ABSTRACT
Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1992, both South Korea and China have worked to develop a cordial bilateral relationship on a consistent basis. A number of structural conditions of the two countries, including physical proximity, cultural affinity and historical homogeneity, have served to set a solid foundation for cooperation and friendship. On top of them, the tradition of mutual economic interdependence and the diplomatic necessity of intimate cooperation for dealing with the North Korean issues have taken the leading role in driving the improvement of bilateral relationship between Seoul and Beijing. Given the statistical facts which show that South Korea increasingly depends on the China market for its economic prosperity, it looks natural for South Korea to emphasize the bilateral economic cooperation on the basis of the shared goal of long-term mutual prosperity (see Tables 9.1 and 9.2).1 In regard to the North Korean issues, South Korea needs China’s cooperation, not only in terms of dealing with nuclear dismantlement, but also in terms of Korean unification. As a unique patron of the Pyongyang regime, China is the only power able to exert political and diplomatic influence over Kim Jong-il.2
