A Study On South Korea’s Public Diplomacy With China

Public diplomacy started late compared with traditional diplomacy.The study on systematic public diplomacy gradually emerged in the 1960 s.In the 21 st century,as the development of economic globalization and informatization,public diplomacy has provided new methods of expanding national interests for countries all around the world.Public diplomacy surpasses traditional diplomacy in setting up national image,enlarging national influence,having international discourse rights and other aspects.It also has become an important part of diplomatic strategies of many countries,which leads to the rapid development of the study on “Public Diplomacy”.In 1999,South Korea established the "strategy of medium power diplomacy",proposing to combine political diplomacy and economic diplomacy based on "hard power" with public diplomacy based on "soft power",and jointly promote the diplomatic strategy of medium power.In global governance,medium powers play the role of "intermediate variable".The analysis of the thinking mode,strategic choice and action strategy of the public diplomacy of medium powers in South Korea has reference value for China to optimize its surrounding strategic layout and improve the geopolitical environment and manage the competition of large powers.South Korea’s public diplomacy of China affiliated to the content of medium power diplomatic strategy,political diplomacy and economic diplomacy,although the differences in means,but highly accord with the target and content,which are in the service of South Korea’s political,security,economic and cultural policies.It embodies the basic characteristics of soft power and hard power collaboration and constitutes the complete combination of medium power diplomatic strategy effectively.South Korea’s public diplomacy has a close logical relationship between its medium powers diplomatic strategy.Public diplomacy is not only an important means to achieve the strategic goal of becoming a medium power,but also an important part of its diplomatic strategy.Through public diplomacy,South Korea’smedium powers diplomatic strategy demonstrates and enhancesits soft power and effectively overcomes the lack of hard power.On the one hand,South Korea’smedium powers diplomatic strategyhas provided a theoretical path for the practice of public diplomacy,on the other hand,public diplomacy has opened up a behavioral path for the realization of the goal of South Korea’smedium powers diplomatic strategy.South Korea’s public diplomacy and the implementation of soft power are also symbiotic relations.Soft power is highly consistent with the connotation,objectives and approaches of public diplomacy.The essential feature of public diplomacy is soft power,while soft power depends on public diplomacy to achieve it.Public diplomacy is an effective and lasting practical means to demonstrate South Korea’ssoft power.Its core goal is to enhance the country’s soft power and safeguard its national interests and image.Different from traditional diplomacy,public diplomacy utilizes soft power such as culture,knowledge and policy to enhance the goodwill and recognition of the international community and the public of other countries.Creating a good national image and a friendly international public opinion environment through public diplomacy is conducive to the development of bilateral and multilateral diplomatic relations.Korea’s public diplomacy consists of three areas,including culture,knowledge and public policy diplomacy.Public policy diplomacy which is in specific areas in the short term helps South Korea achieve national interests.Culture and knowledge of public diplomacy which has long-term,stability characteristics aims to shape thenational brand,improve national image,provide public goods,maximize national interests and play a long-term effect.South Korea’s public diplomacy with China not only shows the diplomatic "strategic" goal of becoming a medium-sized power,but also has the "general" content ofstrengthening the people-to-people ties and consolidates the friendly relations between the two countries.Through the implementation of its public diplomacy with China,the ROK hopes to provide understanding and support to the reunification of the Korean Peninsula,the Korean nuclear issue and the establishment of the peace mechanism on the Korean Peninsula,which has become the original intention and main goal of its public diplomacy with China.Cultural and knowledge public diplomacy is often affected by the fluctuations of policy and public diplomacy.Once the public policy towards China presents obstacles,the cultural,educational and academic exchanges between the two countries are also like a "castle in the air".Therefore,It is strengthening the public diplomacy on Chinese culture and knowledge and the people-to-people cooperation between China and the ROK that can stabilize thefluctuations of policy and public diplomacy,and also consolidate the China-ROK strategic cooperative partnership.Since the South Korean government has actively promoted the diplomatic strategy of medium power,it has gained significant advantages in soft power competition.Through the development of public diplomacy,the national image of a medium power has been rapidly enhanced.This dissertation starts from the perspective of South Korea’smedium powers diplomatic strategy,makes the South Korea’s public diplomacy with China as the key content,takes the medium power theory and the soft power theory as the explanatory variables into the the research of Korean public diplomacy with China.With the three main research lines,which are cultural public diplomacy,knowledge public diplomacy and policy publicdiplomacy,it analyses the internal laws of South Korean public diplomacy with China,the three aspects are progressive and represent each other.It lays emphasis on exploring the historical evolution,strategic objectives,operation mechanism,I mplementation path,implementation characteristics,implementation effect,influencing factors and development trend of South Korea’s publicdiplomacy with China.It explores the essential content of its public diplomacy soft power as a medium power through the organic combination of identity path and behavior path,static goal and dynamic mechanism.Throughout the 30 years of public diplomacy with China,South Korea has experienced a tortuous process from start to development,from setbacks to repair.South Korea constantly improves the mechanism construction of public diplomacy,makes overall five-year planning of public diplomacy,builds multiple actors cooperation mechanism,implements the strategy of public diplomacy "localization",opens up a new path of digital public diplomacy,highlights the "nationalparticipatory public diplomacy" new mode and presents the characteristics of medium power public diplomacy.South Korea’s public diplomacy with China has made so many achievements as to consolidate the foundation of strategic partnership,shape the diversified values of the soft power of the Korean Wave,promote the revitalization of China’s "Korean science" and enhance the soft power of the "national brand".However,there is no denying that South Korea’s public diplomacy with China still has many limitations,mainly reflected in the lack of political mutual trust,unequal cultural communication,and the spread of extreme nationalism.There have always been differences between China and South Korea in historical cognition,political system and diplomatic positions,especially the "dual structure" between China and South Korea and the US,the regime transformation between conservative and progressive political parties in South Korea which will bring uncertainty to South Korea’s public foreign policy towards China.The Yoon Tin-Yue government hopes to draw the support from the role of a medium-sized power to change the goal of becoming a "global hub country",showing a diplomatic tendency to choose sides to the United States.In this regard,There are all topics worth exploring in the future for which the "value alliance" between Korea and the United States,how to consolidate the "traditional values" shared by eastern society,and which attach importance to the humanistic ties between "China and Korea",regulate Internet speech and expand public diplomatic channels.The achievements of South Korea’s public diplomacy provide many Enlighten ment for China’s public diplomacy strategy in South Korea and its overall public diplomacy strategy.It provides valuable experience especially in improving the ability of international communication "soft power" use,building "multiple actors" public diplomacy mechanism,promoting scientific and feasible public diplomatic decision level,boosting "China+ medium power +" diplomatic strategylayout,utilizing digital technology to promote Chinese culturalsoft power strengthening the construction of public diplomacy and talent team.