“The Republic of Korea is an Indo-Pacific nation. Our national interests are directly tied to the stability and prosperity in the region,” reads the opening sentence of South Korea’s Indo-Pacific Strategy. South Korea’s Indo-Pacific Strategy explicitly integrates the Taiwan Strait into its vision for a “free, peaceful, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.” This inclusion underscores Seoul’s recognition of Taiwan’s critical role in regional stability and security. Introduced in December 2022 under President Yoon Suk Yeol (윤석열), the strategy represents a significant shift from earlier foreign policy priorities, which largely focused on inter-Korean relations. The deepening US-South Korea alliance, upgraded in 2022 to a “global comprehensive strategic alliance” (글로벌포괄적전략동맹), further reflects this broader strategic alignment. Concurrently, Taiwan’s New Southbound Policy (NSP, 新南向政策) complements these regional dynamics by fostering closer ties with Southeast Asia and beyond.
South Korea’s Indo-Pacific framework, officially titled the “Strategy for a Free, Peaceful, and Prosperous Indo-Pacific Region,” marks the country’s first comprehensive regional strategy. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the strategy demonstrates South Korea’s commitment to expanding its diplomatic outreach and enhancing its global contributions in line with its elevated international status. Built on three core principles—inclusiveness, trust, and reciprocity—the strategy reflects Seoul’s commitment to upholding a rules-based international order. It emphasizes cooperation with like-minded nations to address critical challenges in the region.
Within this strategic context, Taiwan plays a pivotal role. Its strategic location and economic importance, particularly as a global hub for supply chains and semiconductor manufacturing, render it indispensable to regional stability. South Korea’s Indo-Pacific Strategy explicitly recognizes Taiwan as a key partner for cooperation, stating that it “reaffirms the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait for the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula and for the security and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific.”
Taiwan’s NSP, introduced in September 2016 under former President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文), seeks to deepen the island’s diplomatic and economic partnerships with 18 countries across Southeast Asia, South Asia, and Australasia. This policy reflects Taiwan’s strategic objective of reducing economic dependence on China while enhancing its global engagement. The NSP emphasizes economic, cultural, and strategic collaboration, with trade and investment as primary areas of focus. Between 2016 and 2022, bilateral trade between Taiwan and NSP nations grew by approximately 88.2 percent, underscoring the policy’s economic impact.
Beyond economic issues, the NSP also serves as a strategic component of Taiwan’s broader Indo-Pacific engagement. It positions Taiwan as an active regional participant amid escalating tensions with China, enabling the island to cultivate meaningful relationships without directly provoking Beijing. This nuanced approach reflects Taiwan’s ability to balance geopolitical challenges while contributing to regional stability. Together, South Korea’s Indo-Pacific Strategy and Taiwan’s NSP illustrate complementary efforts to navigate an increasingly complex regional environment. Both strategies underscore the importance of cooperation, shared values, and economic resilience in securing a stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific.
Taiwan’s New Southbound Policy and South Korea’s Indo-Pacific Strategy: Opportunities for Collaboration
Taiwan’s New Southbound Policy and South Korea’s Indo-Pacific Strategy converge on strategic objectives, including promoting regional cooperation and economic integration. Both initiatives aim to diversify economic partnerships and to reduce reliance on China by fostering stronger ties with Southeast Asian nations. This shared vision highlights opportunities for collaboration in areas such as trade, technology, education, and regional infrastructure projects, contributing to greater economic resilience for both Taiwan and South Korea.
Maritime security is another critical area of convergence, with both approaches emphasizing the importance of freedom of navigation and adherence to international maritime law. These shared priorities underscore a mutual commitment to maintaining stability and openness in the Indo-Pacific region.
South Korea’s Indo-Pacific strategy emphasizes expanding economic security, with a particular focus on supply chain resilience and high-tech industries. The semiconductor sector, in particular, stands out as a promising area for collaboration, given that both Taiwan and South Korea hold leading positions in the global market. Despite a history of competition in the semiconductor industry, Taiwan and South Korea are increasingly finding common ground amid shifting geopolitical dynamics. Joint research and development initiatives could capitalize on their complementary strengths—such as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company’s (TSMC, 台灣積體電路製造股份有限公司) leadership in advanced node production and Samsung’s pioneering advancements in Gate-All-Around (GAA) transistor architecture. Currently, Samsung and TSMC are collaborating on the development of High Bandwidth Memory 4 (HBM4), a bufferless version of GAA. These partnerships hold the potential to drive innovation, facilitate technology exchange, and expand market opportunities for both parties.
