Issue Korea as a stable anchor linking fragmented blocs through pragmatic idealism

Summary

Amid rising turbulence, the essay argues that Korea, as a middle power, can no longer stay in a passive position dependent on great-power decisions and needs a new survival grammar beyond a follower strategy. It calls for pragmatic idealism that faces geopolitical reality while pursuing both public-good values and national interest, which could let Korea serve as a stable anchor linking fragmented blocs. First, co-benefit framing should make global challenges national R&D priorities, giving domestic legitimacy to resource allocation and external justification against protectionist or security-driven bloc pressure. Second, Korea should replace a hub-and-spoke model reliant on one hegemon with a selective multi-layered network: security-based emerging-technology alliances with the United States, value-based public-goods research with the EU, and inclusive appropriate-technology transfer with the Global South. Third, private Track Two science-diplomacy channels should provide strategic redundancy so that cooperation continues even if a country exits unilaterally or official diplomacy breaks down.