Journal of the Economic Geographical Society of Korea (한국경제지리학회지)

The Economic Geographical Society of Korea (한국경제지리학회)
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Korea's Public Diplomacy Policy towards Africa: Strategies, Instruments and Its Implications on Economic Linkages with Africa

한국의 대 아프리카 공공외교: 전략과 방안 그리고 경제 연계에 미치는 영향

  • Ochieng, Haggai Kennedy (Hanyang University Department of Social Sciences, Institute for Euro-African Studies) ;
  • Iffat, Tahira (Department of Political Science and International Studies, Hanyang University) ;
  • Kim, Sungsoo (Political Science and International Studies, Hanyang University)
  • Received : 2020.07.03
  • Published : 2020.09.30
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Abstract

Korea-Africa relations date back to the period of independence of African countries. During this time, the ties between Korea and Africa has passed through stagnation, inconsistencies and weak diplomatic exchanges. Recently, Korea began to refocus its efforts towards Africa in order to revitalize their relations. This paper examines Korea's public diplomacy strategies towards Africa and how its various strategies are working in the interest of Korea as well as Africa. The study shows that Korea's renewed interest in Africa is primarily driven by the security threat from North Korea and the need to diversify its market for industrial goods as well as energy sources. The latter motives override Korea's interest in the continent. These motives are not at variance with those pursued by large powers like the US and China in Africa. Furthermore, the paper shows that Korea is employing a mixture of public diplomacy instruments in Africa with varied outcomes. Economic linkages between Korea and Africa are on an upward trajectory since the late 2000s. In order to build sustainable relations, the paper provides a number suggestions with far-reaching implications on Korea's public diplomacy towards Africa in the future.

아프리카의 독립국가 출현과 함께 한국과 아프리카의 관계는 시작되었지만 외교적 교류는 완성된 모습보다는 불규칙적이며 비정규적 교류가 이어지는 듯한 모습을 보여왔다. 최근 들어 한국정부는 아프리카와의 관계 개선을 위하여 새로운 접근을 시도하고 있다. 본 연구는 한국의 대 아프리카 공공 외교의 여러 전략과 방안들을 살펴보면서 어떻게 한국과 아프리카간의 상호이익에 부합하는지를 분석한다. 한국의 아프리카에 대한 관심은 북한의 안보위협과 시장다변화 그리고 미국과 중국 등 강대국과 마찬가지로 아프리카 대륙 차원의 에너지 자원에 대한 관심이라고 볼 수 있다. 그리고 한국이 아프리카에 적용하는 혼합적 공공외교 전략과 방안은 다양한 형태의 결과물을 통해 나타나고 있다. 그 결과2000년대 말부터 한국과 아프리카의 경제적 연계는 한층 강화되고 있다. 미래에도 지속적인 관계를 유지하기 위하여 본 연구는 한국의 대 아프리카 공공 외교의 활성화를 위하여 연구결과를 바탕으로 여러 방안을 제안하고 있다.

Keywords

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