South Korea in the Context of US-China Competition

This book provides an in-depth examination of South Korea’s position within the emerging tensions arising from the deepening geopolitical and geoeconomic competition between the US and China.

The contributions to this book examine the various forms of diplomatic strategy and economic statecraft that the South Korean state is deploying to deal with the challenges posed by the rise of the so-called “new Cold War.” The book reveals how US-China tensions are impacting the country’s relations with third countries and regional organisations such as Japan and ASEAN, as well as with regional security organisations such as NATO. The book also utilises case studies which highlight the impact of US-China competition on specific economic sectors, such as semiconductors and fisheries, and examines how South Korea’s cultural industries contribute to the countries soft power vis-à-vis the US and China.

Looking beyond state-centric approaches as to how a variety of actors at multiple scales are negotiating these growing US-China tensions, this book will appeal to students and scholars of Korean politics, East Asian politics and international relations, particularly the US and China.