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Executive Summary

The objective of this research is to investigate which countries in the East Asia region share common visions with South Korea as potential security partners. As power shifts to Asia, many countries in this region are adjusting their foreign policies to cope with the fast-changing external environment. In this circumstance, it is important to ask which countries South Korea is best suited to collaborate with on many regional and global diplomatic fronts. As South Korea globalizes, it needs partner countries to leverage international influence. Collective action through strategic alliances exerts more impact than when acting alone.

Many analytical reports on the same topic have primarily used qualitative reasoning, such as reviewing historical patterns of diplomatic interaction between countries or providing detailed accounts of common culture and values as preconditions for a more reliable and effective security cooperation. In contrast, this report employs a more quantitative and statistical approach, using Multi-Dimensional Scaling (MDS) and data from the World Values Survey. This analyticalapproach was previously adopted by Jeremy Ghez in his research on the Trans-Atlantic Alliance. Graphically displaying aggregate data in a simple scatter diagram, the MDS modeling technique takes World Values Survey response data and charts the similarities or dis-similarities among countries. Those like-minded countries sharing common visions with South Korea could be its future partners.

Only those variables in the World Values Survey that are considered to be of direct relevance were singled out and formatted as input to the model. These include questions on environment, family values and politics and society. The first variable on environment was chosen for its increasing importance nowadays in the politics of climate change. The second variable on family values was considered in response to the views advocated by Samuel Huntington that international conflicts are rooted in civilizational differences and that this variable would act as a good proxy for measuring these differences. The third variable on politics and society is a defining factor in gauging national compatibility and, hence, of prime concern.

All waves of the World Values Survey since 1994 covering a period of 20 years have provided sufficient data for analyses with the exception of environmental data that was missing in the latest wave six. It is important to bear in mind that there is no standard way of addressing our objective, and our approach is just one possible way with its limitations. It should be noted that bilateral relations between countries could not be considered at present as it would have prevented meaningful comparisons to be made among all the countries analyzed directly. Overcoming this methodological limitation is an area for further research.

This report presents research findings on environment, family values and politics and society with wider implications for South Korea. On environmental fronts, South Korea can play the role of an intermediary, bridging the gap between developing countries and developed countries. South Korea is observed to share values with both sides of the wealth divide. It has successfully hosted the Green Climate Fund, and has become the first country in Asia to introduce a cap-and-trade system for greenhouse gas emissions which would be in operation by 2015. Thailand, Malaysia, Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam and China are potential regional partners, while the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Sweden, Norway, Denmark and the United Kingdom are potential partners outside East Asia. In 2015, a new agreement, the successor to the Kyoto Protocol, is expected at the Paris Climate Conference, and is scheduled to be implemented from 2020. It will be beneficial to know which countries have shared common visions on the environment in the past prior to the forthcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris. It will also be very useful to know which countries have conflicting goals. For these countries, much effort is needed to narrow our differences.

The purpose of carrying out a study on the subject of family values is as aforementioned. In effect, our analyses have shown that South Korea shares more family values with countries in East Asia than with any other groups of countries including the West. In particular, it is evident that there has been shifting attitudes towards women over the years with greater gender equality. This was lacking in earlier waves, which could be attributed to paternalistic Confucian traditions that are still relatively ingrained in the minds of South Korean men.

On politics and society, South Korea and Japan have shown strong similarities in past political attitudes. Given the countries’ geographical nearness and relatively close proximity to the United States, this pattern is not surprising. But the latest wave six released in April 2014 revealed a mixed picture for South Korea and Japan in relation to China and the West; both countries appear roughly in between the two. For the people of South Korea and Japan, their shared political attitudes have persisted in direct contrast to the lack of shared political interests between the two governments. For Western countries, they have consistently formed clusters reflecting their shared commonalities. To some extent, this is also true of Islamic countries as shown in the latest wave six. But this feature was not observed among the countries in East Asia. In this regard, any significant geopolitical change in this region is less likely.

Our analyses have led to the conclusion that South Korea should continue to work closely with its traditional partners, including middle powers such as Canada and the Netherlands which share similar democratic values and principles as South Korea. Furthermore, among emerging middle powers, South Korea could make more collaborative efforts with Indonesia, Turkey and Australia. The evidence for shared political interests with China is rather weak despite booming economic relations and tourism. However, a growing number of Chinese who are more receptive to human right issues and democratic values will, no doubt, help enhance bilateral relations between South Korea and China. Interestingly, Chileans and Germans, lately, have had converging political attitudes with South Koreans.

Our findings will be of interest to policymakers to better anticipate regional and global international cooperation opportunities as they shed some light on the extent to which people of different countries share common visions with South Korea. However, it is important to remember that there are many other factors, such as bilateral relations that must be taken into consideration when policy recommendations are made to strengthen multilateral or bilateral cooperation.

