At the summit between Xi Jinping and Lee Jae Myung in Gyeongju, South Korea and China reaffirmed their “Strategic Cooperative Partnership” and signed seven Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) related to the economy and public welfare. This has raised expectations both domestically and internationally for the expansion of economic cooperation and exchanges between the two countries, creating a positive environment for the recovery and development of South Korea-China relations going forward. However, no concrete agreements or outcomes were reached on key bilateral issues such as North Korea’s denuclearization, the structures in the West Sea, China’s ban on Korean cultural content (Hallyu ban), and export controls, revealing the differences and disagreements that remain between the two sides on diplomatic and security matters.

Under the pretext of fostering an environment conducive to inter-Korean dialogue, China is likely to call for the suspension of ROK–U.S. and ROK–U.S.–Japan joint military exercises, while at the same time voicing support for the Lee Jae Myung administration’s pursuit of “strategic autonomy.” Through this, Beijing will seek to distance South Korea from the United States and reduce Washington’s influence in the region. In this regard, Seoul must recognize that strengthening “strategic communication” with China carries the risk of creating unnecessary misunderstandings among the United States and other like-minded countries. To prevent such risks, South Korea should first define the scope and limits of its cooperation with China before continuing dialogue. It should also establish and clearly convey its position to Beijing on key regional security issues, including the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait.

This article is an English Summary of Asan Issue Brief (2025-35).

(‘2025년 한중 정상회담의 의미와 과제’)