Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to explore and rationalize South Korea’s perception toward a rising China. It aims to inquire into promotion and constraint factors in South Korea-China relations and suggest ways to develop that relationship. The rise of China presents both opportunities and challenges to South Korea and how those opportunities and challenges will impact depends on how future bilateral interactions will unfold. South Korea and China share a common understanding and goal in the pursuit of peace and stability in East Asia and the Korean peninsula. Economically, the two nations also have huge potential for growth, given their complementary economic structures. However, it is also true that there are potential constraint factors such as the issues of adverse balance of trade, ancient history, North Korea, the reunification of the Korean peninsula, and changes in Sino-US relations. With respect to the future ROK-PRC relationship, the paramount concern is peaceful coexistence between the two nations. To this end, South Korea should execute the following steps: first, institute perceptional changes; second, set detailed baseline goals for cooperation between South Korea and China in the 21st century; third, diversify exchange channels between the two; fourth, place more importance on mutual reciprocity and equity for the development of South Korea-China relations; and fifth, institutionalize the relationship under the framework of multilateral security cooperation.
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