Seoul shifts focus to the Global South in new autonomy push

Seoul is changing its foreign policy direction again. South Korea is strengthening ties with countries in the Global South, a move experts describe as an effort to gain more strategic independence. The decision comes as the global order faces multiple crises. The US-China rivalry is no longer just about tariffs and technology. It now includes competition over critical minerals, energy, supply chains, and even the rules of global governance. On top of this structural tension, the wars in Ukraine and the US-Iran conflict add more pressure. These conflicts affect the entire world. South Korea’s shift is called a “pivot southward.” The goal is to reduce dependence on any single major power. By building new partnerships in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, Seoul hopes to protect its own interests. This is not the first time South Korea has tried this approach. But analysts say the current global instability makes this move more urgent. The country is restructuring its foreign policy for a more uncertain future.