{"id":2205504,"date":"2024-06-19T13:10:06","date_gmt":"2024-06-19T04:10:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/?p=2205504"},"modified":"2024-06-20T18:04:59","modified_gmt":"2024-06-20T09:04:59","slug":"former-presidents-memoir-reveals-risks-for-south-koreas-foreign-policy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2024\/06\/former-presidents-memoir-reveals-risks-for-south-koreas-foreign-policy\/","title":{"rendered":"Former president\u2019s memoir reveals risks for South Korea\u2019s foreign policy"},"content":{"rendered":"
The release of former South Korean President Moon Jae-in\u2019s <\/span>memoir<\/span><\/a> sheds light on the foreign policy views held by the country\u2019s progressive leaders, raising concerns about potential risks and challenges for South Korea\u2019s diplomatic relations with key partners and neighbors.<\/span><\/p>\n President Yoon Suk-yeol, a conservative, has pursued <\/span>closer ties<\/span><\/a> with the U.S. and Japan, seeking to strengthen security cooperation and address historical disputes. However, his <\/span>low approval ratings<\/span><\/a> have led to speculation that a progressive candidate may succeed him after his term ends in 2027.<\/span><\/p>\n The views expressed in Moon\u2019s memoir, along with those of main opposition Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung and minor opposition Rebuilding Korea Party leader Cho Kuk, reveal potential risks and challenges for South Korea\u2019s foreign policy, particularly in relation to Japan, China and the U.S.<\/span><\/p>\n As the country faces a leadership change in 2027, following the end of Yoon\u2019s single five-year term, the perspectives expressed in Moon\u2019s memoir and the stances of prominent progressive figures could have significant implications for South Korea\u2019s future foreign policy direction.<\/span><\/p>\n MOON\u2019S FOREIGN POLICY LEGACY<\/b><\/p>\n As revealed in his memoir, Moon\u2019s foreign policy legacy provides insight into the challenges South Korea faces in navigating its relationships with Japan, China and the U.S.<\/span><\/p>\n His approach to Japan was shaped by the historical context and deep-rooted anti-Japanese sentiment in South Korea stemming from Japan\u2019s colonial occupation and wartime atrocities. During his tenure, Moon grappled with two major issues that strained ROK-Japan relations: the <\/span>Comfort Women Agreement<\/span><\/a> and the <\/span>forced labor dispute<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n The Moon administration decided to <\/span>renegotiate<\/span><\/a> the 2015 Comfort Women Agreement, which aimed to resolve the issue of Japanese military sexual slavery during World War II, arguing the agreement that then-Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe made with Moon\u2019s predecessor, former President Park Geun-hye, could not be considered a definitive solution.<\/span><\/p>\n Additionally, in 2018, the South Korean Supreme Court <\/span>ordered<\/span><\/a> Japanese companies that benefited from wartime forced labor to compensate South Korean citizens who were subjected to forced labor during the colonial period \u2014 a move that Japan saw as a violation of the 1965 treaty normalizing diplomatic relations between the two countries.<\/span><\/p>\n These actions, along with Moon\u2019s <\/span>perception<\/span><\/a> of Japanese interference in the inter-Korean peace process, contributed to heightened tensions between Seoul and Tokyo during his presidency.<\/span><\/p>\n In terms of balancing relations with China and the U.S., Moon\u2019s memoir reveals his desire to pursue a more balanced diplomacy, reducing Seoul\u2019s traditional focus on Washington. and engaging more with Beijing. Moon believed that South Korea\u2019s diplomatic efforts should be diversified to avoid being overshadowed by the U.S.<\/span><\/p>\n Then-South Korean President Moon Jae-in, then-Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and then-Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe meet in Chengdu, China for their trilateral summit, Dec. 24, 2019 | Image: Moon Jae-in via Facebook<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n LEE\u2019S CONFRONTATIONAL PRAGMATISM<\/b><\/p>\n Lee Jae-myung, a potential contender for the South Korean presidency in 2027, has demonstrated a confrontational stance toward Japan and a pragmatic approach to China.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n For instance, Lee has been a <\/span>vocal critic<\/span><\/a> of the Yoon administration\u2019s handling of Japan\u2019s decision to release contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant, condemning the move as an act of \u201cenvironmental terrorism\u201d and calling for stronger action and compensation from Japan.<\/span><\/p>\n Lee\u2019s hardline position on Japan reflects Moon\u2019s attitude toward the neighboring country in many ways. If Lee were to become president, his confrontational approach could rewind South Korea-Japan relations, potentially jeopardizing economic and security cooperation between the two countries.<\/span><\/p>\n Further, it could also complicate South Korea\u2019s alliance with the U.S., which has sought to foster greater <\/span>trilateral cooperation<\/span><\/a> with Japan to address regional challenges.<\/span><\/p>\n On the other hand, Lee has emphasized the importance of maintaining stable relations with China for South Korea\u2019s economic and security interests. He has <\/span>expressed concerns<\/span><\/a> about the consequences of strained ties with Beijing, particularly in light of the Yoon administration\u2019s closer alignment with Washington on issues such as Taiwan and cross-strait tensions.<\/span><\/p>\n Lee has <\/span>argued<\/span><\/a> that South Korea should emphasize an independent foreign policy and maintain a neutral stance regarding <\/span>Taiwan<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n Under a potential Lee presidency, he may seek to revive Moon\u2019s attempts to balance the country\u2019s relationships with the U.S. and China more carefully, prioritizing economic engagement and avoiding actions that could be perceived as taking sides in great power rivalries.<\/span><\/p>\n However, this pragmatic approach could also face challenges, as the intensifying competition between Washington and Beijing may make it increasingly difficult for Seoul to maintain its strategic ambiguity.<\/span><\/p>\n Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung meets with Chinese Ambassador to South Korea Xing Haiming, June 8, 2023 | Image: Democratic Party of Korea via Facebook<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n CHO\u2019S NATIONALIST APPEALS<\/b><\/p>\n Cho Kuk has emerged as another prominent figure in South Korea\u2019s progressive camp. Cho\u2019s <\/span>visit<\/span><\/a> to Dokdo, a group of islets claimed by both South Korea and Japan, and his criticism of Japan\u2019s actions have highlighted the territorial dispute\u2019s symbolic significance in shaping ROK-Japan relations and domestic political discourse.<\/span><\/p>\n Cho has also <\/span>condemned<\/span><\/a> Japan\u2019s decision to release contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the ocean. He has also criticized the Yoon administration\u2019s response to the issue, accusing the government of being submissive to Japan and failing to protect South Korea\u2019s national interests.<\/span><\/p>\n While Cho\u2019s views on China are less known, his nationalist rhetoric and hardline stance against Japan have the potential to influence public opinion and further strain bilateral relations.<\/span><\/p>\n However, Cho\u2019s <\/span>legal troubles<\/span><\/a> and ongoing court cases pose challenges to his credibility. He faces allegations of academic fraud and corruption, which have led to convictions and subsequent appeals. These legal issues may undermine his ability to lead the progressive movement and provide a coherent alternative to the Yoon administration\u2019s foreign policy approach.<\/span><\/p>\n Rebuilding Korea Party leader Cho Kuk visits Dokdo, May 13, 2024 | Image: Cho Kuk via Facebook<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n CHINA\u2019S POLITICAL MANEUVERING<\/b><\/p>\n