Jeju Peace Institute

Alliances and partnerships are two distinct concepts, both in theory and policy. South Korea and the U.S. have been allies since they signed the treaty in 1953, formalizing the bilateral relationship as an alliance. Still, ROK-U.S. relations have been widely perceived as a partnership as well as an alliance. It would be helpful to reconstruct the terms so that they are considered complementary. Particularly in light of China’s recent criticism of the ROK-U.S. alliance as a Cold War relic, it is necessary to transform the alliance into a combination of a comprehensive strategic military alliance and a global partnership. Currently, the alliance is undergoing a transformation, and it is also facing substantive dilemmas over the North Korean nuclear issue and changes in the U.S.-China relationship. While the recent development of the alliance seems aimed at increasing South Korea’s contribution to global issues, the path is riddled with obstacles. Imperative as the globalization of the ROK-U.S. alliance is, it is equally necessary to define its identity to enable a proactive response to the ever-changing security environment. This paper emphasizes the need for concurrent development of the military alliance as well as the partnership. Militarily, the ROK-U.S. alliance should focus on the defense of the Korean peninsula, with a simultaneous effort to globalize the bilateral partnership.