PDF South Korea’s Middle-power Diplomacy: Download
- Author: Sung-Mi Kim
- Publisher:
- ISBN: 9781784131500
- Category : Korea (South)
- Languages : en
- Pages : 16
This paper attempts to unpick the analytical problems and practical challenges underlying South Korea’s middle-power diplomacy. Understanding why the administrations of presidents Roh Moohyun (2003–08), Lee Myung-bak (2008–13) and Park Geun-hye (since 2013) have defined middle power in markedly different ways is not only necessary for an informed view of recent South Korean geopolitical strategy, but can also improve future policy communication and implementation. This paper analyses the variations in middle-power thinking that have informed policy narratives under Roh, Lee and Park, and examines the conceptual foundations of their respective discourses. It further sets out how each government has understood and operationalized the concept of middle power, and what the policy implications have been.