 

Contributing Authors

Bong Youngshik
Bong Youngshik is a Senior Research Fellow in the Center for Foreign Policy and National Security at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies. Prior to joining the Asan Institute, Dr. Bong taught at American University’s School of International Service in Washington, D.C. as an Assistant Professor. He was also a Freeman Post-doctoral Fellow at Wellesley College and an Assistant Professor of Korean Studies at Williams College in Massachusetts. His research interests include the interplay between nationalism and security issues such as Dokdo and other island disputes in Asia, anti-Americanism, and the ROK-US Alliance. He is the author of “In Search of the Perfect Apology: Korea’s Responses to the Murayama Statement” in Kazuhiko Togo, ed., Japan and Reconciliation in Post-war Asia: The Murayama Statement and Its Implications (New York: Palgrave Pivot, 2012) and “Past Is Still Present: The San Francisco System and a Multilateral Security Regime in East Asia.”(Korea Observers, 2010). He is also the co-editor of Japan in Crisis: What It Will Take for Japan to Rise Again? (with T.J. Pempel, Seoul, Korea: The Asan Institute for Policy Studies, 2012). He received his Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Pennsylvania.

Choi Hyeonjung
Choi Hyeonjung is a Research Fellow in the Climate Change and Sustainable Development Program in the Center for Global Governance at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies. Previously, he was a full-time instructor at the Korean Air Force Academy, Research Scholar at the Institute of Social Science, the University of Tokyo, and Research Fellow at Woori Finance Research Institute. Dr. Choi also worked in public service as a Policy Research Fellow at the 17th Presidential Transition Committee, Assistant Secretary to the President for National Agenda and Deputy Secretary to the President for Green Growth at the Office of the ROK President. Dr. Choi’s areas of research interest include climate change, green growth and sustainable development, new growth engines, East Asian developmental state model and industrial policy, and national future strategy. Dr. Choi recently published a book (co-authored with Sang-hyup Kim), Green Growth for a Greater Korea: White Book on Korean Green Growth Policy, 2008-2012 (Seoul: Korea Environment Institute, 2013). Dr. Choi received his B.A. and M.A. from Yonsei University and his Ph.D. in Political Science from Purdue University.

Kim Chong Woo
Kim Chong Woo is a Senior Research Fellow and oversees the Quantitative Methods Program at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies. Previously, he was an analyst working on choice modelling and valuation at RAND Europe. He was also a Senior TCAD Engineer at the Samsung Semiconductor Research and Development Center and a Java Application Developer at PCMS-Datafit, UK. Dr. Kim’s research focuses on the estimation and application of Discrete Choice Modelling; Stated Preference Analysis, valuing public services and non-market goods; SP model development in transport, health, communication and utilities sector. He has published widely including “Security at What Cost? Quantifying Individuals’ Trade-offs between Privacy, Liberty and Security,” RAND Report (2010) and “Modelling Demand for Long-Distance Travellers in Great Britain: Stated preference surveys to support the modelling of demand for high speed rail,” RAND Report (2011). He received his B.Sc. in Mathematics from the University of London and his Ph.D. in Mathematical Physics from Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London. He also holds a post-graduate Diploma in Computer Science from the University of Cambridge.

Kim Hankwon
Kim Hankwon is a Former Research Fellow and Director of the Center for Regional Studies at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies. Previously, Dr. Kim was a Visiting Professor in the Center for Chinese Studies at the Korean National Diplomatic Academy, a Research Fellow in the Institute of International Strategy and Development at Tsinghua University, and a Research Scholar at the School of International
Studies at Peking University. He specializes in Chinese foreign policy and nationalism as well as Sino-North Korean economic relations. His recent publications include “The Multilateral Economic Cooperation for Tumen River Area and China’s Leadership,” (The Korean Journal of International Relations, 2010) and “China’s Strategic Response to the Kim Jong-un Regime,” (IFANS Focus, 2012). He received his B.A. and M.P.A. (Master of Public Affairs) from the University of Connecticut at Storrs, and Ph.D. in International Relations from American University. He also completed a post-doctoral program at Tsinghua University.

Lee Jaehyon
Lee Jaehyon is a Research Fellow in the Center for Regional Studies at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies. Previously, Dr. Lee was a Research Fellow at the Korean Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (KISEAS) and a Visiting Professor at the Institute of Foreign Affairs and National Security (IFANS) and the Korean National Diplomatic Academy (KNDA). His research focuses on Southeast Asian politics and international relations, East Asian regional cooperation, and non-traditional and human security issues. His recent publications include “Transnational Natural Disasters and Environmental Issues in East Asia: Current Situation and the Way Forwards in the perspective of Regional Cooperation,” (IFANS Review, 2011), “Political Crises after Democratization in South Korea and Thailand: Comparative Perspectives of Democratic Consolidation,” (Korea Observer, 2008). He received his B.A. and M.A. from Yonsei University and Ph.D. in Politics from Murdoch University, Australia.

