MENU
Monday 14 Apr 2025 @ 16:10
Chatham House
Printable version

South Korea’s domestic tumult risks being exploited by China

EXPERT COMMENT

Beijing will see the removal of South Korea’s president and subsequent election as an opportunity to undermine Seoul’s alliances, at a time of rising tensions with the US.

One week ago, South Korea’s constitutional court voted to remove the country’s now-former President Yoon Suk Yeol, following his initial impeachment by the national assembly on 14 December 2024. Preparations are now underway for the snap election of a new president, which will be held on 3 June.

Amidst ongoing political division in South Korea, Yoon’s dismissal will have serious consequences for Seoul’s foreign policy, especially at a time of heightened competition between Washington and Beijing. South Korea’s politics is increasingly polarized, and China will wish to exploit this division to undermine a crucial US alliance.

Click here to continue reading the full version of this Expert Comment on the Chatham House website.

 

Channel website: https://www.chathamhouse.org/

Original article link: https://www.chathamhouse.org/2025/04/south-koreas-domestic-tumult-risks-being-exploited-china

Share this article
RESEARCH EXPERTS EVENTS MEMBERSHIP ACADEMY ABOUT

 

Latest News from
Chatham House

The US dollar’s role in the international monetary system is now dangerously in flux

17/04/2025 12:20:00

The argument that the erosion of the dollar’s global status could benefit the US is gaining traction in Washington. That move would be a needless act of self-harm.

China’s rare earth export restrictions threaten Washington’s military primacy

16/04/2025 11:20:00

Beijing’s ability to prevent US access to rare earths puts Washington’s long-term strategic goals at risk.

President Trump’s tariffs increase pressure on allies to reduce security dependence on the US

16/04/2025 09:20:00

US tariffs add to the sense of an increasingly unpredictable and unreliable partner. Allies in Europe and the Pacific are questioning foundational assumptions about their security arrangements as a result.

X is taking the Indian government to court over content moderation tools. Expect India to win.

15/04/2025 13:20:00

X CEO Elon Musk is close to President Trump at a time when India wants to negotiate on US trade. But X’s case challenges wide-ranging government powers.

To join or not to join? Norway is edging closer to the EU

14/04/2025 15:25:00

Trump’s trade war has brought Norway even closer to the EU and increased the urgency for it to make a decision about membership.

Navigating a path beyond regional division is essential for West Africa’s security

14/04/2025 12:20:00

Despite the bitter exit of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger from ECOWAS and their formation of the rival AES, the destinies of the two blocs remain deeply intertwined.

South Sudan’s shaky peace is at risk of collapse. Can it be saved?

10/04/2025 12:20:00

Recent events have undermined the 2018 peace agreement, raising questions over whether the deal can be resuscitated or if a new way forward is needed.

Trump’s ‘liberation day’ tariffs are likely just the beginning of a longer-term vision

07/04/2025 10:20:00

Amid strident rhetoric and shifting targets, many observers have written off Trump’s tariff agenda either as a thoughtless time bomb that may wreck the global economy or as a negotiating tactic. But they are missing the bigger picture.

Putting the Digital Services Tax on the table in US negotiations sends worrying signal on UK digital sovereignty

04/04/2025 12:20:00

It would likely be unpopular for a government that has cut welfare services and introduced new taxes on UK businesses, but it also risks undermining wider attempts to regulate big tech.

Latest Report: AI, digital transformation, and vulnerable customers