{"id":2199975,"date":"2023-01-31T09:39:28","date_gmt":"2023-01-31T09:39:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nknews.org\/koreapro\/?p=2199975"},"modified":"2023-11-20T19:00:37","modified_gmt":"2023-11-20T10:00:37","slug":"why-the-next-two-years-could-be-critical-for-future-of-south-korea-ecuador-ties","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2023\/01\/why-the-next-two-years-could-be-critical-for-future-of-south-korea-ecuador-ties\/","title":{"rendered":"Why the next two years could be critical for future of South Korea-Ecuador ties"},"content":{"rendered":"

Although South Korea and Ecuador established diplomatic relations more than 60 years ago, Ecuador occupies a relatively low ranking in terms of importance as an export market for the ROK compared to other Latin American trade partners.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, at the beginning of the year, Ecuador began <\/span>serving<\/span><\/a> its two-year term as a non-permanent member of the U.N. Security Council (UNSC). And as a result, Quito and Seoul are poised to deepen their economic ties, particularly in the context of a potential free trade agreement between the two countries.<\/span><\/p>\n

While prospects for economic relations between the ROK and Ecuador are on course for improvement, Ecuador is also increasing <\/span>cooperation<\/span><\/a> with Japan. <\/span>“As South Korea also seeks to improve security cooperation with Japan, it could use that mutual interest to pursue more comprehensive diplomatic relations with Ecuador that also encompasses security concerns.”<\/span><\/p>\n

However, Seoul\u2019s pursuit of improved economic relations with Ecuador comes with risks <\/span>\u2014<\/span> improved ties do not guarantee that Ecuador will adopt a pro-ROK foreign policy. Diplomatic alignment between the two countries is subject to change based on who holds power in Quito.<\/span><\/p>\n

OPPORTUNITY FOR IMPROVED RELATIONS<\/b><\/p>\n

When People Power Party (PPP) Rep. Chung Jin-suk attended Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva\u2019s inauguration in January, he met with several Latin American leaders, including Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso. During their meeting, Lasso reportedly stated his <\/span>hopes<\/span><\/a> to visit Seoul to secure South Korea\u2019s cooperation in various economic-oriented fields.<\/span><\/p>\n

In particular, Chung and Lasso <\/span>discussed<\/span><\/a> cooperation in the automotive sector while expressing shared values, especially regarding the security situation concerning North Korea. The two sides voiced a desire to strengthen bilateral economic ties ahead of the planned implementation of the <\/span>Korea-Ecuador <\/span>Strategic Economic Cooperation Agreement<\/span><\/a> (SECA) <\/span>\u2014<\/span> a free trade agreement with a comprehensive focus.<\/span><\/p>\n

Diplomatic and economic ties between Quito and Seoul are modest. Still, Ecuador\u2019s <\/span>election<\/span><\/a> as a non-permanent member of the UNSC has given Quito a chance to play a more significant role in Northeast Asian security. Direct stakeholders such as Japan will also serve on the UNSC alongside Ecuador. Their concurrent tenures have driven Japanese interest in <\/span>strengthening cooperation with Ecuador<\/span><\/a> over Northeast Asian security.<\/span><\/p>\n

Shared values between Ecuador and Japan on diplomatic and economic fronts featured prominently in a recent <\/span>working meeting<\/span><\/a> between Ecuadorian Foreign Minister Juan Carlos Holguin and his Japanese counterpart Yoshimasa Hayashi.<\/span><\/p>\n

If the strengthening of Ecuador-Japan security cooperation and the deepening of Ecuador-ROK economic ties coincide, this could yield diplomatic dividends for Seoul. In particular, stronger relations between South Korea and Latin America <\/span>could help keep<\/span><\/a> the latter solidly within the liberal international framework.<\/span><\/p>\n

This would also help Seoul take a step toward becoming President Yoon Suk-yeol\u2019s envisioned <\/span>Global Pivotal State<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"

