Sadae: Attendance to the Great

King Taejo

"A shrimp among whales."

This saying has defined Korea's position in East Asia. Korea had been and has been surrounded by large and great powers of China and Japan. Korea was always in danger when the two countries would engage in war. To survive and remain independent, the Koreans had to rely on diplomacy and getting a strong ally - attending to a greater power - in order to survive. And this idea became the core of the traditional diplomacy of old Korea known as Sadae.

Sunshine Policy

Kim Dae-Jung

The Sunshine Policy was a program of reconciliation between north and South Korea under President of the Republic of Korea, Kim Dae-jung. It began a process of acceptance and interaction between the two Koreas. Ultimately, the policy resulted many historic events.

Nordpolitik

Roh Tae-Woo

Nordpolitik or Northern Policy was a foreign policy towards the communist countries by the Roh Tae Woo administration. When the period of Détente ushered during the 1970’s, it was time to move away from a foreign policy based on ideology to a policy that will benefit the Republic of Korea. It was became a way for Korea to increase presence in the world stage.  In addition, it intended to isolate further or bring the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) to have a dialogue with Seoul.