Korea Seeks Greater Diplomatic Influence Through Technology and Industry
Officials and experts at a Seoul forum urged South Korea to turn its technological and industrial strengths into greater diplomatic leverage while expanding practical cooperation with Central Asia and the Global South.
South Korea should use its technological and industrial capabilities to gain greater influence in international affairs while ensuring that its partnerships produce practical benefits, officials and experts said at a policy forum in Seoul.
The Jeju Forum Inter-Sessional Meeting, held at the Korea Press Center in central Seoul, focused on the Lee Jae Myung administration’s pragmatic diplomacy, cooperation with the Global South and follow-up efforts after the inaugural Korea-Central Asia summit in September. The Jeju Peace Institute hosted the gathering on Friday.
Participants argued that Korea could strengthen its bargaining power and strategic autonomy by securing indispensable roles in global economic, technological and security networks. Their proposals included pursuing binding agreements, diversifying channels for negotiations with Washington, reinforcing economic diplomacy and broadening engagement with developing and emerging economies.
Jeju Peace Institute President Kang Jeong-sik said diplomacy should contribute directly to people’s lives. He called for a consistent set of principles combined with enough flexibility to respond to shifts in the international environment.
Second Vice Foreign Minister Kim Jina described President Lee’s pragmatic approach as one centered on protecting national interests without limiting Korea to a fixed choice of partners or methods. She said the country should aim to move from being forced to make choices to being capable of influencing the choices made by others.
Kim also emphasized the need to strengthen Korea’s domestic capabilities, maintain its alliance with the United States and deepen partnerships with the Global South and Central Asia. Cooperation involving critical minerals and supply chains, she said, should advance Korea’s economic security while also supporting industrial development in partner countries.
Central Asian representatives called for faster engagement. Kyrgyz Ambassador to South Korea Melis Mamadaliev said other countries had already made substantial progress in cooperation with the region and urged Seoul to accelerate its efforts.
Mamadaliev pointed to climate change and glacier loss as areas where Korea and Kyrgyzstan could work more closely. Rising temperatures are threatening glaciers in the mountainous country, he said, creating a problem that requires international cooperation because Kyrgyzstan cannot address it with domestic resources alone.
The ambassador also invited international partners to participate in the second Global Mountain Summit, known as Bishkek+25, which is scheduled to take place in the Kyrgyz capital from Oct. 21 to 23, 2027. The event is intended to identify opportunities for joint action on challenges facing mountain regions.
The discussion reflected Seoul’s effort to connect diplomacy more closely with technology, supply chains and economic security, while seeking a larger role in partnerships beyond its traditional alliances.