The Seoul National University Contemporary Korea Research Group held an international conference on August 22–23 under the theme “Korea as Symptom.” As the opening session of the conference, the Statehood and Civil Society Team conducted the session “Foreign Policy Narratives toward South Korea” in Room 240, Building 101, Seoul National University. The session was chaired by Professor Jeffrey Robertson (Yonsei University) and featured four presentations.

In the first presentation, Researcher Sinhae Lee (Sasakawa Peace Foundation) analyzed “Japan’s Strategic Narrative towards South Korea.” Lee examined Japan’s strategic narrative regarding Korea within the framework of the “Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP).” Focusing on 2017–2024, she traced how Japan has perceived Korea as part of the Indo-Pacific and discussed implications for the future of Japan–Korea relations.

Next, Professor Jae-woo Joo (Kyung Hee University) presented “China’s Korean Diplomacy Narratives in the Xi Jinping Era”, analyzing China’s diplomatic narratives toward Korea during Xi Jinping’s leadership. He argued that China’s narratives primarily consist of “Cold War rhetoric” and “unsportsmanlike conduct.” The former conveys that Korea should conduct its foreign policy independently of U.S. influence, while the latter frames Korea–U.S. relations as zero-sum and directly pressures the Korean government. Joo evaluated the motivations and purposes behind these narratives and their impact on bilateral China–Korea relations.

The third presentation, by Professor Gu-yeon Jeong (Kangwon National University), was titled “US Strategic Narratives on East Asian Allies under Retrenchment.” He analyzed strategic narratives used by the Nixon administration during periods of retrenchment to justify U.S. foreign policy. In particular, he showed that during the 1960s, the U.S.–China rapprochement and détente diplomacy were framed strategically as contributing to international stability and peace.

Finally, Professor Junghyun (Claudia) Kim (City University of Hong Kong) presented “Elite Victim or Elite Power? Korea’s Victimhood Narratives and Status-Seeking in the World.” Kim analyzed how narratives of victimhood can serve as resources for status-seeking in international politics. She explained that while victimhood presupposes powerlessness and vulnerability, it can also function as a strategy enabling smaller states to confront great powers. For Korea, the colonial experience under Japanese rule provides a basis for status-seeking but simultaneously constrains efforts to enhance its position within the U.S.-led Indo-Pacific order.

This session analyzed strategic narratives surrounding Japanese, Chinese, and American foreign policies toward Korea and explored Korea’s position in international politics. In particular, it demonstrated that studying strategic narratives can provide a crucial analytical framework for understanding the structural context of diplomacy on the Korean Peninsula.