Toward Rivalry and Decoupling
South Korea's Changing Economic Dynamics with China
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 6444308 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Muhui Zhang (0000-0001-9692-5494, Sungkyunkwan University), Yue Wu (0000-0002-3051-6361), Wu Yue (0000-0002-8851-5513, Software Engineering Institute of Guangzhou) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 40 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Pages | 359-391 |
| Publication date | 2025-06-30 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Pacific Focus (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1225-4657 • E-ISSN: 1976-5118 |
| Publisher | Wiley (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1111/pafo.70000 |
| OpenAlex | W4411785257 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 21 |
Over the past decade, Sino–Korean relations have been based on strong economic interdependence and mutual reciprocity. However, the post‐pandemic era (2022–2023) marks a critical turning point as the mutually beneficial and complementary model between China and Korea has undergone a fundamental shift. In 2023, the latter's trade balance with the former transitioned from a surplus that had sustained for 30 years to a deficit. This transformation is driven by multiple factors, including the US–China global rivalry, the latter's accelerated technological advancements and growing industrial self‐sufficiency, and Korea's strategic distancing from it. This study examines the evolving dynamics of Sino–Korean economic relations, highlighting a transition from strategic partnership to emerging rivalry and decoupling. The changing dynamics between the two nations reflects a synergistic interplay of their politico‐economic policy choices. From China's perspective, rapid advancements in high‐tech industries and enhanced technological capabilities have eroded Korea's competitive edge in mid‐ to high‐tech sectors, intensifying exports and industrial competition. From Korea's perspective, the Yoon Suk‐yeol administration shifted away from its previous hedging strategy amid escalating Sino–US competition, fostering closer collaboration with the United States and regional allies in Asia. South Korea's state‐driven reshoring efforts, supply chain diversification strategies, and participation in frameworks such as the Indo‐Pacific Economic Framework aim to reduce economic reliance on China
China · Decoupling (probability · Dynamics (music · Economics · Macroeconomics · Political science · Rivalry · Asian Industrial and Economic Development · Engineering · Korean Peninsula Historical and Political Studies · Psychology
Asymmetry and International Relationships
The New Liberalism
Resilience amid Fluctuations
Between Balancing and Bandwagoning
The China–Japan–Korea Trilateral Free Trade Agreement
Decoupling from China
The limits of pressure
Reshoring from China
South Korea under the United States–China rivalry
Collective Resilience
Weaponized Interdependence
South Korea’s Strategy toward a Rising China, Security Dynamics in East Asia, and International Relations Theory
Interdependence, Identity, and China–South Korea Political Relations
East Asia Responds to the Rise of China
Walking on eggshells
| Unique citing works | 1 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 1 |
| Citation span | 2026 - 2026 (1) |
| Citation velocity | current |
| Highly cited | No |