Caught between US President Donald Trump’s unpredictable administration and a rising China, South Korea is highly exposed to geopolitical turmoil and energy shocks. With American reliability in doubt, it must now safeguard its export-driven economy and build its own capabilities while navigating an increasingly unstable world.
SEOUL—In the early 1950s, after the devastation of the Korean War, South Korea was among the world’s poorest countries. Today, it is an advanced economy, with a per capita income that exceeds that of Japan. Much of South Korea’s transformation took place under the protection provided by the US military, underscoring the threat that President Donald Trump’s policies now pose to its long-term prosperity and security.