As US-China rivalry intensifies, small and middle-sized states are under increasing pressure to maintain their strategic autonomy. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is no exception. In an effort to defuse tensions surrounding the region, ASEAN leaders adopted the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) during the 34th ASEAN summit last year. The AOIP came out of the need to reaffirm ASEAN’s centrality in addressing the evolving Indo-Pacific construct and mitigate great-power frictions in the region. This manuscript discusses key takeaways from the AOIP and its implications for Korea’s New Southern Policy.