At the outset of his term, President Yoon Suk-yeol outlined his vision for South Korea as a “global pivotal state” (GPS). However, South Korea’s absence from key groupings like the Quad, AUKUS and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) raises questions about how pivotal the country truly is in global affairs.

This concept has become a cornerstone of Yoon’s speeches. He and his officials articulated the phrase most recently in last month’s National Security Strategy, underscoring the intent to align South Korea’s foreign policy with its rising economic, military and soft power.

In an era when