ANALYSIS OF THE SOUTH KOREAN GLOBALIZATION THROUGH ITS RELATIONS WITH THE MIDDLE EAST

Abstract

Globalization has significantly influenced South Korea's economic and political outlook, transforming it into one of Asia's leading economies and an influential player on the world stage. Although South Korea's traditional foreign policy does not suggest a natural alignment with the Middle East, as it has historically focused on Western and Asian allies, the Middle East has become increasingly important, particularly through energy trade and the growing presence of Korean companies in the region. In addition to economic ties, there has been a remarkable growth in cultural exchanges influenced by Korea's soft power policies. This study analyzes how the history of Korean globalization has influenced on the one hand the domestic development of the state itself, and on the other hand its economic and political openness that has shaped its relations with the Middle East region, with special emphasis on the strategic partnership with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), used as a case study. The objective of this research is to assess how globalization has influenced the development of South Korea and its growing collaboration with the Middle East region, also to identify the main factors behind this and which are the national and international impact., technological know-how and in other sectors such as security and cultural diplomacy. The analysis argues that there has been substantial growth in these bilateral relations, driven by mutual economic interests, and that they are innovating to other factors such as clean energy, medicine and non-oil exports and the growing presence of the Korean wave. Although these ties are still affected by South Korea's traditional alliances and subject to the geopolitical dynamics of the region.