An illustration of a busy port | Image: Korea Pro<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

OVERCOMING CHALLENGES<\/b><\/p>\n

Lasso\u2019s victory in Ecuador\u2019s 2021 presidential election put the country\u2019s foreign policy on a decidedly <\/span>pro-U.S. track<\/span><\/a>. However, Ecuador\u2019s foreign policy trajectory could have been radically different had his opponent, Andres Arauz, won.<\/span><\/p>\n

Under an Arauz administration, Quito <\/span>may have pursued<\/span><\/a> closer ties with Cuba and Venezuela, two Latin American countries with decent relations with North Korea. There is precedence for this as one of Lasso\u2019s predecessors, Rafael Correa, appeared <\/span>favorable <\/span><\/a>toward North Korea.<\/span><\/p>\n

Nevertheless, Ecuador\u2019s recent political history shows that South Korea can enjoy a boost in trade even under an administration in Quito that was notably <\/span>protectionist<\/span><\/a> and friendly to Pyongyang. South Korea\u2019s <\/span>exports<\/span><\/a> to Ecuador rose before tapering off to pre-Correa-era levels toward the end of his term.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Despite Correa\u2019s protectionist policies, the ROK appears to have leveraged <\/span>its most frequently exported items<\/span><\/a> to serve Ecuador\u2019s import needs. This shows that diplomatic like-mindedness is not a prerequisite for strong economic ties or vice-versa.<\/span><\/p>\n

AN IMPERFECT CHOICE<\/b><\/p>\n

Seoul\u2019s attempts to leverage closer economic ties to foster a more comprehensive relationship come with potential benefits and risks.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Improving relations with Ecuador will benefit Seoul even after its two-year UNSC term ends, as Quito can throw a degree of diplomatic weight into the Korean security arena. With constant speculation over another North Korean nuclear test, Seoul could use friends anywhere and everywhere. If one happens to be a term member of the UNSC serving in close cooperation with Japan, this will only be a boon for the ROK.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

At the same time, this track also has potential shortcomings. For one, as the <\/span>recent strain<\/span><\/a> in free-trade talks between Ecuador and Mexico shows, there is no guarantee that Quito and Seoul can even clinch an economic agreement. If Seoul cannot secure a new FTA with Quito, the ROK might lose an opportunity to segue into a more comprehensive partnership overall.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Furthermore, Seoul may not be able to count on Ecuador\u2019s support in the long term when it comes to North Korea. An administration friendly to Pyongyang could very well take power in Quito again. In such a case, Ecuador could withdraw its overt support for South Korea in the diplomatic arena, at the very least taking a non-aligned position toward Korean Peninsula issues.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Weighing these benefits, the ROK will need to decide if and to what degree it wishes to leverage economic ties with Ecuador to promote a more comprehensive partnership or maintain a primarily economically oriented approach to Quito, one divorced from DPRK issues.<\/span><\/p>\n

Edited by John Lee<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Business & Economy<\/span><\/a>Inter-Korean & Foreign Relations<\/span><\/a><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Although South Korea and Ecuador established diplomatic relations more than 60 years ago, Ecuador occupies a relatively low ranking in terms of importance as an export market for the ROK compared to other Latin American trade partners. However, at the beginning of the year, Ecuador began serving its two-year term as a non-permanent member of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10407,"featured_media":2199976,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[24,28],"yoast_head":"\nWhy the next two years could be critical for future of South Korea-Ecuador ties - KOREA PRO<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2023\/01\/why-the-next-two-years-could-be-critical-for-future-of-south-korea-ecuador-ties\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Why the next two years could be critical for future of South Korea-Ecuador ties - KOREA PRO\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Although South Korea and Ecuador established diplomatic relations more than 60 years ago, Ecuador occupies a relatively low ranking in terms of importance as an export market for the ROK compared to other Latin American trade partners. 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