러시아ㆍ유라시아

The relative political and economic profile of Eurasia on the international stage has risen as Eurasia continues to emerge with increasing importance, garnering much attention and interest from worldwide. It is of paramount importance for the Korean government to create and enlarge “room for growth” to the north of the Korean Peninsula in order to ensure the sustainable growth of the Korean economy in the future. Therefore, in addition to improving relations with Pyongyang, South Korea needs to strengthen its cooperation with the Russian Far East, Siberia, Mongol, and Central Asia, the states on the Eurasian Continent, thus pursuing two-track development on both the sea and the continent simultaneously. South Korea has developed its Eurasia Initiative, involving the reinforcement of economic ties with other states in the region under a new paradigm for international economic cooperation, thus paving the ground upon which the reunified Korea could engage the region and the world in the future. This study delineates the key features of an appropriate strategy of Korea’s cooperation with other states in Eurasia, based on an analysis of the current Eurasia Initiative. The crucial components of the strategy of Korea’s cooperation with Eurasia are the so-called “Three Mega Projects’ which are connecting the gas pipelines of the two Koreas and Russia, expanding the smart grid for energy from Russia to South Korea via North, and connecting the Trans-Korean Railway (TKR) and the Trans-Siberian Railway (TSR). In addition to these projects, policymakers ought to establish effective and sustainable channels through which they can pursue ongoing cooperation. Forming free trade agreement with Eurasian Economic Union is also needed. Korea should also seek out greater cooperation over the development of logistics and transportation infrastructure, particularly the Northern Sea Route. Another Russian policy initiative holding out a great promise for Korea to expand and consolidate its economic partnership with the Russian Far East and Siberia is the plan for the creation of the Zone of Advanced Socioeconomic Development (ZASD). Furthermore, Korea needs to take active part in industrial modernization and diversification efforts by Mongol and Central Asia. To bring its ambitious plan to fruition, firstly, the Korean government needs to rebuild trust and improve relations with North Korea. Secondly, the Eurasia Economic Cooperation Coordination Committee launched in February 2015 will need to provide active support for Korean business seeking to pioneer new markets in the Russian Far East, Central Asia, and Mongolia. Thirdly, the Korean government needs to approach the strategy of Korea’s cooperation with Eurasia more through multilateral channels in addition to bilateral ones. Korea therefore needs to make active use of established channels of global cooperation over the regions, such as the Greater Tumen Initiative (GTI), and soon to be established the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). Finally, in order for Korea to strengthen its strategic cooperation with Eurasian states, it needs to actively attract Eurasian businesses to Korea.