Time For A Strategic Shift In India's Korea Policy

South Korea witnessed a historic moment when its Constitutional Court removed President Yoon Suk-yeol from office, bringing an abrupt end to a foreign policy experiment that saw South Korea pivot decisively towards the United States and Japan under the banner of the Indo-Pacific strategy.

- LAKHVINDER SINGH

On April 4, 2025, As the country prepares for new elections within the next 60 days, the winds of change are already evident. With the opposition leader Lee Jae-myung widely expected to take charge, the country's foreign policy compass is poised to swing toward a more balanced, multipolar worldview—one that prioritizes Eurasian engagement and regional stability over military blocs and strategic posturing.

This is a decisive moment not just for South Korea but also for its key partners, especially India. For New Delhi, the ongoing regional realignment in Northeast Asia demands a fundamental rethinking of its Korea policy. If India wishes to remain relevant and shape the emerging regional order, it must shift away from its overreliance on the Indo-Pacific strategy and embrace a broader vision rooted in multipolarity, inclusive diplomacy, and strategic realism.

End of Korea's Indo-Pacific Tilt

Under President Yoon, South Korea's foreign policy closely mirrored Washington's neo-conservative outlook, emphasizing containment of China, deepening ties with Japan, and aligning more aggressively with the U.S.-led Indo-Pacific framework. This narrow alignment came at the expense of Seoul's historical pragmatism and its capacity to maintain constructive relations with its neighbors—including China, Russia, and North Korea.

With the Yoon administration now overthrown and the pendulum swinging in the opposite direction, the next South Korean leadership is expected to place greater emphasis on strategic balance, economic pragmatism, and regional cooperation. The new leadership is unlikely to sustain the confrontational posture of the past few years. Instead, it may seek deeper integration with Eurasian partners and move away from strategies aimed at countering China and isolating North Korea.