THE FOREIGN POLICY OF THE PARK CHUNG HEE ADMINISTRATION (1963-1979)

Abstract

During four presidential terms, Park Chung Hee ruled the Republic of Korea, leading the country through a period of rapid economic development and transforming South Korean society. A significant contribution to this success was the Park administration’s shift in foreign policy to meet new changing world situations and domestic conditions. What were the goals and tasks of South Korea's foreign policy during this period? And how were these policies implemented by the Park Chung Hee administration in both multilateral and bilateral contexts? To clarify the research problem, the author used document analysis, international relations research, policy research methods, combined with historical research, data collection, synthesis and logic research methods. The results of the research project show that there were four main central goals of South Korea’s national foreign strategy, with the most important being ensuring national security and promoting the country's economic development. South Korea gradually constructed a flexible foreign policy focused on establishing and strengthening relationships with allied nations, countering communism, and working towards the goal of national reunification in both bilateral and multilateral aspects.