Hwang, Jaeho

Abstract
The year 2015 has many implications for South Korea. It marks the 70th anniversary
of the end of World War II in 1945, the subsequent independence of the Korean
Peninsula from the rule of Imperial Japan, and the division of the Peninsula into
two Koreas based on two different ideologies and political systems. South Korea,
based on liberal democracy, has renovated itself and emerged as a middle power
with diplomatic and economic strength. However, the unhappy legacy of 1945
still haunts today’s ROK despite its growth, both in quantity and quality. The
U.S.-led regional order in the post-War period is experiencing a massive upheaval,
as the United States seeks to maintain the status quo by using Japan, and China
intends to shape a new regional order. Against this backdrop, South Korea is
being demanded to choose a position. In order to deal with this situation, Seoul
should put its national interest as its top priority, while taking into account which
option serves better for regional peace and prosperity.
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