The Expectation and Reality Gap in South Korea’s Relations with China

Abstract

This paper identifies a gap between expectation and reality in South Korea-China relations. It applies the theory of “Autonomy-Security Trade-off” and analyzes incidents such as North Korea’s sinking of the Cheonan, its bombardment of the Yeonpyeong Island, and the deployment of the U.S. THAAD system in South Korea. As a result, this paper concludes that South Korea expected more from China than it merited. Contrary to South Korean expectations, China was not ready to help South Korea on security issues. The Strategic Cooperative Partnership, which was signed in 2008 between the two countries, appeared to be just a friendly gesture, although South Korea expected cooperation in security sector. South Korea should recognize that its partnership with China cannot replace its alliance with the U.S. It should settle for economic, social, and cultural cooperation with China and maintain security cooperation with the U.S. If South Korea reminds China of this limitation in its mutual relationship, China could also settle for its cooperation with South Korea on sectors other than security. China would therefore not intervene into South Korean security decisions as we witnessed over the deployment of the U.S. THAAD system.

South Korean Entertainment Industry’s Marketing Management on Chinese Market

“…This anti-Korean sentiment enlarged through several social issues: in 2007, though not exported to China's market, the three Korean dramas, Jumong, Yeon Gaesomun, and Dae Jo Young elicited Chinese press for the distortion of Chinese history in their plots; in 2008, without authorization, one of the leading South Korean broadcaster, Seoul Broadcasting System (SBS), filmed the 2008 Beijing Olympics opening ceremony rehearsal; in the same year for the time of the Olympics game, violent conflicts occurred between Korean activists and Chinese residents during the Seoul leg of the torch relay [20]. In 2010, China and Russia refused to support the investigation of the sinking of the South Korean navy warship, and China's support to North Korea for the artillery bombardment of Yeopyong Island further deteriorated the China-South Korean relationship [21]. In 2012, SAPPRFT enforced a more limited regulation that announced that foreign TV programs must not take up more than 15% of the total programming time every day, and also be banned between 7 p.m to 10 p.m on TV [22].…”