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Korea Herald
15 hours ago
- Business
- Korea Herald
[Lee Byung-jong] President Lee's pragmatic diplomacy
Less than two weeks into office, President Lee Jae Myung is already busy shaping a new course for South Korea's foreign policy — one he describes as 'pragmatic diplomacy.' His packed diplomatic calendar signals both urgency and ambition. Earlier this week, he attended the G7 summit in Canada at the invitation of the host, marking South Korea's return to global diplomacy after six months of absence during the country's turbulent leadership transition. Later this month, he is scheduled to travel to the Netherlands to participate in the NATO summit as a representative of the alliance's Indo-Pacific partners. Despite criticism over the rushed pace and pending domestic challenges, Lee is determined to reestablish South Korea as a central player on the global stage. 'Democratic Korea is back,' declared national security adviser Wi Sung-lac. Still, many are asking: What does 'pragmatic diplomacy' actually mean in practice? Lee's approach marks a distinct departure from the 'values-based diplomacy' of his predecessor, Yoon Suk Yeol, who prioritized alliances with countries sharing democratic values. In contrast, Lee's strategy is rooted in flexibility and realpolitik — prioritizing economic interests and strategic outcomes over ideological alignment. In today's volatile geopolitical environment, with mounting tensions among global powers, Lee seems to be betting that ideological rigidity is a liability, not an asset. While the full contours of Lee's diplomatic doctrine are still emerging, his initial moves offer important clues. The order of his phone calls to world leaders in his first days in office has been particularly telling. As expected, his first call was to US President Donald Trump — a nod to the enduring importance of the South Korea-US alliance, especially on issues of trade and security. The 20-minute call reaffirmed the long-standing priority Korean presidents place on their alliance with Washington. More surprising was his second phone call — to Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru. Coming from a liberal background, Lee had been expected by some to reach out to China's Xi Jinping next, following the pattern of previous liberal leaders like President Moon Jae-in. Lee has, in the past, been critical of Japan's stance on historical issues, leading many to doubt whether he would prioritize Tokyo early on. However, this decision was widely interpreted as a signal of Lee's practical mindset and willingness to improve ties with Japan despite lingering historical grievances. Lee's third call to Xi Jinping was hardly unexpected, given that China remains South Korea's largest trading partner. But his fourth and fifth calls did raise eyebrows: He spoke with the leaders of the Czech Republic and Vietnam, countries often overlooked in the early stages of diplomatic outreach by past presidents. His rationale, again, was pragmatic. The Czech Republic recently awarded a 26 trillion-won nuclear power plant construction deal to a South Korean bid — a hard-won contract that edged out fierce competition from France. Lee's outreach aims to solidify that economic relationship and possibly expand it. Vietnam, meanwhile, is South Korea's third-largest trading partner and the leading destination for Korean foreign investment, making it a natural choice for early engagement. The sequence of these conversations echoes one of Lee's key refrains: 'The economy is security, and security is the economy.' His decision to attend the G7 and NATO summits underscores this philosophy. At the G7, discussions focused heavily on global trade friction — particularly the fallout from President Trump's protectionist tariffs. With trade accounting for 80 percent of South Korea's GDP, these are matters Seoul cannot afford to ignore. His participation in the NATO summit is more delicate. Lee had previously expressed reservations about Korea getting too involved in European security matters, especially the war in Ukraine. However, Europe is now a growing market for South Korean defense exports. From that angle, attending the NATO meeting is less about ideology and more about ensuring access to new economic opportunities. But Lee's pragmatic diplomacy will soon face its toughest challenge: North Korea. A purely practical foreign policy could falter if Lee reverts to the liberal camp's traditional approach of engagement with Pyongyang at the expense of alignment with key allies. President Moon Jae-in, for example, pursued such a strategy, which strained Seoul's trilateral coordination with Washington and Tokyo. That fragile alliance, revitalized under President Yoon, President Biden, and former Japanese Prime Minister Kishida in the 2023 Camp David summit, could be tested once more — especially now that all three leaders have exited the political stage. Despite his calls for pragmatic diplomacy, Lee may find himself pulled back toward a more ideological, nationalistic foreign policy. Personnel choices offer early signs of this tension. National security adviser Wi Sung-lac is widely viewed as an advocate of strong alliances, particularly with the US and other democratic partners. But Lee's pick for National Intelligence Service chief, Lee Jong-seok — a former Unification Minister — is a well-known proponent of an independent foreign policy that places inter-Korean relations above external alliances. These two key advisers, representing opposing schools of thought, could end up pulling President Lee in divergent directions, risking confusion and inconsistency in policy execution. In short, President Lee's diplomatic approach shows promise in its economic focus and global engagement. His outreach to non-traditional partners and participation in key summits signal an intent to broaden South Korea's international standing. But this pragmatic posture will only succeed if it can maintain consistency and resist being derailed by ideological pulls — especially when it comes to North Korea. The balancing act between idealism and realism, between national pride and global cooperation, will define the credibility and effectiveness of Lee's foreign policy in the years to come.
