[News analysis] The double-sided nature of South Korea’s rising diplomatic affect

President Lee Jae Myung of South Korea shakes fingers with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz as they meet on the sidelines of the Group of 20 summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Nov. 22, 2025. (Yonhap)

As tensions rise between China and Japan towards the backdrop of the continued US-China rivalry, main world powers have continued to ask South Korea for its perspective on the problems and monitor its response. 

Korea’s financial and cultural progress has seen its diplomatic affect develop through the years, establishing it as a rustic with an essential say on issues that may function a reference for others.
 
Throughout their talks on the margins of the Group of 20 summit in South Africa on Saturday, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz requested South Korean President Lee Jae Myung about “South Korea’s stance on China,” as Germany is “presently grappling” with its China technique.

Following his inauguration in Could, Merz, who can be the chief of the conservative-leaning Christian Democratic Union, is trying to interrupt away from China, arguing that overreliance on the nation might result in provide chain and expertise safety dangers.
 
Lee sidestepped the query on Korea’s China technique and talked about South Korea’s considerations about reunification by stating, “Now we have a lot to be taught from Germany, because it has set many precedents because it paved its personal path.” 

However this episode was unprecedented in that it concerned Germany, the third-largest economic system on the planet after the US and China, asking Korea about its China coverage.
 
Whereas engaged in a turbulent battle after Japan hinted at doable army intervention within the occasion of a Taiwan contingency, China and Japan are striving to keep up secure relations with Korea.
 
When a state media journalist requested China to make clear its stance on Japan’s claims over the Korean island of Dokdo, the Chinese language International Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning mentioned, “The assorted provocative remarks and actions we’ve seen over the previous few weeks from Japan have prompted alarm, condemnation and protests from its neighboring international locations,” successfully stating that China stood with Korea.
 
Whereas China has been vocal about its declare of sovereignty over the disputed territory of the Daioyu Islands — referred to as the Senkaku Islands in Japan, which additionally claims them — it has historically stayed quiet on the difficulty of Dokdo, till now. China can be abstaining from lashing out in response to Korea’s plan to construct nuclear-powered submarines in cooperation with the US.
 
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who took workplace in October, can be persevering with the development of strengthening Korea-Japan ties. 

“[Lee] gave me the impression that he was a pacesetter who may acknowledge the identical issues as us within the present political local weather,” Takaichi mentioned as she addressed the Japanese Home of Representatives on Nov. 7, following her summit with Lee on the finish of October. Takaichi has made an effort to keep away from triggering a battle with Korea by stating that she’s going to stick with it the legacy of the Murayama Assertion — notable for expressing apology for Japan’s wartime atrocities — regardless of having been important of former Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama when she was a lawmaker.
 
From a historic perspective, the truth that main powers are eager to listen to Korea’s stance on present diplomatic points could seem uncommon. Korea has primarily targeted its diplomatic efforts on the Korean Peninsula and has seldom acted as a game-changer in different agenda gadgets in world politics.
 
Nonetheless, as conflicts erupt everywhere in the world, the choices made by Korea, which has grown to be on par with many G10 nations, have taken on new weight. 

The worldwide group can be specializing in Korea partly as a result of its heightened diplomatic presence following the inauguration of the Lee administration in June, because it hosted the Asia-Pacific Financial Cooperation, or APEC, summit in October and demonstrated its affect in varied multilateral and bilateral diplomatic venues. 
 
Some predict that we’ll see a rise in inquiries from the worldwide group about Seoul’s views on a wide range of international coverage points that aren’t restricted to Northeast Asia. Whereas the previous Yoon Suk-yeol administration’s “values-based” international coverage concerned siding with specific camps, the Lee administration is taking a extra impartial stance, which implies that international locations that obtain Korea’s help may achieve vital political and diplomatic leverage.
 
“Korea’s diplomatic energy has grown as a result of the truth that it displayed nice management whereas efficiently internet hosting APEC, a global convention, and because it autonomously resolved commerce points regardless of the US’ opposition to free commerce. As such, the worldwide group now considers it helpful to control Korea,” commented Hong Hyun-ik, former director of the Korea Nationwide Diplomatic Academy.
 
As Korea’s decisions tackle higher weight, the nation can even shoulder higher obligations. Taking the facet of 1 social gathering will now include robust backlash from the snubbed social gathering. The current China-Japan battle is an efficient instance.
 
Whereas the Lee administration has maintained a stance of preserving pleasant relations with Japan whereas managing China ties, if the 2 international locations demand that Korea take a stand as conflicts escalate to the brink of disaster, Korea will discover itself going through a big diplomatic problem. It is going to be left in an advanced scenario the place it should remedy a convoluted international affairs dilemma.

By Shin Hyeong-cheol, workers reporter

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