South Korea’s tilt toward US risks stalling growing ties with Southeast Asia



Analysis South Korea’s tilt toward US risks stalling growing ties with Southeast Asia Seoul’s embrace of new ‘Indo-Pacific strategy’ will require efforts to reassure partners of its commitment to region Sea Young (Sarah) KimJune 23, 2022 SHARE COPY LINK FACEBOOK X LINKEDIN MASTODON South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol holds talks with Vietnam's Communist Party leader Nguyen Phu Trong on June 8, 2022 \| Image: South Korean Presidential Office Following the recent U.S.-ROK summit, South Korea confirmed what many had anticipated: New President Yoon Suk-yeol is scrapping his predecessor’s signature New Southern Policy (NSP) focused on engaging Southeast Asia and India. The two countries’ joint statement formally announced that the Yoon administration will move ahead with formulating its own “Indo-Pacific strategy framework,” which would complement the U.S. blueprint for the region. While details are still in short supply, it’s likely that South Korea’s new strategy will repackage elements of Moon Jae-in’s NSP. But the Yoon administration’s approach appears aimed at reenvisioning cooperation with Southeast Asia and India © Korea Risk Group. All rights reserved. No part of this content may be reproduced, distributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from Korea Risk Group. LATEST ANALYSIS 01Samsung, SK Hynix rejection exposes South Korea’s chip-grid financing problem 02Trump’s Cheongung social media post tests Seoul’s refusal to arm to Ukraine 03Lee Jae Myung risks public trust as South Korea rewires its justice system 04South Korea turns to Central Asia as Iran war tests its energy resilience 05Houthi seizure of Mokha sharpens South Korea’s Hormuz deployment dilemma 06Japan’s stronger yen may cut Korea’s import bill while raising funding costs 07South Korea leans on Europe as Hormuz deployment choices grow narrower 08Hanwha’s Austal bid shows where South Korea’s MASGA plan may be heading

Analysis

South Korea’s tilt toward US risks stalling growing ties with Southeast Asia

Seoul’s embrace of new ‘Indo-Pacific strategy’ will require efforts to reassure partners of its commitment to region

Sea Young (Sarah) KimJune 23, 2022

South Korea’s tilt toward US risks stalling growing ties with Southeast Asia

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol holds talks with Vietnam's Communist Party leader Nguyen Phu Trong on June 8, 2022 | Image: South Korean Presidential Office

Following the recent U.S.-ROK summit, South Korea confirmed what many had anticipated: New President Yoon Suk-yeol is scrapping his predecessor’s signature New Southern Policy (NSP) focused on engaging Southeast Asia and India.

The two countries’ joint statement formally announced that the Yoon administration will move ahead with formulating its own “Indo-Pacific strategy framework,” which would complement the U.S. blueprint for the region.

While details are still in short supply, it’s likely that South Korea’s new strategy will repackage elements of Moon Jae-in’s NSP. But the Yoon administration’s approach appears aimed at reenvisioning cooperation with Southeast Asia and India

South Korea’s tilt toward US risks stalling growing ties with Southeast Asia

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Sea Young (Sarah) Kim