@article{ART003215130},
author={Kim Ae Kyung},
title={A Study on Factors Affecting South Korea-China Relations: Focusing on South Korea's Policies Toward the North Korea and the United States},
journal={Analyses & Alternatives},
issn={2508-822X},
year={2025},
volume={9},
number={2},
pages={67-94},
doi={10.22931/aanda.2025.9.2.003}
TY - JOUR
AU - Kim Ae Kyung
TI - A Study on Factors Affecting South Korea-China Relations: Focusing on South Korea's Policies Toward the North Korea and the United States
JO - Analyses & Alternatives
PY - 2025
VL - 9
IS - 2
PB - Korea Consensus Institute
SP - 67
EP - 94
SN - 2508-822X
AB - This article argues that the South Korean government‘s policy toward the U.S. and North Korea has affected South Korea-China relations. Progressive governments' U.S. policy aimed to strengthen the alliance while also seeking to expand diplomatic autonomy. In contrast, conservative governments placed greater emphasis on strengthening the alliance. The Yoon Suk-yeol administration went further by actively supporting the U.S. policy of containing China. While progressive governments sought stability and peace on the Korean Peninsula through North Korea's denuclearization and the development of relations with North Korea, conservative governments did not pursue the development of relations with North Korea unless denuclearization was a precondition. South Korea's U.S. and North Korea policies have influenced South Korea-China trade and China's cooperation on North Korea-related issues. South Korea’s policies toward the U.S. and North Korea have affected China’s cooperation on North Korea-related issues as well as South Korea-China trade. However, during unavoidable crises such as the financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic, this correlation was not as clear. When it comes to trade, the impact of South Korea’s U.S. and North Korea policies was relatively less significant compared to the North Korea issue. The periods when South Korea-China trade was most affected by these policies were during the latter half of the Park Geun-hye administration and under the Yoon Suk-yeol administration. During the latter half of Park Geun-hye’s presidency, China viewed South Korea’s decision to deploy the THAAD system as participation in the U.S. missile defense system aimed at countering China. The Yoon Suk-yeol administration has focused on actively supporting the U.S. policy of containing China. As a result, South Korea-China trade volume and trade balance decreased to an unprecedented extent. China's cooperation on North Korea-related issues showed a clear difference between progressive and conservative government periods except for North Korea's nuclear tests. Under progressive administrations, China was more cooperative on North Korea-related issues, while under conservative governments, China was relatively less cooperative. Instead, China expanded its economic cooperation with North Korea, moving in the opposite direction from the policies of South Korea’s conservative governments.
KW - South Korea-China relations;Policy toward the North Korea;Policy toward the United States;South Korea-China Trade;North Korea-related issues
DO - 10.22931/aanda.2025.9.2.003
ER -
Kim Ae Kyung. (2025). A Study on Factors Affecting South Korea-China Relations: Focusing on South Korea's Policies Toward the North Korea and the United States. Analyses & Alternatives, 9(2), 67-94.
Kim Ae Kyung. 2025, "A Study on Factors Affecting South Korea-China Relations: Focusing on South Korea's Policies Toward the North Korea and the United States", Analyses & Alternatives, vol.9, no.2 pp.67-94. Available from: doi:10.22931/aanda.2025.9.2.003
Kim Ae Kyung "A Study on Factors Affecting South Korea-China Relations: Focusing on South Korea's Policies Toward the North Korea and the United States" Analyses & Alternatives 9.2 pp.67-94 (2025) : 67.
Kim Ae Kyung. A Study on Factors Affecting South Korea-China Relations: Focusing on South Korea's Policies Toward the North Korea and the United States. 2025; 9(2), 67-94. Available from: doi:10.22931/aanda.2025.9.2.003
Kim Ae Kyung. "A Study on Factors Affecting South Korea-China Relations: Focusing on South Korea's Policies Toward the North Korea and the United States" Analyses & Alternatives 9, no.2 (2025) : 67-94.doi: 10.22931/aanda.2025.9.2.003
Kim Ae Kyung. A Study on Factors Affecting South Korea-China Relations: Focusing on South Korea's Policies Toward the North Korea and the United States. Analyses & Alternatives, 9(2), 67-94. doi: 10.22931/aanda.2025.9.2.003
Kim Ae Kyung. A Study on Factors Affecting South Korea-China Relations: Focusing on South Korea's Policies Toward the North Korea and the United States. Analyses & Alternatives. 2025; 9(2) 67-94. doi: 10.22931/aanda.2025.9.2.003
Kim Ae Kyung. A Study on Factors Affecting South Korea-China Relations: Focusing on South Korea's Policies Toward the North Korea and the United States. 2025; 9(2), 67-94. Available from: doi:10.22931/aanda.2025.9.2.003
Kim Ae Kyung. "A Study on Factors Affecting South Korea-China Relations: Focusing on South Korea's Policies Toward the North Korea and the United States" Analyses & Alternatives 9, no.2 (2025) : 67-94.doi: 10.22931/aanda.2025.9.2.003
