프라그마틱 슬롯 조작 -Pragmatic Korea and Northeast Asia
The diplomatic de-escalation of Japan-South Korea tensions in 2020 has refocused on the importance of economic cooperation. Despite the issue of travel restrictions has been rebuffed by the government and bilateral economic initiatives have 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 personal beliefs and identity can affect a learner's practical choices.
The role played by pragmatism is South Korea's foreign policies
In this time of constant change and uncertainty South Korea's foreign policies must be bold and clear. It should be ready to stand up for principles and pursue the public good globally like climate change, sustainable development and maritime security. It should also be able of demonstrating its influence internationally by delivering tangible benefits. However, it has to do so without compromising its stability in the domestic sphere.
This is an extremely difficult task. South Korea's foreign policies are restricted by domestic politics. It is important that the leadership of the country is able to manage the domestic obstacles to build confidence in the direction and accountability for foreign policy. It is not an easy task because the structures that facilitate foreign policy formation are diverse and complicated. This article focuses on how to deal with the domestic constraints to create a coherent foreign policy.
South Korea will likely benefit from the current administration's focus on a pragmatic relationship with allies and partners that have the same values. This strategy can help in resolving the progressive attacks on GPS on a values-based basis and create space for Seoul in order to engage with non-democratic countries. It could also help enhance the relationship with the United States which remains an essential partner in advancing a liberal democratic world order.
Seoul's complicated relationship with China which is the country's largest trading partner - is yet another challenge. The Yoon administration has made significant progress in establishing multilateral security structures such as the Quad. However, it must weigh this effort against the need to maintain economic connections with Beijing.
Younger voters are less attached to this view. This new generation has a more diverse worldview, and its worldview and values are changing. This is evident in the recent growth of K-pop, as well as the increasing global appeal of its cultural exports. It's too early to tell if these trends will impact 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 confront state terrorism and the desire to stay out of being drawn into power games among its big neighbors. It also needs to consider the trade-offs between values and interests particularly when it comes to supporting human rights activists and interacting with nondemocracies. In this regard, the Yoon government's pragmatic and diplomatic approach to North Korea is an important contrast to previous governments.
As one of the most active pivotal states South Korea must strive for multilateral engagement as a way to position itself within the global and regional security network. In the first two years of its office, the Yoon administration has actively bolstered bilateral ties with democratically-minded allies and increased participation in minilateral and multilateral forums. These initiatives include the Korea-Pacific Islands Summit, and the Second Asia-Pacific Summit for Democracy.
These initiatives may seem like tiny steps, but they have enabled Seoul to build new partnerships to promote its opinions on regional and global issues. For instance the 2023 Summit for Democracy emphasized the importance of reforms and practice in democracy to address issues such as corruption, digital transformation, and transparency. The summit announced $100 million in development cooperation projects to support democracy, including anti-corruption and e-governance efforts.
Additionally to that, the Yoon government has actively engaged with other countries and organizations that have similar values and goals to help support its vision of a global security network. These organizations and countries include the United States, Japan, China, the European Union, ASEAN members, and Pacific Island nations. These activities have been criticized by progressives as lacking in pragmatism and values however, they can help South Korea build a more solid toolkit for foreign policy when it comes to dealing with states that are rogue like North Korea.
GPS's emphasis on values however, could put Seoul in a difficult position in the event that it is forced to decide between interests and values. For instance the government's sensitivity to human rights activists and its refusal to deport North Korean refugees who have been accused of committing crimes could lead to it prioritizing policies that seem undemocratic at home. This is especially true if the government is faced with an issue similar to that of Kwon Pyong, a Chinese activist who sought asylum in South Korea.
South Korea's trilateral collaboration with Japan
In the midst of global uncertainty and an unstable world economy, trilateral collaboration between South Korea and Japan is a bright spot in Northeast Asia. The three countries have common security concerns regarding the nuclear threat from North Korea, but they also share a major economic concern over establishing a an efficient and secure supply chain and expanding trade opportunities. The return of their highest-level annual gathering is a clear signal that the three neighbors would like to push for greater economic integration and cooperation.
The future of their relationship, however, will be tested by several factors. The question of how to tackle the issue of human rights violations committed by the Japanese or Korean militaries within their respective colonies is the most urgent. The three leaders agreed to work together to resolve these issues and create a joint mechanism for preventing and punishing human rights abuses.
Another 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 the trilateral security cooperation often been hindered by disputes regarding territorial and historical issues. Despite the recent signs of a more pragmatic stability the disputes are still lingering.
The meeting was briefly overshadowed, for example, by North Korea's announcement it would launch a satellite during the summit and by Japan's decision that was received with protests from Beijing to extend its military exercises with South Korea and the U.S.
The current situation offers an opportunity to revitalize the trilateral partnership, but it will require the leadership and cooperation of President Yoon and Prime Minister Kishida to make it a reality. If they fail to act accordingly and the current era of trilateral cooperation will only be only a brief respite from an otherwise turbulent future. If the current trend continues, in the long run, the three countries may find themselves at odds with one another over their security concerns. In such a scenario the only way for the trilateral relationship to endure will be if each country is able to overcome its own domestic obstacles to peace and prosperity.
South Korea's trilateral cooperation with 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 significant because they set lofty goals, which, in some cases, may be contrary to the collaboration between Tokyo and Seoul with the United States.
The goal is to strengthen a framework for multilateral cooperation that will benefit all three countries. The projects will include the use of low-carbon technologies, innovative solutions for an aging population and joint responses to global issues like climate change, epidemics and food security. It would also concentrate on enhancing people-to-people interactions and establishing a trilateral innovation cooperation center.
These efforts will help to improve stability in the region. It is crucial that South Korea maintains a positive partnership with both China and Japan particularly when faced with regional issues like North Korean provocation, escalating tensions in the Taiwan Strait, and Sino-American rivalry. A weakening partnership with one of these countries could lead to instability in the other and negatively affect trilateral cooperation between both.
However, it is vital that the Korean government makes an explicit distinction between trilateral cooperation and bilateral relations with one of these countries. A clear separation will help minimize the negative impact a strained relationship between China and Japan can have on trilateral relations.
China is largely seeking to build support among Seoul and Tokyo against protectionist policies under the upcoming U.S. administration. This is reflected in China's emphasis on economic cooperation. Furthermore, Beijing is likely hoping to prevent security cooperation with the United States from undermining the importance of its own trilateral military and economic relationships with these East Asian allies. Thus, this is a strategic step to combat the increasing threat of U.S. protectionism and establish a platform for countering it with other powers.