UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF RUSSIA AND CHINA DIPLOMATIC POLICY OF THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA IN CENTRAL ASIA

Abstract

To a certain extent, Korea's diplomacy towards Central Asia is based on the integration of economic security strategies. From this point of view, first of all, the existing diplomatic strategies and economic cooperation policy towards Central Asia should get rid of the tendency to view the Central Asian countries only as Russia's sphere of influence. Secondly, due to the Western sanctions against Russia and geopolitical conflicts, the economic cooperation between Korea and Russia has inevitably come to a sharp halt. Thirdly, because of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, there is a possibility that the northern policy of the new governments will be weakened, and therefore cooperation with Central Asian countries will also decrease. It will be necessary to preserve and develop the cooperation platform of the previous government with Central Asian countries. Also, the pragmatism of the Central Asian elite in foreign policy is clearly visible in the relations with the Republic of Korea. South Korea has been late to the region compared to other interested countries and has limited influence in Central Asia. However, Seoul's lack of geopolitical ambitions helps ensure that its involvement does not arouse the same suspicions or negative reactions that big players Russia, China or the West do. Seoul will be forced to actively cooperate with other actors with similar initiatives and geopolitical interests. Over the past years, Beijing has managed to expand its economic networks in Central Asia and is actively implementing its "One Belt, One Road" geopolitical and geo-economic concept. Seoul began to lag significantly behind in the competition for Central Asian markets. The apparent disparity in the presence of South Korea in the countries of Central Asia remains the same. Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan have been and remain the main partners. It can be seen that the trade turnover of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, which is several tens of millions of dollars, is not at a high level. In addition, in the relations of South Korea with the post-Soviet countries of Central Asia, trade and economic cooperation is of full and absolute priority. Korea's successful export industrialization has made the country a potential development model for Central Asia. Korea's participation serves to diversify Central Asia's foreign political relations, export routes and investment sources.