Foreign policy of the Yoon Suk Yeol government

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Yoon Suk Yeol departing from Seoul Airport for a state visit to the United Kingdom in November 2023 President Yoon Seoul Airport 01 (53343425071).jpg
Yoon Suk Yeol departing from Seoul Airport for a state visit to the United Kingdom in November 2023

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol held the South Korea-Africa Summit and the Korea-Pacific Islands Summit to strengthen economic cooperation with these regions. The Indo-Pacific Strategy to strengthen solidarity with Indo-Pacific countries was also announced in the first year of his administration. [1]

Contents

In 2023, when he visited Ukraine after the NATO Summit, the Framework Agreement on the External Economic Development Cooperation Fund was signed between the two countries. Additionally, an additional financial support package of $150 million was also announced. [2]

Appointments

Cho Tae-yeol, who was nominated as Minister of Foreign Affairs in 2023, has worked at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs since 1979, serving as Ambassador to the United Nations, Second Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Ambassador to Spain.

Asia

East Asia

China, Taiwan, and the South China Sea

China-Japan-South Korea trilateral summit held in Seoul in 2024 Ling He 6Nian Ri Zhong Han samitsutoChu Xi Deng 2Ri Mu  (3).jpg
China–Japan–South Korea trilateral summit held in Seoul in 2024

In March 2023, Yoon called tensions between China and Taiwan a global problem and described the recent heightened tensions as "attempts to change the status quo by force." In response, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong expressed his displeasure by telling the South Korean ambassador to make “solemn representation” China also expressed “strong dissatisfaction” with Yoon's remarks, calling them “totally unacceptable.” [3]

Before his state visit to the UK in November 2023, President Yoon pointed out the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and rules-based maritime order in the South China Sea. [4]

Japan

President Yoon and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, September 2023 KISHIDA Fumio, Prime Minister of Japan talks to Mr. YOON Suk Yeol, President of the Republic of Korea in New Delhi, India on 10 September 2023.jpg
President Yoon and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, September 2023

In March 2024, President Yoon said that South Korea and Japan are partners pursuing world peace and prosperity moving toward a new future. [5]

South Asia

India

At a bilateral meeting held at the 2023 G20 New Delhi summit in September 2023, Yoon and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi agreed that the two countries would strengthen defense and space cooperation to strengthen strategic relations in the Indo-Pacific region. [6]

In December 2023, Yoon said on X that he hopes to further strengthen the special strategic partnership with India on the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations with India, and that he looks forward to working with Prime Minister Modi. [7]

Southeast Asia

Philippines

In November 2022, Yoon held a summit with Philippine President Bongbong Marcos and the two countries agreed to strengthen cooperation in areas such as nuclear energy, infrastructure, and national defense. Yoon asked Marcos to provide support for South Korean companies to participate in various infrastructure projects being planned in the Philippines. [8]

In September 2023, the South Korea-Philippines Free Trade Agreement was signed in Jakarta, Indonesia. As a result, the 5% tariff imposed on South Korean automobiles will be abolished as soon as the FTA takes effect, and the up to 30% tariff imposed on automobile parts will be abolished within 5 years. [9]

Central Asia

From July 10 to 16, 2024, Yoon visited Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan. It was part of diplomatic efforts to strengthen economic ties with resource-rich countries amid uncertainty in global supply chains. Yoon introduced the K-Silk Road initiative, which focuses on creating a new cooperation model by linking South Korea's innovative capabilities with Central Asia's abundant resources and development potential. [10]

Europe

France

In November 2023, Yoon had breakfast and had a summit meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace. The two countries agreed to strengthen cooperation on advanced technology and climate change issues. Strengthening cooperation in the development of new and renewable energy, including future high-tech industries, climate change, coal phase-out, and energy transition, was heavily discussed. [11]

United Kingdom

South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul and the UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, July 2024 Foreign Secretary David Lammy attends the ASEAN Foreign Ministers meeting in Laos (53882085853).jpg
South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul and the UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, July 2024

In November 2023, Yoon made a state visit to the United Kingdom to commemorate the 140th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between South Korea and the UK. In his speech to both houses of Parliament, Yoon emphasized the importance of comprehensive relations between the two countries. He said both countries face geopolitical risks, including the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas conflict. [12]

"Together, we will build a free and open international order. Together, we will cultivate sustainable growth and prosperity for all of humanity."

Yoon Suk Yeol

Denmark

President Yoon and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, September 2023 KOREA-DENMARK Summit 01 (September 18, 2023).jpg
President Yoon and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, September 2023

In September 2023, Yoon mentioned strengthening green growth cooperation between the two countries during a meeting with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. Frederiksen called for expanded cooperation to include areas such as offshore wind, eco-friendly shipping, sustainable agriculture, and even quantum technologies. [13]

Ukraine

In 2023, when Yoon visited Ukraine after the 2023 NATO Summit, the Framework Agreement on the External Economic Development Cooperation Fund was signed between the two countries. Additionally, an additional financial support package of $150 million was also announced. [14]

In July 2024, at the 2024 NATO Summit, South Korea announced plans to double its NATO trust fund contribution to Ukraine to $24 million in 2025. [15]

