South Korean diplomacy: the wheels are coming off

Since President Lee Jae Myung assumed office in June 2025, the South Korean foreign policy has faced significant challenges. Despite previous compliments given to his administration, the situation has taken a turn for the worse. Currently, Seoul is struggling with issues related to the United States, Ukraine, and North Korea.

Upon taking office, Lee faced a complex diplomatic environment marked by competing pressures from Washington and Beijing. The United States, under President Donald Trump, had become increasingly demanding of allies, including South Korea, in terms of security and economic cooperation. Meanwhile, China remained a challenging economic partner for South Korean industry and a regional security actor with unclear objectives concerning North Korea.

In an effort to reduce dependency on the U.S. and China, Seoul sought to strengthen strategic partnerships with various countries. This included enhancing relations with Japan, European nations, Australia, Singapore, and Canada. Additionally, the administration focused on fostering connections with Global South states that possess significant commercial or resource potential.