2022 in Review: The 30th Anniversary of Korea-China Relations and Their Future Prospects

As Korea and China celebrated the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2022, Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Chinese President Xi Jinping exchanged letters to mark the occasion. In his letter, President Yoon called for “new directions for cooperation” based on the “spirit of mutual respect and reciprocity”, according to his office. Chairman Xi Jinping of China wrote both sides should “unite and cooperate at a critical period” in the post pandemic world. While Korea and China were able to manage their differences in 2022, continued efforts will be needed to maintain cooperation in the new year.

Although China remained an important trading partner in 2022, Korean officials say they are looking for alternatives. Semiconductors, an important Korean industry with large exports headed to China, have emerged as a particularly sticky issue. Although Seoul ended up joining the American-led Chip 4 initiative, Korean officials were initially cool to the idea. China warned Korea not to participate in exclusionary groupings, and the two sides announced the formation of a Collaborative Supply Chain Council to discuss the issue. But…