In addition to these high-tech collaborations, potential cooperation between South Korea, Taiwan, and other partners in the Indo-Pacific region offers valuable opportunities to enhance regional stability while managing sensitivities with China. While directly incorporating Taiwan into the ROK-US-Japan trilateral security framework could trigger a strong reaction from Beijing, indirect forms of engagement provide practical alternatives. For instance, the trilateral partners could establish mechanisms to share non-sensitive maritime and air traffic data with Taiwan’s coast guard and civil aviation authorities to improve regional transportation safety. Additionally, Taiwan could be invited as an observer to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) exercises. The approach is particularly relevant, given Taiwan’s proven expertise in disaster response and management.
In the area of development assistance, South Korea and Taiwan, despite the absence of formal diplomatic relations, could align their efforts in Southeast Asia and the Pacific to achieve complementary objectives. Trilateral collaborations involving South Korea, the United States, or Japan could incorporate Taiwanese NGOs or companies as implementing partners. Such arrangements would allow for effective multilateral engagement while circumventing the limitations of direct bilateral coordination. These initiatives could strengthen developmental outcomes in strategically significant regions, advancing mutual goals without provoking unnecessary diplomatic friction.
Cultural and academic exchanges offer a promising avenue for strengthening ties between South Korea and Taiwan. Building on their robust people-to-people connections, the two sides could explore digital partnerships in key sectors such as e-commerce, fintech, and smart cities. This collaboration could be modeled after South Korea’s existing digital partnership with Singapore. The “Korea-Singapore Digital Partnership” serves as an excellent template for such an initiative. This partnership, highlighted in the 2023 Progress Report of the ROK’s Indo-Pacific Strategy, represents South Korea’s first bilateral digital trade agreement. By adapting this model to the South Korea-Taiwan relationship, both sides could leverage their technological strengths and foster innovation in the digital realm. Such a partnership would not only deepen economic ties but also promote knowledge sharing and cultural understanding between South Korea and Taiwan.
These initiatives could be facilitated through industry associations, avoiding direct government involvement. Furthermore, the strong existing base of tourism and student exchanges could be expanded through enhanced youth programs led by universities or cultural institutions. By prioritizing indirect security cooperation, complementary development strategies, and enriched cultural exchanges, South Korea and Taiwan can foster a mutually beneficial partnership that bolsters regional security and prosperity while managing the complexities of their geopolitical context.
South Korea’s Evolving Stance on Taiwan
South Korea’s diplomatic position on Taiwan is shaped by a combination of economic and security imperatives. Taiwan ranks as South Korea’s 6th largest export destination, and over 90 percent of South Korea’s maritime trade relies on routes passing through the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea. The economic stakes of a potential conflict involving Taiwan are substantial, with projections indicating that South Korea’s gross domestic product (GDP) could decline by as much as 23.3 percent in such a scenario.
From a security perspective, South Korea views Taiwan’s stability as closely tied to its own. President Yoon underscored this by stating, “The Taiwan issue is not simply an issue between China and Taiwan but, like the issue of North Korea, it is a global issue.” This statement reflects South Korea’s recognition of the interconnected nature of regional security challenges and its broader commitment to maintaining stability in the Indo-Pacific.
A national public opinion survey in South Korea in 2023 acknowledges the grave implications of a conflict over Taiwan, particularly regarding national security and the potential actions of North Korea. A vast majority—89.15 percent—believes that a Chinese attack on Taiwan would pose serious threats to South Korea, while 85.85 percent express similar concerns about US non-involvement in Taiwan’s defense. Many South Koreans fear that such a conflict could embolden North Korea to exploit the situation, heightening tensions on the Korean Peninsula.
The same national survey revealed divided views on South Korea’s potential role in supporting Taiwan. While 34.39 percent supported providing military assistance in the event of a Chinese attack, a larger percentage—45.21 percent—favored imposing economic sanctions on China. This preference for economic measures likely stems from the risks of retaliation by China, South Korea’s largest trading partner.
