Introduction

Since the birth of the Republic of Korea in 1948, a number of significant changes in international and domestic politics have influenced that country's security policy. South Korean democratization in 1987 led to a new security initiative of nordpolitik (northern policy) and had a great impact on its international relations in the region. This chapter compares South Korea's security policy dynamics in terms of its international orientation, security goals/problems, security programs, and security adjustment changes. This comparison is made to acknowledge South Korea's strategic response to the transition in both international and domestic politics. During the Cold War era, domestic institutional determinants were closely related to authoritarian governments' regime security, while external systemic factors led South Korea to retain a strategic deterrence policy. The chapter discusses the historical legacy of South Korea and its general trends of security policy change.