ECONOMIC DIPLOMACY OF THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA IN CENTRAL ASIA IN THE CONTEXT OF ITS SOFT POWER STRATEGY

Abstract

This article analyzes South Korea’s economic relations with
Central Asian countries through the lens of economic strategy and soft power
instruments: official development assistance (ODA), direct investment, and
technological cooperation. The relevance of this study stems from intensifying
geoeconomic competition in Eurasia and the growing role of Central Asia as
a resource and logistics hub, where external actors consolidate their positions
primarily through economic means. The aim of this study is to identify how
the combination of aid, investment projects, and technology transfer creates
sustainable channels of influence and supports the expansion of South Korea’s
trade and investment ties in the region. The scientific and practical significance
of this study lies in the development of an applied framework for assessing
effectiveness using regional data and in clarifying the role of official development
assistance as a mechanism for reducing transaction barriers for businesses. The
methodology includes a content analysis of strategic attitudes and engagement
discourse, as well as a comparative case study of key areas of interaction (energy,
infrastructure, industry, and science and technology projects) based on trade/
investment statistics and ODA data. The results demonstrate that ODA and
technology projects create a favorable institutional environment for capital,
while trade and investment are concentrated in priority countries and sectors,
cementing a pragmatic geo-economic model of presence. The practical value lies
in recommendations for increasing the mutual benefits of projects and mitigating
the risks of asymmetry in economic ties.