The survey also highlighted stark political divisions. Supporters of the center-right People Power Party (PPP), aligned with President Yoon, were more inclined to support military actions, with 54.35 percent in favor. By contrast, only 27.03 percent of those aligned with the center-left Democratic Party (DP) expressed similar support. These differences underscore the polarization within South Korea regarding its approach to Taiwan. While public support for aiding Taiwan against Chinese aggression is growing, significant apprehension remains over direct military involvement. Many South Koreans advocate for limited roles, such as rear-area support, rather than direct combat participation.
South Korea’s evolving stance on Taiwan demonstrates a cautious yet proactive approach to addressing regional security challenges. By aligning economic and security interests with broader Indo-Pacific strategies, Seoul has signaled its intention to contribute to regional stability while managing the delicate balance between maintaining ties with China and upholding its commitments to allies.
Looking Ahead: Prospect for South Korea’s Indo-Pacific Strategy and South Korea’s Taiwan Policy
Taiwan holds a pivotal role in South Korea’s Indo-Pacific Strategy, serving as both an economic and strategic partner in addressing shared regional challenges. Opportunities for deeper collaboration include advancing regional connectivity, resource sharing, and talent exchange. By fostering economic ties independent of China’s influence, South Korea and Taiwan can strategically enhance their partnership. Both nations should prioritize exploring channels for enhanced communication and collaboration on mutual interests while carefully managing potential diplomatic complexities. Joint economic initiatives that emphasize interdependence could further demonstrate commitments to regional stability and mutual growth.
South Korea’s approach to Taiwan, while less explicit than Japan’s, marks a significant shift from the policies of previous administrations. Japan’s engagement with Taiwan is partly shaped by its colonial history, whereas South Korea’s stance is primarily driven by concerns over regional stability and economic interests. The inclusion of Taiwan in South Korea’s Indo-Pacific Strategy underscores an evolving recognition of the island’s strategic importance and reflects Seoul’s ambition to take on a more proactive role in regional security dynamics.
South Korea’s Indo-Pacific Strategy also aligns closely with US priorities. During the May 2022 summit with US President Joseph Biden, President Yoon committed to developing South Korea’s own Indo-Pacific framework in response to US initiatives. By December 2022, South Korea unveiled its strategy, reflecting a deliberate pivot to the “Indo-Pacific” terminology, emphasizing engagement with Southeast and South Asia. This strategic alignment underscores Seoul’s acknowledgment of the region’s importance within the US-China rivalry and positions South Korea’s efforts within the broader US-led framework, including its commitment to Taiwan. The strategy further reflects a nuanced stance on China, identifying Beijing as both “a key partner” (주요협력국가) and a potential security challenge. This dual approach highlights Seoul’s effort to navigate a complex regional landscape.
A second Trump Administration’s foreign policy is likely to introduce new complexities into regional strategic calculations—emphasizing “America First” foreign policy, transactional relationships with allies, and creating greater uncertainty across the Indo-Pacific. The prospect of Trump’s return to the White House has already heightened concerns among US allies about the unpredictability of American foreign policy. President-elect Trump’s tendency to blur the lines between allies and adversaries has reignited discussions on hedging strategies amid the intensifying US-China rivalry. Notably, Trump’s reelection positions the United States—not China—as the dominant external force influencing South Korea’s stance on Taiwan.
President Yoon’s rhetoric has also evolved in response to Trump’s victory, signaling a more balanced approach. Yoon recently remarked that South Korea’s relationships with the United States and China are not about “choosing sides,” but about engaging constructively with both powers. This shift has led some South Korean media to speculate whether Yoon is transitioning from a values-based foreign policy to a more pragmatic stance.
The Indo-Pacific region is undergoing a profound transformation, shaped by strategic realignments and emerging economic partnerships. China’s expanding influence and the fluidity of US foreign policy are driving this evolution. Within this context, the deepening relationship between South Korea and Taiwan exemplifies the region’s delicate balance between competition and cooperation, offering a glimpse into the shifting dynamics of an increasingly complex geopolitical landscape.
The main point: South Korea’s Indo-Pacific Strategy and Taiwan’s New Southbound Policy reflect complementary efforts to navigate regional security challenges and economic diversification—emphasizing shared values, economic resilience, and strategic cooperation in the rapidly evolving Indo-Pacific landscape.
