ABSTRACT
In this chapter, Kim, Howe, et al. assess the extent to which South Korea has directly engaged in its middle power niche diplomacy with development and human security, two of the three key elements of with which this volume deals, and, through spillover, indirectly with the third, peacebuilding. The chapter is divided into three sections. The first examines South Korea’s foreign policy through ODA since 2010 when it became an OECD DAC member. The second reviews South Korea’s promotion of human security through its ODA (and other policy vehicles). The final, concluding section comprises an analysis of South Korea’s engagement as a middle power in its diplomacy. The authors point to continuity among successive governments on the theme of “principled foreign policy.” These have included the “contribution diplomacy” and “Global Korea” agenda pursued by the Lee Myung-bak administration, the Park Geun-hye administration’s emphasis on the interrelatedness of development cooperation, security, and “middle power diplomacy,” and the diplomatic policy platform of the new Moon Jae-in administration, which includes the Global South Policy. This initiative, still under development, is expected to continue and expand the emphasis on the potential of ASEAN countries (and India) as significant development partners for South Korea.