Straits Times
11-06-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
At G-7 summit, S. Korea's President Lee faces delicate balance in US-China rivalry
South Korea's new President Lee Jae-myung and his wife Kim Hye-kyung (left) at the Seoul National Cemetery on June 6. PHOTO: REUTERS – As South Korea's new President Lee Jae-myung gears up for his international diplomacy debut at the Group of Seven (G-7) summit next week, all eyes are on whether he will be made to pick sides in the Sino-American rivalry. Mr Lee has acknowledged that the South Korea-US alliance remains the foundation of South Korea's diplomacy and security, and has pledged to strengthen the alliance along with the trilateral partnership with Japan. But he has also said South Korea should not be made to choose between the United States and China and 'put all our eggs in one basket'. Mr Lee was elected with a 49.42 per cent mandate in a snap election on June 3 after his predecessor Yoon Suk Yeol's failed martial law bid saw the former leader deposed by the country's Constitutional Court. Mr Lee's win under the liberal flag, which traditionally prioritises relations with China and engagement with North Korea, has Washington watching his foreign policy directions closely, said Dr Lee Seong-hyon, a senior fellow at the Washington-based George H.W. Bush Foundation for US-China Relations. The previous conservative administration under Yoon had antagonised Beijing by openly taking sides with the US, and also seeding rife speculation of Chinese espionage and interference in South Korean domestic politics. During his election campaign, Mr Lee had taken a more centrist stance by repeatedly emphasising a non-committal 'pragmatic diplomacy' to maximise South Korea's national interests. Amid growing rivalry between the two superpowers, however, Mr Lee's vision, which requires a delicate balancing act between its biggest security ally, the US, and its largest trading partner, China, will likely be put to the test. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth had earlier cautioned allies against playing both sides by 'seeking both economic cooperation with China and defence cooperation with the United States', during his speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue, an annual defence and security forum, on May 31 in Singapore. Mr Hegseth had also urged allies to increase their defence spending as regional deterrence against China. Seoul's share of the defence cost-sharing for US troops stationed in South Korea has been a major bugbear of US President Donald Trump, who has said that 'money machine' South Korea can afford to pay much more. Recent leaked plans about the possibility of the US redeploying its forces stationed in South Korea to other parts of the Pacific to exercise 'strategic flexibility' in its plans to contain China, also called into question the commitment of US security in the region. South Korea's participation as an observing country at the G-7 summit on June 15-17 in Vancouver is, thus, seen as important. Issues related to China, Russia and North Korea are expected to feature high on the meeting agenda. Besides the US, other members of the political and economic forum are Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom. Seoul is also pushing hard for a face-to-face meeting between Mr Lee and Mr Trump on the sidelines of the meeting to ride on the momentum of the first phone call between the two leaders that took place on June 6. The 20-minute courtesy call had ended with an agreement to meet in person at the earliest possible opportunity for more in-depth talks. The call had taken place later than usual – three days after Mr Lee was elected – causing concern when it had not happened. Past South Korean presidents had traditionally spoken to their biggest ally either on the day of their election or the day after. A cryptic congratulatory message issued by the White House after the election had affirmed the 'ironclad alliance' between the US and South Korea , before going on to express concern over 'Chinese interference and influence in democracies around the world'. That had fuelled speculation that the message was a hint for the new Lee administration to distance itself from Beijing. While Washington does not expect Mr Lee's administration to 'diverge significantly from the established US-South Korea alliance framework', it will, nevertheless, be keenly watching any potential policy reversals, such as weakening ties with Japan while gravitating towards China and resuming inter-Korean engagement, Dr Lee told The Straits Times. Research fellow Lee Dong-gyu, from the Asan Institute for Policy Studies in Seoul, said the broaching of the idea of a US troop drawdown could be a diplomatic signal to South Korea to step up and play 'an augmented role' to contain China. 