China-South Korea ties enter new era as president-elect Yoon Suk-yeol signals a reset
- South Korean president-elect Yoon Suk-yeol is looking to reset relations with China and is likely to bolster ties with the US, a traditional security partner
- Analysts expect South Korea to join Washington’s Indo-Pacific trade framework and play a key role in a new US-centred supply chain
The election of conservative Yoon Suk-yeol as South Korea’s next president has raised questions over the future direction of relations between Seoul and Beijing, with the former prosecutor making clear he plans to strengthen trade and security ties with Washington.
Yoon has taken a harder stance on China than outgoing liberal president Moon Jae-in, who has placed considerable importance on ties with the world’s No 2 economy, both in terms of trade and its ability to help negotiate with North Korea.
China is by far South Korea’s largest trading partner, snapping up 25 per cent of Korea’s total exports in 2021, helping push bilateral trade to a record US$301.5 billion.
But the escalating rivalry between Beijing and Washington has posed a dilemma for Seoul, which must balance economic ties with China and its traditional security relationship with the US.
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Who is South Korea’s newly elected president Yoon Suk-yeol and what are his plans?
