인도-태평양 전략 추진을 위한 한-태평양도서국 중장기 협력 방안(Korea’s Indo-Pacific Bridge: Charting a Course for ROK-Pacific Islands Partnership)

우리 정부의 인도-태평양 전략 추진에 따라 태평양도서국이 한국의 새로운 협력대상지로 부상하였다. 특히 2023년 5월 개최된 첫 한-태평양도서국 정상회의는 그간 한국 외교에서 크게 주목을 받지 못했던 태평양도서국과의 관계를 한층 심화시키는 제도적 기반을 마련하였다. 이러한 배경에서 본 연구는 태평양도서국의 지역적 특성, 주요국의 대태평양도서국 협력 현황, 최근 태평양 지역협력 활성화에 대한 태평양도서국의 입장과 대응을 분석해 한국에 대한 함의를 도출하는 한편, 정상회담의 성과를 지속하기 위한 한-태평양도서국 협력 방안을 제시하였다. The first-ever ROK-Pacific Islands Summit on May 29, 2023, marked a significant entry for South Korea (hereafter Korea) into the dynamic sphere of Pacific regional cooperation. Since 2011, Korea has consistently engaged in foreign minister-level dialogues with Pacific Island Countries (PICs), while gradually increasing its official development assistance (ODA) to these countries. The 2023 summit, however, was a pivotal step that underscored Korea’s commitment to deeper engagement with the PICs. The summit culminated in the development of two crucial documents - the “2023 Korea-Pacific Islands Leaders’ Declaration” and the “Action Plan for Freedom, Peace, and Prosperity in the Pacific” - both serving as comprehensive blueprints for the ROK-PICs partnership. This proactive engagement is a strategic element of President Yoon’s Indo- Pacific Strategy, aimed at elevating Korea’s role as a middle power and expanding its positive influence throughout the Indo-Pacific region. Korea’s active outreach to PICs has been warmly welcomed by both the PICs and the key regional powers. The main challenge ahead is to sustain the achievements of the summit and enhance Korea’s position as a late-entry donor in the Pacific, in the face of intensifying aid competition in the region. Against this backdrop, drawing on an analysis of the evolving dynamics of Pacific regional cooperation, this study aims to provide policy recommendations for Korea’s future engagement with the Pacific Islands. (the rest omitted)