South Korea’s Foreign Policy after 2022 Presidential Elections

Abstract

The opposite People Power Party candidate Yoon Suk-yeol won the presidential elections that were held in
Republic of Korea on March 9, 2022. The subsequent taking of the office by conservative administration couldn’t but
cause the transformation of foreign policy priorities of Seoul, the analysis of which is provided in the present article.
The authors have examined key foreign policy initiatives of the new South Korean government, presented in official
documents and keynote speeches of newly elected president. The authors’ conclusions are drawn upon the examination
of "120 Policy Tasks" plan of South Korean government, Joint Statement and press-conference materials following May
2022 US-ROK summit, as well as a wide range of media sources. The authors conclude that in the coming years the
South Korean foreign policy priorities will be determined by the enhancement of economic, technological and defense
cooperation with the US, as well as by the Yoon Suk-yeol efforts to improve and "restore" relations with Japan. Such
priorities will lead to increasing complexity of ROK’s interactions with US’ opponents, in relations with which Seoul will
attempt to seek trade-offs and maneuver