Between autonomy and alliance: the evolution of South Korea’s alliance management strategy

To balance the rise of China and maintain its dominant position in the Asia–Pacific region, the United States has consistently urged its allies to bear a more significant share of strategic costs and alliance obligations. This has put substantial pressure on its ally, South Korea, and has become a central issue in South Korea’s alliance strategy. From the perspective of alliance management, this paper studies the evolution of South Korea’s strategy in response to US pressure and the factors that have led to these changes. The study found that the alliance management strategy of South Korea has shifted from seeking autonomy to reinforcing its alliance with the US. There are several key factors influencing this situation, including South Korea’s concerns about possible decoupling from the United States, South Koreans’ growing unfavourable view of China, and the impasse in South Korea’s policy towards North Korea. As a result of this adjustment, the positioning of the US–ROK alliance has been clarified, and cooperation has been further reinforced.