Podcast Episode
Indonesia has been trying to find its footing as a major international player over the past decade.
Chong Ja Ian, Natalie Sambhi, Yohanes Sulaiman
Podcast Episode
Calibrating China Ties - Korea
Join Ian Chong in conversation with Korea University's Sung Eun Kim and Seoul National University's Injoo Sohn as they examine how Seoul navigates Beijing's political pressure, manages Korean Peninsula stability, and reconciles competing demands from Washington while serving its own national interests in an increasingly polarized region.
Published on Aug 15, 2025
Caught between economic opportunity and security imperatives, South Korea finds itself navigating one of Asia's most complex relationships with China. Seoul has constantly sought to calibrate the management of economic gains and security concerns, but growing U.S.-China competition complicates its options. South Korea must consider its trade and investment partnership with China, political pressure from Beijing, stability on the Korean Peninsula, regional tensions, alliance commitments with Washington, and the demands of its population. In this episode, host Ian Chong and his guest speakers from Korea explore the intricate dance of diplomacy, economics, politics, and strategy that defines Korea-China relations today.
Sung Eun Kim is Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science and International Relations at Korea University. She is also a visiting scholar at the Harvard-Yenching Institute, 2024-25. Injoo Sohn is Professor from the Department of Political Science and International Relations at Seoul National University (SNU). He is also the Deputy Director of the SNU Institute of Future Strategy and the Chair of the institute’s Global Korea Cluster.
Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.
More Work from China in the World
- Calibrating China Ties - Indonesia
- Calibrating China Ties - MalaysiaPodcast Episode
Ian Chong explores how Malaysia adjusts its domestic concerns and external relations in an increasingly contested environment with guests Khoo Ying Hooi and Shahriman Lockman.
Chong Ja Ian, Khoo Ying Hui, Shahriman Lockman
- Calibrating China Ties - VietnamPodcast Episode
Joining Ian Chong to discuss China's relationship with Vietnam are Huong Le Thu and Nguyễn Khác Giang.
Chong Ja Ian, Huong Le Thu, Nguyễn Khắc Giang
- Calibrating China Ties – JapanPodcast Episode
Join Ian Chong as he explores how Japan seeks to evaluate its economic and security ties with the People’s Republic of China.
Chong Ja Ian, Akira Igata, Ayumi Teraoka
- China and MyanmarPodcast Episode
What role is China playing in the ongoing civil war in Myanmar? How does Beijing relate to the interested parties inside and outside of Myanmar?
Chong Ja Ian, Moe Thuzar, Shona Loong
