Understanding South Korea's National Security Strategy

Key take-away: This iteration of strategy lasts only as long as the administration

For those outside of South Korea, or unfamiliar with South Korea’s government traditions, there may be some confusion regarding the recently released National Security Strategy. As I often explain to people, South Korea does not do foreign policy (or maybe anything) like back home. This is evident the moment one opens the document and is confronted with the cover page (see above).

The cover page explicitly states that the document is “The Yoon Suk Yeol Administration’s” national security strategy. The title therefore implies it is not necessarily the Republic of Korea’s national security strategy. If the reader doubted ownership, the sub-title reinforces it with the loud political catchphrase “Global Pivotal State for Freedom, Peace, and Prosperity”. This iteration of strategy lasts only as long as the administration.

When a national security document is released in the U.S, U.K. Australia, Canada, Japan, or Europe, the document is prepared to address changes in the security environment…