Rexon Ryu "Korea Should Focus on Designing Its Own National Strategy Rather Than Predicting ...

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Rexon Ryu “Korea Should Focus on Designing Its Own National Strategy Rather Than Predicting U.S. Future” [ESF2026]

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Day 2 of the 17th Edaily Strategy Forum

Keynote Address by Rexon Ryu, President of The Asia Group

“Korea Must Move Beyond Being a Fast Follower and Participate in Writing the Rules”

[Edaily By Reporter Ha-Yeon Shin and Min-Ji Son] Rexon Ryu, President of The Asia Group (TAG) and former Director for Nonproliferation at the U.S. National Security Council (NSC), emphasized that Korea must stop obsessing over predictingchanges in U.S. foreign policy and instead design its own national strategy for self-sustained prosperity. He urged Korea to go beyond the role of a fast follower and take an active part in shaping the rules and agendas of the international order.

“No matter what kind of U.S. emerges in the future, Korea should remain focused on building a nation capable of sustained prosperity,” Ryu said.

The 17th Edaily Strategy Forum was held on the 17th at The Shilla Seoul in Jung-gu, Seoul under the theme “The Age of Power, Recasting Civilization : Who Designs the New World??” Rexon Ryu, President of The Asia Group (TAG), delivers a keynote speech on “Security and Defense Strategy in the Era of Self-Reliance.” (Photo = Jin-hwan Noh, Edaily Reporter)

He pointed out that “capitals around the world, including Seoul, are currently spending a great deal of time and effort trying to predict what kind of U.S. will emerge in the future,” and said, “I believe this is the wrong approach.” He added, “That is because it is an issue that neither Korea nor any other ally can actually control or decide,” emphasizing, “The more important question is how to design design its own future.”

He also called for redefining the U.S.-Korea alliance beyond the traditional framework of burden-sharing debate and into a true partnership. “For the past 80 years, the U.S. has provided security while Korea has benefited from that arrangement,” he said. “Today, however, the relationship is now evolving into a joint venture where both sides co-invest capital, capabilities, and resources while expecting shared returns.”

He continued, “Korea is no longer a customer purchasing services,” adding, “It is becoming an investor with a stake, and a stake comes with the right to participate in decision-making.” He emphasized, “The next chapter of the Korea-U.S. alliance should be defined not by burden-sharing, but by partnership,” and added that “both countries must contribute assets, capabilities, and contributions together.”

President Ryu also urged Korea to make more proactive strategic choices as the international order continues to evolve. “These opportunities are not guaranteed automatically,” he said. “For decades, Korea has been a model of development and resilience, and now it has the capability to go to move beyond being a simple fast follower and become a country that creates norms, shapes agendas, and serves as a reliable partner in the new security era.”

He advised Korea to strategically select industries where it can take the lead. “Korea should strategically choose the industries it wants to lead on the global stage,” he said. “Rather than simply looking at growing markets, it should focus on where geopolitics is heading.” He added, “We must not merely observe global competition from the sidelines, but rather participate in writing the rules.”

He also highlighted partnership strategies and public-private cooperation as key tasks. “The Korea-U.S. alliance must serve as the foundation,” he said. “At the same time, the alliance should act as a platform in core sectors that will determine future hegemony.” He explained that “this requires enhanced communication, expanded co-production, establishment of joint standards, and practical cooperation.”

“Korea‘s leading companies are already at the center of key industries,” he noted. “Their decisions also influence national strategy.” He stressed the need for closer public-private collaboration, saying, “It is not about bureaucratic control, but about building consensus on what Korea wants to build and why.”

Ryu also warned that Korea may have to face a growing risk of being excluded from negotiations among major powers.

“In the past, Korea’s principal concern was the possibility of being abandoned by its ally,” he said. “Today, a greater concern is that major powers could negotiate over Korea at a table where Korea itself is absent.”

As a response strategy, he urged Korea to strengthen its indispensable role within global strategic systems and supply chains.

“It is important for Korea to integrate itself into core systems and supply chains and become indispensable to its partners,” Ryu said. “Only then can these structural risks be prevented from materializing.”

President Ryu emphasized “Korea‘s strategic task now is to integrate its capabilities with vision and strategy,” adding, “If those strengths are translated into concrete policies and accompanied by a strong sense of responsibility, Korea will become a country that does not merely adapt, but shapes the future.” He concluded, “Self-reliance is not isolation,” and explained that it means “the power to stand on one’s own, and at the same time the power to become a country that other nations want to join.”