ABSTRACT
This chapter is prefaced by an analysis of South Korea’s cultural and political engagements with Iran since the Cold War era. It discusses the pragmatic relationship that defines ROK–Iran relations in spite of the strategic partnership that has existed between Iran and North Korea since the Iran–Iraq War. The chapter goes into depth at how South Korea’s bilateral relations with Iran has to a great extent been hamstrung by its longstanding alliance with the U.S. and continues to be subjected to the final outcome of Iran nuclear talks. Despite the significance of Park Geun-hye’s historic visit to Tehran in May 2016, the chapter implies that there are difficult days ahead in ROK–Iran relations since it has been derailed by the tensions between the Iranian hardliners and America’s Iran policy under the Trump administration.
