What are we going to discuss?

In this opening video, Dr. Yong-Soo Eun, explains what to expect over the next
six weeks.
South Korea is at a critical juncture, particularly from global perspectives.
From a geopolitical perspective, South Korea is located in Northeast Asia, a region
from which almost all security tension in East Asia emerges. Consider, for example, the
long-standing Sino-Japanese rivalry and the unresolved territorial disputes in the East
China Sea. It is often said that the territorial disputes between Tokyo and Beijing have
reached a boiling point. Also, the persistent security threats posed by North Koreas
nuclear weapons and long-range missiles cannot be taken lightly. Most of all, the rise of
China and the United States rebalance toward Asia is likely to generate a new
dimension of global power politics.
From a global economic perspective, however, Northeast Asia is a region of
cooperation and interdependence. For example, the share of intra-regional trade
between China, Japan and Korea increased from 12.3% in 1990 to 22.5% in 2010.
China is the largest trading partner of both South Korea and Japan. South Korea is
Chinas third largest trading partner. In addition, two-way trade between Japan and
China had reached $340 billion in 2014, and the stock of Japanese investment in China
had reached $100 billion in 2014, that is $30 billion more than the next largest investor
the United States.
South Korea faces both challenges and opportunities in such a dynamic region as East
Asia. Furthermore, academics and policymakers alike tend to agree that the dominant
issues of the twenty-first century would be decided in Asia-Pacific. As such, South
Koreas national interests will be shaped by how it perceives and approaches the
political and economic issues of East Asia and (by extension) Asia-Pacific. At the same
time, the evolving regional order and thus the 21st century global politics would be
affected by how South Korea, as one of the key actors of East Asia, behaves toward
other regional states.

In this respect, we aim to understand South Korea within the context of complex and
important dynamics concerning global politics and the international relations of AsiaPacific. As a first step, we will place our attention on what has changed and what has
not changed in 21st century global politics, mainly in terms of actors, security, war, and
economy. The following pictures, videos, and articles at each step will help you develop
your perspectives on the issues.
1.3 Stasis and change in global politics: globalization
International politics has traditionally been carried out based on the Westphalian
system. In other words, nation-states have been ultimately responsible for maintaining
their sovereignty and the security and economic welfare of their citizens.
However, visible changes are occurring in the 21st international politics with rapidly
growing integrated global and regional economies. During the last couple of decades,
globalization has become deeply associated with the way we conduct international
relations, dene international problems, and their possible solutions. Since the end of
the Cold War, the world has become globalized and national boundaries have been
blurred and the level of economic interdependence has increased. The 21st century is
often described as an age of globalization and interdependence.
Lets take an example from South Korea. Since the establishment of the FTA(Free
Trade Agreement) Roadmap in 2003, South Korea has been actively pursuing FTAs
with its key trading partners. So far, FTAs with Chile, Singapore, EFTA, ASEAN, India,
Peru, EU, US, Turkey, Canada, Australia, China, New Zealand and Vietnam entered
into force. The Korea-U.S. FTA was signed in June 2007 followed by an Agreement in
December 2010. On March 15, 2012, the KORUS (Korea-U.S.) FTA entered into effect.
The Korea-China FTA negotiation launched on May 2, 2010, and the Korea-China FTA
entered into effect in December 2015.
In particular, on November 28, 2012, the launch Korea-China-Japan FTA and RCEP
negotiations were officially announced. In addition, Korea is currently negotiating FTAs
with Ecuardor, Central-America, Japan, Mexico, GCC, Indonesia. Prior to launching
official negotiations, Korea is conducting preparation talks or joint research projects

with prospective FTA partners including MERCOSUR, Israel, and Malaysia. (for further
details, see FTA Status of ROK).
The information technology is also one of the most important driving forces of
globalizing world politics. Highly advanced telecommunication technology based on the
Internet does have profound impact on how communication, information and culture
function and interact in the contemporary international politics. These technological
advances, at the center of globalization, are contributing to creating new transnational
networks worldwide.