Reducing dependence on China? South Korea's shift in foreign policy under the Yoon administration

Abstract

South Korea’s foreign policy has markedly shifted after the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) incident and under President Yoon Suk Yeol’s leadership. Yoon has been actively expanding diplomatic relations beyond China, to the US and Indo-Pacific countries. Moreover, Korea’s relations with China have been filled with mounting challenges posed by North Korea’s nuclearisation, increasing Chinese aggression in the region and the US-China rivalry. Korea’s pivot away from China poses a question on whether it can truly achieve independence from Chinese influence. Through identifying South Korea’s external hedging strategy and utilising neo-classical realism (NCR), international and domestic factors influencing South Korea’s geopolitical outlook are critically examined. While Korea aims to become less dependent on China, there is an enduring desire to maintain amiable relations to benefit its economy. Amidst China’s significantly more powerful status, Korea’s dependency on China may remain inevitable.