The past, present and future of United States–South Korea relations

Since 1948 South Korea has attempted to strike a suitable balance between maintaining sound relations with the United States and achieving other goals, including in foreign policy. Reliance on the US was greatest during the Cold War, but leaders such as Park Chung-hee also prioritised goals such as regime security. From the 1980s, South Korea was willing and able to pursue an ambitious foreign policy, although efforts to improve inter-Korean relations created some friction with the US. Korean leaders have prioritised both the alliance and other foreign policy goals since 2008, but this task has been difficult due to changes in regional geopolitics.