'But if the new government under Mr Lee pursues a revitalisation of South Korea-China relations, then it may result in the erosion of the US' containment efforts,' he said. While it is clear that President Lee's priority is in forging ties with Mr Trump and to iron out tariff negotiations before the July 9 deadline, rising tensions over Chinese-built structures in the South Korea-China Provisional Maritime Zone in the West Sea will also be an immediate test of his diplomacy tight-rope act, said international politics professor Mason Richey from Hankuk University of Foreign Studies. He added that Seoul needs to be prepared to respond strategically, and 'to be clear with China that even though they are economic partners, South Korea will not be easily bullied'. After his first phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping on June 10, Mr Lee has called China an important partner to South Korea 'in all aspects, including economy and security' and that he looks forward to developing relations between Seoul and Beijing. Mr Lee has also asked China to play a constructive role for the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula, to which Mr Xi replied that promoting peace and stability on the peninsula was a matter of mutual interest to both South Korea and China. Carnegie Mellon Institute for Strategy and Technology's non-resident fellow, Dr Troy Stangarone, told ST that while the new administration's repairing of relations with China is a priority after the deterioration of ties under the previous Yoon administration, it will need to 'take a realistic view of the relationship'. He believes that Mr Lee would likely have a bit more time before being made to pick sides between the US and China at the G-7 summit, as South Korea is ultimately not a member country but just an observer. However, he warns that 'geostrategic shifts and US-China rivalry may create limits to improving relations with China'. 'The Lee administration should focus its efforts on maintaining good economic ties while also working to bring China back as a constructive partner for dealing with the North Korean nuclear issue,' he said. Wendy Teo is The Straits Times' South Korea correspondent based in Seoul. She covers issues concerning the two Koreas. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Observer
07-06-2025
- Business
- Observer
S Korea's new leader talks tariffs in Trump call
SEOUL: South Korea's new leader Lee Jae-myung and Donald Trump agreed in a phone call to work towards a tariff deal, Seoul said, as a deadline approaches to avoid punishing US levies. Lee won a thumping victory in South Korea's election this week after months of political turmoil in Asia's fourth-largest economy. In a call between the two leaders, they "agreed to work towards a mutually satisfactory agreement on bilateral tariff negotiations," according to Lee's office. "To that end, they agreed to encourage working-level negotiations to yield tangible results," a statement said. During the phone call with Trump, Lee "emphasised the importance of the South Korea-US alliance as the foundation of the country's diplomacy". "They praised each other's leadership and affirmed their commitment to strengthening the alliance through close cooperation," Lee's office said. Washington is Seoul's long-time security ally and has around 28,500 troops stationed in South Korea. The allies signed a new five-year agreement last year on sharing the cost of stationing US troops in South Korea, with Seoul agreeing to raise its contribution by 8.3 per cent to 1.52 trillion won for 2026. — AFP
The Star
07-06-2025
- Business
- The Star
South Korea's Lee, Trump agree to pursue deal on tariffs in first phone call
