서강대학교

초록/요약

The current trends in the international system have paved way for the utilization of the other face of power referred to by Joseph Nye, Jr. as ？Dsoft power.＼ The concept has been included as a component of China‘s comprehensive national power aimed at maintaining a peaceful regional and global atmosphere that is conducive for its further pursuit of development. In Korea, on the other hand, soft power has been included as an alternative tool in enlarging its imprint in the regional and global arena. While the two countries embraced Nye‘s basic precept, both Chinese and Korean leaderships engaged in alterations giving birth to new construed concepts that are more encompassing and suited to their respective interests. This thesis demonstrates the following: First, though China and South Korea observe the basic tenets of soft power as introduced by Joseph Nye, they have gone beyond the latter‘s definitions resulting in self-construed soft power concepts to which the strategies they employ are rooted. Secondly, that the exercise of soft power by the two countries affects East Asia constructively because (1) it contributes to perceptual changes that either mitigate the threat factor or reinforces a positive image resulting in enhanced mutual trust; and (2) it contributes to the establishment of a regional atmosphere conducive for mutual cooperation and development. Thirdly, while the wielding of soft power by the two countries creates positive impact, unintended consequences are always difficult to avert.