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ASEAN-ROK Partnership: What’s next after the New Southern Policy?

  • Author Ina Choi
  • Series244
  • Date2022-08-12
Given the drumbeat of Korea’s policy commitment to ASEAN under the New Southern Policy, Southeast Asian countries are closely watching whether Korea’s ASEAN-centered policy stance will carry over into the new administration. It is unclear yet if Korea’s government will push ahead with a new policy specifically targeted at ASEAN, but Southeast Asia appears to be the centerpiece of President Yoon’s Indo-Pacific strategy framework. The question, however, is how effectively Seoul’s commitment to ASEAN-ROK partnership can be delivered to ASEAN countries without proposing a signature policy towards ASEAN. To dispel concerns that Korea’s ASEAN policies lack consistency, more diplomatic efforts are required to ensure that the new government will continue the legacy of the NSP. Another challenge for the ASEAN-ROK partnership is how Korea’s Indo-Pacific strategy will be received by ASEAN countries. While ASEAN is wary of intensifying tensions in the Sino-US relations, Korea’s embrace of Indo-Pacific strategy may send a wrong signal that Korea is siding with the US at the expense of its relations with China. However, the aim of launching its own Indo-Pacific strategy is to strengthen Korea’s foothold as a “global pivotal state” that contributes to the peace and prosperity of the region, which is essentially equivalent to that of the NSP. What matters to ASEAN, though, is where ASEAN stands in Korea’s Indo-Pacific strategy and whether Korea can reach out enough to ASEAN in formulating its regional strategy. More diplomatic outreach and consultation with ASEAN are needed to expound Korea’s vision on Indo-Pacific regional order.
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