U.S. alternative media is awash with stories on Israel and Gaza, Ukraine and Russia, and now Iran and Venezuela. There’s influence operations, assassinations, drug imports, illegal killings, imminent nuclear war, and the collapse of NATO, the E.U., the U.N, and even the U.S. But where’s the Korean Peninsula?
The U.S. election campaign brought out three facts about foreign policy: (1) the public no longer supports longheld traditions - republican or democrat; (2) isolationism, albeit a nuanced 21st century form, has returned; and (3) public understanding and appreciation of foreign policy is at an all time low.
The awarding of the Nobel Prize for Literature to South Korean author Han Kang demonstrates South Korea’s growing cultural influence, and the commensurate increase in global attention to its social challenges.
The inclusion of youth in foreign policy is not merely a symbolic gesture; it is a strategic imperative to bring fresh perspectives, drive change, and help build trust in governmental institutions.
If the Australia-Korea relationship is to grow to a level that can shoulder the highs and lows, and negate the need for “windows of opportunity,” there needs to be a serious rethink.
South Korea needs new strategies to avoid less creative, tried, and often failed, strategies that emphasise leadership summits and high-level bilateral engagement.
Despite its increasing international reputation as a global middle power, the tremendous success of its culture exports, and recognition of its effective governance, South Korea faces an image problem in Australia.
