| ID | 192225 |
| Title Proper | South Korea’s New Southern Policy and the Middle Power Quest |
| Other Title Information | Implications for India-Korea Relations |
| Language | ENG |
| Author | John, Jojin V |
| Summary / Abstract (Note) | This article provides an Indian perspective on the evolution of South Korea’s New Southern Policy (NSP-K) and its implications for the two countries’ bilateral relations. It argues that, amid the intensification of regional great power geopolitics, NSP-K manifests Korea’s assertion of middle power agency, featuring a quest for regional influence and autonomy. As an instrument intended to strengthen relations with India and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), NSP-K was driven by a desire to reduce Korea’s great power dependence and promote its image as a bilateral partner through an agenda of economic and diplomatic diversification. The evolution of NSP-K as Korea’s regional approach and its ambiguous position on the Indo-Pacific concept manifested the Moon administration’s prioritisation of ‘balanced diplomacy’ and the pursuit of ‘strategic autonomy’ in regional affairs. NSP-K, with its emphasis on the upgrading of India’s status in Korean foreign policy, has significantly contributed to the visibility and prospects of India-Korea bilateral relations. However, Korea’s ambiguity on the Indo-Pacific concept and its neglect of geostrategic and security issues, which New Delhi sees as critical in building a stable regional order, has become a limitation. |
| `In' analytical Note | Asian Affairs Vol. 54, No.2; Jun 2023: p.327-341 |
| Journal Source | Asian Affairs Vol: 54 No 2 |
| Key Words | India-Korea Relations ; South Korea’s New Southern Policy ; Middle Power Quest |