The Issue Brief examines what South Korea’s approach to Europe should look like under the Lee Jae Myung administration and makes the case for a more strategic orientation going beyond economics and values to encompass defense, security, and networked cooperation.

For much of the past two decades, South Korea’s Europe policy has been grounded in trade and normative commitments, supported by agreements such as the ROK–EU Free Trade Agreement, the 2010 Framework Agreement, and shared values of democracy, human rights, and non-proliferation. While cooperation has been broad and productive, it has remained imbalanced: Europe has been treated primarily as an economic and normative partner, with defense and security ties only beginning to take shape in recent years.

Today, intensifying U.S.–China rivalry, uncertainty in Washington’s commitment to allies, and the growing convergence between the European and Indo-Pacific theatres have created an environment in which Seoul needs to adopt a sharper and more strategic approach to Europe. Such a reorientation is essential for strengthening consolidation among U.S. allies, countering the North Korea threat, expanding defense cooperation, and deepening collaboration in the Indo-Pacific.

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