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Implementation of South Korean Knowledge Diplomacy toward ASEAN partners: Multilateral and bilateral dimensions
Although the concept of Knowledge Diplomacy is still fairly new, it is not unfamiliar to South Korea. The principles of Knowledge Diplomacy are enshrined in legal documents and applied in foreign policy. This chapter examines the development of the definition of Knowledge Diplomacy and how it is reflected in South Korean legislation, and investigates the case of how South Korea implements Knowledge Diplomacy towards ASEAN countries. It introduces an arsenal of practical Knowledge Diplomacy tools used by South Korea in regard to its ASEAN partner countries. South Korea pursues Knowledge Diplomacy through a range of initiatives that involve not only the official authorities of the interacting states, but also non-governmental organisations, private companies and individual actors of various levels and professional statuses. The kaleidoscope of Knowledge Diplomacy activities includes academic mobility programmes, knowledge transfer-oriented consulting programmes between states, promotion of business cooperation between countries in the field of advanced technologies, and many others. Although South Korea cooperates with all ASEAN countries, the intensity and depth of Knowledge Diplomacy varies. South Korea is especially successful in its Knowledge Diplomacy towards Vietnam, while Knowledge Diplomacy ties with Brunei and Myanmar remain the least elaborated. The chapter aims to describe the role of Knowledge Diplomacy in relations between South Korea and ASEAN members. It concludes with a discussion of the prospects for Knowledge Diplomacy towards ASEAN partners and possible transformations of the definition.