Korean Views of Korea-China Relations: Evolving Perceptions and Upcoming Challenges

Twenty years after diplomatic normalization in 1992, Korea-China relations have become more interdependent, complex, and conflictridden. In spite of ever-growing economic interactions. South Korea now views China as a source of concern with respect to its economy and security. The China-South Korean history controversy and the disillusionment in the midst of the Cheonan sinking and the Yeon-pyeong Island shelling further contributed to the rise of such concern. As the interactions grow in the future. South Korea and China will face challenges in seven areas: trade/commercial frictions, historical disputes, clashes of values and norms. North Korea’s nuclear weapons, the Korea-US alliance, territorial disputes, and Korean reunification.