Americas

United States

United States President Joe Biden and President Yoon, April 2023 P20230426CS-2729.jpg
United States President Joe Biden and President Yoon, April 2023

The Yoon administration expanded the Korea-United States alliance to technology and supply chain cooperation as strategic competition between the US and China intensified. Yoon visited the United States four times in 2023, including a state visit to the United States in April 2023, the US-South Korea-Japan summit at Camp David in August 2023, the United Nations General Assembly in New York in September, and the APEC Summit in San Francisco in November. [16]

United States Vice President Kamala Harris and Yoon, April 2023 Vice President Harris and President Yoon at GSFC (NHQ202304250009).jpg
United States Vice President Kamala Harris and Yoon, April 2023

In April 2023, Yoon visited the Goddard Space Flight Center with U.S. Vice President, Kamala Harris, and agreed to work to strengthen the space alliance between South Korea and the United States. “We renew our commitment to strengthen our cooperation in the next frontier of our expanding alliance, and of course that is space,” Harris said at a joint news conference with Yoon. [17]

Canada

In May 2023, Yoon showed his will to strengthen cooperation with Canada, saying that there is great potential for economic cooperation between South Korea and Canada in the fields of clean energy and future industries including semiconductors, batteries, and artificial intelligence. [18]

In 2023, the two countries began their inaugural high-level economic security dialogue. [19]

Africa

Yoon said at the Korea-Africa Business Summit that South Korea will build important mineral partnerships with major African countries to develop the continent's resources in a mutually beneficial way. In addition, the Korea-Africa Summit promoted Korea-Africa relations by adopting a joint declaration on economic cooperation and agreeing to start a ministerial-level mineral dialogue. [20]

"We [South Korea and Africa] hope to expand mutually beneficial resource cooperation by establishing the Critical Minerals Partnership with major African countries."

President Yoon’s keynote speech at the Korea-Africa Business Summit

NATO

From left, New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, Yoon, U.S. President Joe Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, and Australian Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles Fumio Kishida attend the IP4 Summit during the 2024 NATO summit (7).jpg
From left, New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, Yoon, U.S. President Joe Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, and Australian Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles

Yoon has been attending North Atlantic Treaty Organization summit meetings since his inauguration. South Korea is one of NATO global partners. [21] The NATO summits that President Yoon attended are as follows:

YearCountryHost leader
2022 Flag of Spain.svg  Spain Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez
2023 Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania President Gitanas Nausėda
2024 Flag of the United States.svg  United States President of the United States Joe Biden

See also

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References

  1. "South Korea eyes global reach with new Indo-Pacific strategy". The Korea Herald . December 28, 2022. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
  2. "Yoon promises package of security, humanitarian, reconstruction aid for Ukraine". Yonhap News . July 15, 2023. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
  3. "China lodges complaint over S. Korean president's Taiwan remarks". The Korea Times . April 23, 2023. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
  4. "Yoon's mention of Taiwan Strait, South China Sea intended to stress importance of rules-based order: Seoul official". The Korea Times . November 22, 2023. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
  5. "Yoon says S. Korea, Japan are partners as they overcome 'painful past'". Yonhap News Agency . March 1, 2024. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
  6. "Yoon, Modi agree to boost cooperation in defense, space". Yonhap News Agency . September 10, 2023. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
  7. "Yoon voices hopes to strengthen special strategic partnership with India". Yonhap News Agency . December 10, 2023. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
  8. "Yoon, Philippine president discuss cooperation in nuclear power". The Korea Times . November 22, 2022. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
  9. "Yoon attends S. Korea-Philippines FTA signing ceremony". Yonhap News Agency . September 7, 2023. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
  10. "(News Focus) Yoon focuses on critical minerals during Central Asia trip". Yonhap News Agency . June 15, 2024.
  11. "Yoon, French president agree to strengthen cooperation in advanced technology". Yonhap News Agency . November 24, 2023. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
  12. "'Korea-UK friendship to turn challenges into opportunities,' Yoon says in parliamentary address". The Korea Times . November 22, 2023.
  13. "Yoon holds talks with Czech, Danish counterparts before UN General Assembly". Korea JoongAng Daily . September 19, 2023. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
  14. "Yoon promises package of security, humanitarian, reconstruction aid for Ukraine". Yonhap News . July 15, 2023. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
  15. "S. Korea pledges $24 mln for NATO's assistant package for Ukraine". Yonhap News Agency . July 12, 2024. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
  16. "Yoon makes state visit to the United States, croons 'American Pie' [REWIND 2023]". Korea JoongAng Daily . December 25, 2023. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
  17. "Yoon, Harris agree to strengthen 'space alliance' in visit to NASA center". Korea JoongAng Daily . April 26, 2023.
  18. "Yoon, Trudeau agree to deepen partnership in critical minerals, youth exchanges". Korea JoongAng Daily . May 17, 2023.
  19. "Korea, Canada to hold inaugural high-level economic security dialogue next week". The Korea Times . May 11, 2023.
  20. "Yoon pledges to enhance critical mineral partnership with Africa". Yonhap News Agency . June 5, 2024. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
  21. "Yoon to hold over 10 bilateral meetings on sidelines of NATO summit". Yonhap News Agency . July 9, 2024. Retrieved July 13, 2024.