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15/08/2024 07:00
South Korea is an important actor of the great power rivalry between the US and China. While the country is committed to the US in terms of security and defence, South Korea’s biggest trade partner is China. Is this possible for Seoul to keep its pragmatic economic relations with Beijing amid the rapidly changing world order?
I believe it is possible. South Korea-US vs South Korea-China relations are not in a zero-sum game, which means South Korea can keep and promote cooperative relations with China while maintaining alliance relationship with the US. China well understands that the ROK-US alliance aims to deter nuclear-armed North Korea, not China. China also knows that South Korea and China can expand their cooperation in such areas as climate change and public health as well as economy. The so-called ‘small yard, high fence’ strategy of the US to China is yet to be elaborated, but a ‘small yard’ for highly sensitive technologies means that there would be a ‘big yard’ for less sensitive technology cooperation between China and other countries including South Korea. I know that the US-led liberal international order is facing many challenges including US-China strategic competition, US-Russia tension, and a growing voice of the ‘global South,’ but it is necessary for us to recognize the fact that China and/or Russia have not provided any powerful alternatives to the liberal international order. Nevertheless, we need to keep improving it by taking many suggestions coming from the various players of the international community.
South Korea is also one of the biggest investors in Central Asia. Why is the region important for Seoul and in what fields can the parties improve their relations in the near future?
South Korea attaches importance to Central Asia since Central Asia is located at the geographic center of South Korea’s vision of Eurasian cooperation. In this vein, South Korea aims at promoting a multifaceted relationship with Central Asia in such fields as energy, industry, transportation and logistics, climate change, etc. South Korea’s prominent projects in Central Asia include rational use and creation of renewable energy sources; modernization and diversification of the industrial system; creation of logistic transportation centers and complex terminals; and forestry against diversification and creation of ecological raw material complex.
President Yoon Suk Yeol outlined a vision to make South Korea a global pivotal state. What is behind this idea and how would Seoul implement it?
As a 10th largest trading power, South Korea is well poised to contribute to the international community. A global pivotal state (GPS) is the vision that South Korea aims to realize based on its national capability: a country conducive to resolving global challenges and problems such as climate change, poverty, pandemic, etc. In particular, South Korea is a country who became a donor in 2010 after graduating from a recipient status of ODA (Official Development Assistance, term used by OECD to measure foreign aid – ed.) for a long period of time since WWII. This kind of unique character of South Korea is likely to appeal to the developing countries who are in need of a role model and a specific assistance. South Korea is ready to provide both of them. This is one of the key areas South Korea is focusing on with a view to being recognized as a GPS.
Your country is a very important economic partner for Hungary. In 2019 and 2021, South Korea was the largest foreign investor in Hungary. Why is Hungary important for South Korea, in which fields is the partnership the most successful? How does this partnership help connect East Asia with Europe?
Our interests converge on each other. Hungary stands with a historic task of accelerating its national development through innovation and acquiring steady supply of energy in the midst of the Ukraine war. On the other, South Korea needs a European hub who can cooperate in such fields as battery, nuclear energy, AI, 5G, aerospace, etc. based on South Korea’s competitive technologies. In this vein, Hungary-South Korea cooperation can promote a broader strategic partnership that can connect East Asia with Europe since South Korea is a forward-looking country highly connected with East Asian economies. If Hungary is engaged with South Korea, it can reach East Asia in the faster and more advanced manner.
The author is an editor at Eurasia
