current status quo. On the contrary, the constructivist perspective considers how the historical context of past conflicts and unresolved tensions with its neighbors affects the South Korean contemporary regional security approach. Dr. Choe then asked questions related to South Korean national security and stability and provided context to go along with it.
Q1: “How does South Korea maintain its sovereign independence and survival with such powerful neighbors?”
A1: South Korea’s independence can be challenged in indirect ways, such as when former President Donald Trump made a statement after the 2017 G20 summit in Hamburg, Germany, in which he mentioned a conversation with President Xi Jinping that Korea was once part of China.
Q2: “What is the best way to eradicate the security threat posed by North Korea?”
A1: Reunification is one possible solution, but it appears unlikely as Kim Jong-un’s hostile opposition. The heavily militarized 250 km border and Seoul-pointing North Korean missiles further emphasize this hostility.
Q3: “How can South Korea sustain and enhance its development?”
A1: South Korea’s economy is significantly dependent on China for resource and raw material acquisition, making it important to maintain friendly relations. Dr. Choe stated that it is critical for South Korea to balance its close relations while keeping some level of distancing to avoid becoming overly dependent on a major power. Striking the right balance between distancing and closer relations could maintain and enhance South Korean development.
Dr. Choe proceeded by explaining that South Korea’s commitment to democracy is evident through its strong relations with other democratic nations, such as Japan, which not only reinforce its own democratic principles but also ensure a balanced approach to its foreign policy. Despite facing corruption scandals involving former presidents Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye, South Korea remains steadfast in its commitment to the rule of law and freedom of speech, with no signs of democratic backsliding. In the broader context, Dr. Choe discussed his opinion on how he believes that international organizations such as the WTO and the UN are failing to maintain a rule-based order in the region. Thus, South Korea should align with like-minded countries to preserve regional stability. Historically, South Korea has been seen as a weak “shrimp among whales.”
But, as the country became stronger, it became a “dolphin,” wielding power in the market economy and playing a more significant role in regional engagement. However, it must balance its power, not getting too close to powerful countries like China, Japan, and the U.S. to avoid becoming a pawn, highlighting the need for South Korea to have “more ambition and not just aspirations.” The lecture concluded with an analysis of the common regional strategy adopted by others in the region compared to South Korea’s. The Indo-Pacific strategy, initiated by Abe, has been widely adopted by others in the region. However, South Korea has taken a different approach. Unlike Japan and the US, South Korea avoids criticizing China, reflecting its economic ties and the desire to maintain close connections with China. They created their own strategy, called the New Southern Policy, that has minimal focus on security concerns but rather focuses on economic and trade relations, which better aligns with their foreign policy needs, a strategy President Yoon has championed since taking office. Nevertheless, it is important to note that South Korea’s foreign policy is unstable as it tends to change frequently with each new presidential term every five years.
Personally, I found the argument regarding South Korean foreign policy particularly influential. It made me realize how many factors impact their foreign policy, which differs from that of nearby countries like Japan. What I found most interesting is the significant role South Korea’s history with China and Japan plays even today, several decades later. During the lecture, Dr. Choe mentioned South Korea’s economic dependency on China and how any anti-Chinese rhetoric could harm their trade, giving China some control over South Korea’s behavior in international politics due to the fear of upsetting these ties. I wish he had delved deeper into this topic and further elaborated on the various connections between China and South Korea, not just the economic aspect. In my personal opinion, I acknowledge that South Korea faces challenges due to its current dependency on China. However, I believe it’s important to note that China has been a crucial partner for South Korea in facilitating economic growth, providing opportunities for cooperation that benefit both countries.
The lecture stresses South Korea’s importance in the Indo-Pacific region. I was especially inspired by how Dr. Choe addressed the UN and WHO’s failure to maintain a regional rule-based order and how this leads to increased insecurity. I found it interesting when he pointed out that these organizations are failing and that countries in the region should take a stance in maintaining the rule-based order to reduce the risks of large conflicts. In this context, he mentioned that South Korea has the opportunity to take decisive action rather than simply expressing disagreement with current developments. However, these statements leave me with questions relating to the urgency for South Korea to focus on taking action to maintain the rule-based order. What has led to this urgency as there is no threat to the current status quo? I look forward to witnessing what actions and stance South Korea will assume in the future. Overall, this global dialogue stands out as one of the most insightful I have attended, and I admire Dr. Choe for his excellent presentation.