South Korea’s new president, Lee Jae-myung, is facing the complex challenge of balancing the country’s economic reliance on China with its security alliance with the United States. Lee, of the progressive Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), took office in June following a snap election, and his administration’s foreign policy is being closely watched for its direction on regional power dynamics.
While Lee’s predecessor, Yoon Suk Yeol, adopted a more confrontational approach to China, Lee has signaled a shift toward “pragmatic diplomacy.” During his campaign, Lee argued that “overt antagonism serves neither South Korea’s national interests nor its alliance with Washington.” He has emphasized the need for cooperation with China, which remains South Korea’s largest trading partner. This stance is a departure from the previous government’s “values-based diplomacy,” which sought to align with democracies to counter autocracies.
However, Lee’s administration has also reaffirmed its commitment to the U.S.-South Korea alliance. He is scheduled to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump later this month to discuss trade and defense cooperation. Concerns have been raised in some quarters about how the alliance might “modernize” to focus more on China, potentially placing a greater burden on Seoul. The Lee administration’s foreign minister has also made statements critical of China’s actions in the South China Sea, indicating a nuanced approach rather than a full embrace of Beijing.
