| Summary/Abstract |
If one understands North Korea’s provocations as terrorism rather than irregular
warfare, then terrorism is arguably a chronic national security threat to South Korea.
Similarly, the modernization of South Korea has put its citizens, corporations, and
soldiers out into the world and raised their exposure to traditional non-state (Islamic,
nationalist, and so on) terrorism. Yet South Korea’s two national security strategies
to date scarcely touch on the issue, while Korea’s foremost security journal, the
Korean Journal of Defense Analysis, has only published a handful of articles on
the topic. Hence, this article seeks to place terrorism more coherently within South
Korea’s growing grand strategy debate. It argues that Northern provocations fit
within post–9/11 thinking about terrorism, and that South Koreans are targets of
opportunity in the current salafist terror wave due to their alliance with America,
Protestant evangelization overseas, and status as Buddhists, Confucians, or
Christians in jihadists’ “clash of civilizations” mindset. Terrorism event counts
against South Koreans, including fatalities, are quantitatively presented. The totals
are low, so the threat, while new, is middling, not existential. South Korea need not
overreact as America arguably did to 9/11. Policies such as moderate homeland
security measures, distance from expansive U.S. goals in the war on terror, and a
wariness of Middle Eastern engagements are recommended.
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