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung speaks with US President Donald Trump by phone on June 6, 2025, local time. - Photo: South Korea's Office of the President SEOUL: (Bernama-Yonhap) South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and United States (US) President Donald Trump have agreed to work towards a "mutually satisfactory' agreement on US tariffs, during their first phone conversation since Lee assumed office earlier this week. According to Yonhap news agency, the 20-minute call took place on Thursday (June 5) and was described by the presidential office as friendly and constructive. Trump congratulated Lee on his recent election victory. In response, Lee reaffirmed that the South Korea-US alliance remains the foundation of Seoul's foreign policy, presidential spokesperson Kang Yu Jung said in a written briefing. "The two leaders agreed to work toward swiftly reaching a mutually satisfactory agreement,' the office said, referring to ongoing negotiations on tariffs. To that end, they agreed to encourage tangible outcomes in working-level talks.' The call came just two days after Lee's inauguration, marking a return to high-level diplomacy following the ouster of former President Yoon Suk Yeol in April over his failed martial law attempt. Lee and Trump discussed a range of bilateral issues, including the July 8 deadline to resolve tariff negotiations. In April, the Trump administration imposed 25 per cent tariffs on South Korean goods but granted a three-month suspension to allow time for talks. The presidential office confirmed that Trump invited Lee to visit the US. Lee welcomed the idea and expressed hope for frequent consultations between the allies. Both sides agreed to arrange a face-to-face meeting at the earliest opportunity -- either on the sidelines of a multilateral forum or through an official bilateral visit -- for more in-depth discussions on strengthening the alliance. Potential venues being considered include the upcoming Group of Seven (G7) summit in Canada from June 15 to 17 and the NATO summit in the Netherlands from June 24 to 25. Lee's office described the call as "friendly and casual,' noting that it helped build rapport and trust between the two leaders while setting the stage for further dialogue on bilateral issues. - Bernama-Yonhap
The Sun
07-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
S Korea's Lee, Trump agree to pursue deal on tariffs in first phone call
SEOUL: South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and United States (US) President Donald Trump have agreed to work towards a 'mutually satisfactory' agreement on US tariffs, during their first phone conversation since Lee assumed office earlier this week. According to Yonhap news agency, the 20-minute call took place on Thursday and was described by the presidential office as friendly and constructive. Trump congratulated Lee on his recent election victory. In response, Lee reaffirmed that the South Korea-US alliance remains the foundation of Seoul's foreign policy, presidential spokesperson Kang Yu Jung said in a written briefing. 'The two leaders agreed to work toward swiftly reaching a mutually satisfactory agreement,' the office said, referring to ongoing negotiations on tariffs. To that end, they agreed to encourage tangible outcomes in working-level talks.' The call came just two days after Lee's inauguration, marking a return to high-level diplomacy following the ouster of former President Yoon Suk Yeol in April over his failed martial law attempt. Lee and Trump discussed a range of bilateral issues, including the July 8 deadline to resolve tariff negotiations. In April, the Trump administration imposed 25 per cent tariffs on South Korean goods but granted a three-month suspension to allow time for talks. The presidential office confirmed that Trump invited Lee to visit the US. Lee welcomed the idea and expressed hope for frequent consultations between the allies. Both sides agreed to arrange a face-to-face meeting at the earliest opportunity -- either on the sidelines of a multilateral forum or through an official bilateral visit -- for more in-depth discussions on strengthening the alliance. Potential venues being considered include the upcoming Group of Seven (G7) summit in Canada from June 15 to 17 and the NATO summit in the Netherlands from June 24 to 25. Lee's office described the call as 'friendly and casual,' noting that it helped build rapport and trust between the two leaders while setting the stage for further dialogue on bilateral issues.
