President Yoon Suk Yeol has declared that the current diplomatic strategy known as "Anmi-gyeongjung"—which emphasizes security cooperation with the United States and economic ties with China—has "lost its validity." He announced plans to pursue a new foreign policy centered on national interests.
In an interview with the Italian daily Corriere della Sera during his state visit to Italy, Yoon stated, "I aim to develop a new approach based on national interests," emphasizing the need to strengthen economic cooperation with the U.S. while enhancing South Korea's self-defense capabilities in the security sector.
Yoon remarked, "Expanding economic cooperation with the U.S. in the most technologically advanced sectors will further strengthen our industrial competitiveness."
Regarding China, he acknowledged it as a key trading partner and an important player in supply chains, but he also noted, "It is undeniable that competition between the U.S. and China is intensifying," adding that "China's industrial competitiveness and technological capabilities continue to develop."
This suggests a shift towards finding a new balance in the economy, aiming to reduce unilateral dependence on specific countries and adapt to the changing international landscape focused on advanced industries.
In the security domain, Yoon reaffirmed the importance of the South Korea-U.S. alliance while stressing the need to enhance self-defense capabilities. He stated, "The alliance with the U.S. remains a fundamental pillar of South Korean diplomacy," but emphasized that the alliance must evolve to meet the new realities of our time and strengthen autonomous action capabilities.
He explained that self-reliance means having the ability to take direct responsibility for one's own security without relying on allies, stating, "Such a country becomes a trustworthy partner from the U.S. perspective."
Yoon highlighted that the South Korean government is pursuing policies to regain wartime operational control over its military and increase defense investments, which he noted aligns with U.S. interests.
On the significance of his visit to Italy, Yoon said, "South Korea will strengthen cooperation with Europe in advanced manufacturing and strategic supply chains," calling Italy an ideal partner in future industries.
He added, "In the context of complex crises such as the Ukraine war and conflicts in the Middle East, dialogue between South Korea and Europe, which share the values of multilateralism, is becoming increasingly important," expressing readiness for active cooperation with Italy.
Additionally, Yoon reiterated the need for constitutional reform, stating, "The declaration of a state of emergency in 2024 was an event that plunged South Korea into crisis." He acknowledged that while citizens successfully neutralized the emergency, there is a lack of institutional tools to check arbitrary exercises of presidential power.
He concluded, "We need to enact a constitution that reflects reality and establish institutional mechanisms to prevent arbitrary power exercises like illegal emergencies."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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