Paper short abstract:

This paper tries to illuminate some of important questions why and how South Korea has attempted to focus on developing its soft power strategy toward Africa in the new millennium.

Paper long abstract:

The rise of China as an emergent global power in gaining access to energy and mineral resources is a main factor in reinforcing the use of South Korea's aid to Africa. Recognizing the limits of searching for ways of furthering its 'resource diplomacy' based mainly on economic pragmatism, yet, South Korean government has strived to utilize aid as a tool for soft power with a view to playing a bigger role in addressing global issues and aspiring to become a middle power in the sense that it is not regionally influential in spite of its growing powers. In this context, this paper tries to illuminate some of important questions why and how South Korea has attempted to focus on developing its soft power strategy toward Africa in the new millennium.