Kim Soo Min
Kim Soo-min is a former Research Assistant at the Asan Institute’s Center for
Public Opinion and Quantitative Research. Her research interests include Statistical
Analysis and Estimation Theory. She received her M.S. and B.S. in statistics
from Ewha Womans University.

 

About Experts

봉영식
봉영식

봉영식 박사는 아산정책연구원의 외교정책프로그램 초빙연구위원이다. 미국 American University (2007~2010)와 Williams College 정치학과 (2005~2007) 조교수를 역임하고, Wellesley College에서 Freeman Post-doctoral Fellow이기도 했다. 연구분야는 동아시아 민족주의와 지역안보의 상관관계, 도서분쟁, 역사화해 등이다. 최근 출판물로는 “In Search of the Perfect Apology: Korea’s Responses to the Murayama Statement” (Japan and Reconciliation in Post-war Asia: The Murayama Statement and Its Implications, Kazuhiko Togo ed, 2012년)가 있으며, T.J. Pempel 교수와 Japan In Crisis: What Will It Take for Japan to Rise Again? (2012년)을 공동 편집하였다. 미국 University of Pennsylvania에서 정치학 석∙박사학위를 취득하였다.

최현정
최현정

외교안보센터

최현정 박사는 아산정책연구원 선임연구위원이다. 청와대 녹색성장기획관실 선임행정관(2010-2013) 및 국정기획수석실 행정관(2008-2010)을 역임하였고, 제17대 대통령직인수위원회 정책연구위원(2008), IT전략연구원(現 한국미래연구원) 연구위원(2006), 일본 동경대학 사회과학연구소 연구원(2003-2004), 공군사관학교 국방학과 교수요원(1995-1998)도 역임하였다. 주요 연구분야는 기후변화, 녹색성장, 신성장동력, 동아시아 발전주의 국가 모델과 산업정책, 국가미래전략, 개발원조 등이다. 연세대학교 국제대학(UIC)에서 비전임교수로 강의를 하고 있으며, 주요 저서로는 Green Growth for a Greater Korea: White Book on Korean Green Growth Policy, 2008~2012 (Seoul: Korea Environment Institute, 2013)가 있다. 연세대학교 정치외교학 학사와 정치학 석사, 미국 Purdue University에서 정치학 박사학위를 취득하였다.

김종우
김종우

계량분석센터

김종우 박사는 아산정책연구원의 계량분석센터 선임연구위원이다. 런던대학교에서 이학학사와 임패리얼 컬리지에서 상대성이론 연구로 이학박사 학위를 취득하였으며 캠브리지대학교 컴퓨터학과에서 Diploma 학위도 취득하였다. 유럽 랜드연구소의 Choice Modelling과 Valuation팀에서 연구원으로 재직하였으며 삼성 메모리 반도체 연구소에서 책임연구원으로 활동하였다. 또한 영국의 PCMS-Datafit에서 Java 소프트웨어 개발업무를 담당하였다. 주요 연구분야는 이산선택모델, 그리고 교통, 보건, 통신 및 유틸리티 분야의 Stated Preference 모델 개발, 공공 서비스가치 책정, WTP (Willingness-To-Pay) 등이다. 주요 연구물로는 "Security at What Cost? Quantifying Individuals’ Trade-offs between Privacy, Liberty and Security,” RAND Report (2010)와 “Modelling Demand for Long-Distance Travellers in Great Britain: Stated preference surveys to support the modelling of demand for high speed rail”, RAND Report (2011)외 다수가 있다.

이재현
이재현

지역연구센터 ; 출판홍보실

이재현 박사는 아산정책연구원의 수석연구위원이다. 연세대학교 정치외교학과에서 정치학 학사, 동 대학원 정치학과에서 정치학 석사학위를 받고, 호주 Murdoch University에서 정치학박사 학위를 받았다. 학위 이후, 한국동남아연구소 선임연구원을 거쳐 2012년까지 국립외교원의 외교안보연구소에서 객원교수를 지냈다. 주요 연구분야는 동남아 정치, 아세안, 동아시아 지역협력 등이다. 현재 한국동남아학회 부회장, 해양경찰청의 자문위원이고, 외교부 정책자문위원, 신남방정책특별위원회 자문위원을 역임했다. 최근 주요 연구결과물은 다음과 같다. 인도-퍼시픽, 새로운 전략적 공간의 등장(2015), 북한과 동남아시아(2017), 신남방정책이 아세안에서 성공하려면(2018), 한반도 평화를 위한 신남방정책의 역할(2018), 한국과 아세안의 전략적 공통분모와 신남방정책(2019), 비정형성과 비공식성의 아세안 의사결정(2019), 피벗: 미국 아시아전략의 미래 (2020, 역서), G-Zero 시대 글로벌, 지역 질서와 중견국(2020), “Southeast Asian Perspectives of the United States and China: A SWOT Analysis” (2022).