This study aims to analyze the diplomatic activities of Korean local governments and propose strategies to enhance Korean-style local diplomacy. The study is based on the background of local governments becoming independent diplomatic actors following the revival of local autonomy in 1991. As the importance of local diplomacy has significantly increased, the role of local governments has become more critical, particularly as traditional, central government-led diplomacy faces limitations. The need for active local diplomacy is emphasized in the current context, where soft power and non-traditional security issues are increasingly prominent.
The scope of the study covers the period from 2004 to 2023, with the data divided into five-year intervals for analysis. The study utilizes 20,673 records of international exchanges by Korean local governments, publicly available on the website of the Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR) Korea. The analysis involves categorizing exchange patterns using the k-means algorithm, along with methods such as data collection, exchange pattern analysis, and examining the correlation between local government characteristics and the frequency of diplomatic exchanges.
The findings reveal that Korean local governments are emerging as significant actors on the international stage, with regions displaying high exchange frequencies achieving success through efficient resource utilization strategies. Conversely, regions with low exchange frequencies face challenges due to infrastructure and resource shortages, highlighting the need for enhanced cooperation with the central government. The study proposes strategies such as establishing customized diplomatic strategies, identifying diverse international cooperation agendas, building sustainable diplomatic relations, and expanding multilateral cooperation networks.
The study is expected to contribute to overcoming the crisis of ‘local extinction’ faced by local governments and to exploring the direction and methodology of future diplomatic relations on both academic and policy levels.