Perceptions of South Korean Foreign Policy towards Argentina, Brazil and Chile (Part 1)

In my research project "Perceptions of South Korean Foreign Policy towards Argentina, Brazil and Chile", South Korean academics specializing in Latin America were surveyed on their perception about the state of South Korean foreign policy relations with Argentina, Brazil and Chile (ABC) for the period 2003-present.

The questions covered the economic, cultural and political development of bilateral relations. First, a foreign policy comparison was made between the ABC vis-à-vis USA, China and Japan.

The first question requested the South Korean scholars to rank the importance attached by the government of President Roh Moo-hyun to the following countries in foreign policy: Argentina, 2.86; Brazil, 4.57, Chile, 5.14; USA, 9.14; China, 9.14 and Japan, 7.57 (on a scale of 1-10).

These figures do not differ much from the general perception that the Roh government’s general foreign policy guidelines have given importance to Korea’s regional environment and the Korea-US relationship. However, Chile's position reflects the importance given, at the time, to the signing of the Chile-Korea Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and historically good bilateral relations.  The case of Brazil and Argentina reflects the influence that Korean immigration may have had in those countries, with greater emphasis on Brazil.

The similarly framed question, which focused on the period including current president Lee Myung-bak’s administration, reported the following averages: Argentina, 3.86; Brazil, 5.43; Chile, 4.43; USA, 9.71; China, 8.43; and Japan, 8.00.

The slight rise in the US ranking reflects what the academics view as President Lee’s conservative government that places importance on good Korea-US relations, especially given joint interests and the Korea-US FTA; and despite difficulties during the negotiation and ratification process. China and Japan’s unchanged ranking is a product of the Lee government’s tendency to search for openings in Korea’s regional markets and its seeking FTAs with the two neighboring nations. The change in status of Korea-China relations, from "comprehensive cooperative partnership" to "strategic cooperative partnership", is evidence of the pragmatism in current Korean foreign policy.

Returning to the ABC, the slight rise in Brazil and Argentina versus Chile’s slight decline demonstrates the priority that President Lee's government is giving to energy and the search for natural resources, which, incidentally, increased Brazil’s relative importance. The recently signed energy agreements, together with economic and trade agreements may lead to a broader FTA; though it should be stated that, to date, the commitment required for such a treaty seems to be lacking.

Another question focused on the most relevant ABC-Korea bilateral issues from 2003-present. In the case of Argentina, the following results were tallied: trade, 6.57; investment, 4.71; culture, 4.00; immigration, 4.57; energy, 5.43; political relations, 3.71; science and technology, 3.57; military cooperation, 2.86.

Argentina’s main issue seems to be commercial, along with other issues such as immigration, energy and cooperation in science and technology. However, Argentina seems to be viewed as a vulnerable Latin American country.

In the case of Brazil, the results were as follows: trade, 7.71; investment, 6.86, culture, 5.00, immigration, 4.86; energy, 7.43; political relations, 5.43; science and technology, 4.57; military cooperation, 3.43.

The questionnaire responses highlighted Brazil status as a large market and an ally in trade issues. In addition, academics’ focus on commercial issues seems to demonstrate the importance of the abundance of Brazilian natural resources, vis-à-vis the Lee administration’s prioritization of energy policy and the cooperation in the energy sector. This would explain the fact that the energy area as high a ranking as trade in the survey results. Also highlighted noted were Korean immigration, since the 1960s to Brazil, and recent advances in scientific and technological cooperation.

In the case of Chile, the results were: trade, 9.00; investment, 6.14; culture, 4.43; immigration, 3.86; energy, 5.29; political relations, 4.71; science and technology, 4.86; and military cooperation, 3.86.