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The Intersection between Diplomatic Security and Cooperation: South Korea’s Veteran Diplomacy toward Türkiye

The article attempts to probe veteran diplomacy with the case of Türkiye and adopts its meaning from the distinct historical case of the Korean War. Veteran diplomacy gets attention as a means of new diplomacy as the changes in global political and economic order have brought limitations to state-centric diplomatic relations since the late 20th century. Veteran diplomacy can be utilized as an opportunity to expand South Korea’s soft power in the new public diplomacy era of the 21st century. It engages diverse diplomatic actors and interacts with war veterans of the UN allied nations based on diplomatic security policies. It led to the effect of public diplomacy via open and multilateral communication between the countries and creating amicable and favorable environments to strengthen ties as well as improve South Korea’s reputation in international society. It also paves the way for security cooperation with Türkiye.

The Intersection between Diplomatic Security and Cooperation South Korea s
 

 

 

 

Introduction

 

Samuel Marshall, a military historian, characterized the Korean War as the most brutal war in the 20th century.1 The war, which sparked such a miserable tragedy, remains in armistice; at the same time, the tragedy of war is being forgotten while sentiments advocating for peace rather than war are spreading. As a mark for the 70th anniversary of the armistice ending the Korean War in 2023, the South Korean government commemorated the heroic sacrifices and selfless dedication of veterans who had laid down their lives to defend South Korea. South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Patriots-Veterans agreed to cooperate with carrying out veteran-related programs to honor the legacy of UN war veterans as well as domestic and foreign independence fighters. As for the veteran affairs programs, former South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin stated at the Government Complex Seoul in 2023, “South Korea’s rapid development, within over half a century, into global top-ten economic powers would not have materialized without the profound sacrifices of war veterans.”2 Moreover, the South Korean patriots-veterans minister, Kang Jung-ae, also underlined that South Korea increased its national brand value through veteran diplomacy with nations allied during the Korean War.3 It constitutes a network that can foster positive partnerships with allied nations economically, socially, and culturally in both the political and diplomatic realms.

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