A SMART POWER Strategies to the Peace Process on the Korean Peninsula

Abstract

Purpose: The Purpose of this article is to analyze the smart power strategy to the peace process on the Ko-rean Peninsula and to suggest alternatives to build permanent peacebuilding efforts. This paper seeks to an-swer a key question regarding building a peace regime. What is South Korea’s smart power strategy for the peace regime building on the Korean Peninsula? Simultaneously;this paper also analyzes various South Korea’s domestic opinions over the North Korean nuclear issues. Method: This study analyzed ROK s Smart power strategies toward peace regime building on the Korean Pe-ninsula. Smart Power means developing an integrated strategy;resource base;and tool kit to achieve objec-tives;drawing on both hard(military muscle;economic might) and soft power(economic aid;sharing culture). It is an approach that underscores the necessity of a strong military but also invests heavily in alliances;partner-ships;and institutions at all levels to expand the state s influence and establish the legitimacy of the action. Results: The ROK’s smart power strategies to the peace process are as follows. First;in terms of using al-liance;South Korea has to call for the U.S to foster a peace regime building on the Korean Peninsula while coo-perating with the Biden administration s democratic principle and ideology. Second;in terms of using partner-ship;South Korea has to induce China to put pressure on the DPRK to abandon nuclear weapons. Third;in terms of using institutions;ROK and DPRK have to transform the current 9/19 inter-Korean military agreement of the initial operational arms control into systemic arms control through early notification of mutual military training. Conclusion: The essential components of smart power are using alliances;partnerships;and institutions;etc. In this context;South Korea has all the necessary elements of the ROK-US alliance and ROK-China economic partnership;and 9.19 inter-Korean military agreement. In the long and bumpy road of the peace regime build-ing process;it needs strategic optimism in pushing ahead smart power strategies but in building defense post-ure;they need to be a strategic pessimist.