Searching for a new identity: South Korea’s middle power diplomacy

The country also took the initiative in establishing the Global Korea’s identity as a middle Green Growth Institute that helps developing countries to pursue power is its relationship with green growth, and was host to the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat its most important ally, the with China and Japan in 2011. [...] It first addresses the motivations driving the a proactive role in multilateral country to play the role of a middle power and the external environ- governance. [...] SEARCHING FOR A NEW IDENTITY: SOUTH KOREA’S MIDDLE POWER DIPLOMACY 2 >>>>>> The key factor shaping South Korea’s identity munity of common destiny,’ and ‘one belt, one as middle power is the nature of its relationship road’ to describe its approach to the region and with its most important ally, the United States. [...] Key The country should move beyond a small state global issues such as climate change, the prolif- mentality, one that pursues short-term interests eration of weapons of mass destruction, energy and is exclusively preoccupied with the penin- shortages, global imbalances, terrorism, the sula question and the alliance with the United food and water crisis and others require multi- States. [...] The US announced its intention to While the status of a middle power is mainly ‘rebalance’ to Asia to renew its engagement defined by material assets (size of the economy, with the countries of the region and deal with population etc.), middle power diplomacy is the growing clout of China.