South Korea’s autonomy drive still runs through the US-ROK alliance



Analysis South Korea’s autonomy drive still runs through the US-ROK alliance Lee Jae Myung seeks greater strategic flexibility, but submarines, OPCON and China policy remain tied to Washington Chaerin KimJune 23, 2026 SHARE COPY LINK FACEBOOK X LINKEDIN MASTODON U.S. President Donald Trump meets with ROK President Lee Jae Myung during the sidelines of the APEC summit, Oct, 29, 2025 \| Image: Blue House South Korean President Lee Jae Myung’s efforts to expand the country’s strategic autonomy continue to depend heavily on the U.S.-ROK alliance, underscoring the limits of how far Seoul can pursue greater independence while relying on Washington for security, technology and diplomatic support. For years, critics in South Korea and abroad have portrayed the Democratic Party as less enthusiastic about the alliance than its conservative rivals. A year into Lee’s presidency, however, many of his administration’s most consequential initiatives have reinforced rather than loosened South Korea’s ties with the U.S. That dynamic is particularly notable given an international environment in which © 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 01Lee Jae Myung’s ‘pacemaker’ strategy tests South Korea’s leverage with Trump 02Trump’s Korea investment victory lap masks safeguards Seoul still controls 03North Korean POW dispute tests Seoul-Kyiv trust and future Ukraine policy 04South Korea’s CPTPP push exposes the cost of turning trade gains into consensus 05AI storage boom gives South Korea battery makers an EV overcapacity lifeline 06South Korea’s Mexico strategy runs into the hard limits of USMCA politics 07Preschool test ban forces South Korea’s English hagwons to rethink placement 08Lee Jae Myung’s Wall Street pitch tests South Korea’s capital market credibility

Analysis

South Korea’s autonomy drive still runs through the US-ROK alliance

Lee Jae Myung seeks greater strategic flexibility, but submarines, OPCON and China policy remain tied to Washington

Chaerin KimJune 23, 2026

South Korea’s autonomy drive still runs through the US-ROK alliance

U.S. President Donald Trump meets with ROK President Lee Jae Myung during the sidelines of the APEC summit, Oct, 29, 2025 | Image: Blue House

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung’s efforts to expand the country’s strategic autonomy continue to depend heavily on the U.S.-ROK alliance, underscoring the limits of how far Seoul can pursue greater independence while relying on Washington for security, technology and diplomatic support.

For years, critics in South Korea and abroad have portrayed the Democratic Party as less enthusiastic about the alliance than its conservative rivals. A year into Lee’s presidency, however, many of his administration’s most consequential initiatives have reinforced rather than loosened South Korea’s ties with the U.S.

That dynamic is particularly notable given an international environment in which

South Korea’s autonomy drive still runs through the US-ROK alliance

LATEST ANALYSIS

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Chaerin Kim