In this Aug. 24, 1992, file photo, then-South Korean Foreign Minister Lee Sang-ok, left, shakes hands with his Chinese counterpart Qian Qichen after signing an agreement on the two countries' official diplomatic ties in Beijing. Korea Times file

Seoul, Beijing urged to reset bilateral ties by separating politics from economic partnership

By Nam Hyun-woo

South Korea and China will celebrate the 30th anniversary of their diplomatic ties today, highlighting the reciprocal benefits that the two countries have enjoyed. On Wednesday evening, Foreign Minister Park Jin and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi are expected to read out messages from President Yoon Suk-yeol and President Xi Jinping in their respective capitals to mark the event.

However, their relations for the next 30 years will not likely stay the same due to the geopolitical upheaval surrounding the two countries. Currently, the relations between the two neighboring countries are trickier than ever, as Seoul has tipped the balance of its diplomacy toward the U.S. over China amid the U.S.' efforts to strengthen its influence in the Indo-Pacific region.

Experts say Seoul should seek ways to redefine its relations with Beijing reflecting the recent changes in the two countries' circumstances in the international community, calling especially for reviving the value of reciprocity and separating politics from economic partnership.

"Though the two countries are celebrating the 30th anniversary of their diplomatic ties, trade, supply chain cooperation and many other aspects that brought prosperity to the bilateral relations are now taking on challenges," said Lee Dong-gyu, a research fellow at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies.

"Regardless of South Korea's intention to stay close to China, the current environment brings structural difficulties in bilateral ties. It is the time for the two countries to build new relations."

After forming their official diplomatic ties on Aug. 24, 1992, bilateral relations have served as the key catalyst for each other's economic growth. The two countries' trade amounted to $301.5 billion last year, up 47 times from $6.4 billion in 1992, and Seoul's exports to Beijing during the same period skyrocketed by 61 times to $162.91 billion from 2.65 billion, according to data from the Korea International Trade Association.

However, the trade partnership has been affected by economic, cultural and political friction. In 2000, South Korea increased an import duty on Chinese garlic to protect domestic farmers and China responded by banning the import of mobile phones and polyethylene from South Korea.

In 2002, China launched the Northeast Project of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, which attempted to include Korea's ancient northern kingdoms as part of China's history, triggering negative sentiments in many South Koreans toward China.

The Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) U.S. missile shield is seen deployed in Seongju, North Gyeongsang Province, in this July 2017 photo. Korea Times file

In 2017, China launched an economic retaliation against South Korea for its decision to deploy a U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-missile battery on its soil, which is still affecting trade between the two countries.