Why is Korea an indispensable ally of US?

Korea’s strategic capabilities and partnerships support U.S. security and economic renewal. Its democracy, industrial capacity, technological strengths and global connections underpin alliance contributions in defense, manufacturing and investment. Korea leads in memory semiconductors, supplies high-bandwidth memory for U.S. AI systems and hosts Camp Humphreys, the largest U.S. military base overseas. Reciprocal cooperation, stronger defense and multilateral diplomacy could further strengthen the alliance.

Korea invests more than 5 percent of gross domestic product in research and development and ranks second globally in research intensity.

Samsung and SK hynix are projected to meet nearly 80 percent of Nvidia’s 2026 high-bandwidth memory demand.

Korea’s per capita GDP approaches $40,000, while goods exports are expected to reach $1 trillion this year if momentum continues.

The bilateral investment framework combines $150 billion for shipbuilding cooperation with a $200 billion strategic investment program.

The Korean American community is about 2.2 million strong and includes four members of Congress.

Published Oct 12, 2026 3:39 pm KST

Updated Oct 12, 2026 5:59 pm KST

Korea’s strategic location, robust democracy, industrial capacity, technological excellence and global partnerships support U.S. security and economic renewal. Indispensability rests on capability, connectivity and credibility: complementary strengths, cooperation and sustained trust.

Korea delivers the measurable alliance contributions emphasized by the Donald Trump Administration — military readiness, investment, employment and manufacturing — supporting U.S. technological leadership and industrial resilience. American Extended deterrence remains essential to Korean security. Seoul can shape the alliance’s future through reciprocal benefits.

The unravelling of the international order, selective enforcement by major powers and U.N. Security Council paralysis endanger middle powers. Korea needs stronger national defense and multilateral diplomacy defending the U.N. Charter, sovereignty and territorial integrity. Rules remain strategic assets.

Korea leads memory semiconductor production and invests more than 5 percent of gross domestic product in research and development and is second globally in research intensity. It ranks third in industrial competitiveness, fourth in international patent applications, fifth in nuclear electricity production and in the 2026 Global Firepower Index. Its Danuri lunar orbiter, Nuri launch vehicle, defense industry and economic and energy footprint add strength.

Korea’s per capita GDP approaches $40,000; goods exports are expected to reach $1 trillion this year if momentum continues. On these projections, Korea would exceed Japan in both. Their combined nominal GDP, projected above $6 trillion, would rank fourth globally as a single economy, after the United States, the EU and China.

Manufacturing speed and scale, integrated supply chains and an experienced workforce deliver sophisticated semiconductors, ships, batteries and defense equipment reliably and competitively, meeting urgent requirements.

Korea supplies high-bandwidth memory (HBM) crucial to advanced computing and develops its own foundation models.

Korea, Japan and Taiwan form one of the world’s most concentrated semiconductor ecosystems: Samsung and SK hynix lead DRAM — including HBM — and NAND memory; Japan supplies critical materials and equipment; TSMC leads foundry manufacturing and is a global leader in advanced packaging. The Korean companies support the U.S. economy, supplying HBM essential to Nvidia’s artificial intelligence (AI) graphics processing units, and are projected to meet nearly 80 percent of its 2026 HBM demand.

Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) has made a quantum leap to third globally in Carnegie Endowment’s NeurIPS-based AI research ranking, behind Peking and Tsinghua universities and ahead of MIT and Stanford, up twelve places since 2022.

Research, robotics, precision manufacturing, communications and batteries advance physical AI. Joint laboratories, industrial test beds and researcher exchanges with American partners should advance AI, quantum technology, biotechnology and clean energy, with domestic investment in computing infrastructure, basic research and talent.

Korea provides Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek — the largest U.S. military base overseas — with land, supporting deterrence, peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia. Korea should strengthen reconnaissance, precision strike, missile defenses, ammunition reserves, cyber operations and resilient infrastructure. AI-enabled systems require rigorous testing and human responsibility. Wartime operational control should transfer when agreed conditions are met, supported by U.S. strategic capabilities.

The Nuclear Consultative Group should deepen planning and exercises; nuclear-powered submarine acquisition and peaceful fuel-cycle cooperation require agreed legal arrangements and safeguards.

Connectivity links U.S. security with Korean shipbuilding, defense production, semiconductors, batteries and biomanufacturing. The bilateral framework combines $150 billion for shipbuilding cooperation with a $200 billion strategic investment program advancing energy cooperation, including planned gas-fired power generation for AI data centers and a nuclear reactor construction framework.

Investment hubs include the U.S. states of Texas (Samsung semiconductors); Georgia (Hyundai, Kia, SK, and Hanwha manufacturing); Tennessee (batteries, materials, and appliances); Alabama (Hyundai automotive production); and Michigan (LG batteries). These investments connect workers, communities, governors and Congress across administrations. The Korean American community, about 2.2 million strong, including four members of Congress, contributes to the U.S. economy and society.

Commercial viability requires legal review, credible demand, sound returns, manageable financing and foreign-exchange risks, and protection of Korean companies’ interests. Investments should secure fair market access, procurement opportunities and long-term partnerships, respecting the agreed annual funding ceiling and financial safeguards. Reciprocity reinforces the alliance and public support.

Middle-power cooperation spans the Indo-Pacific: Japan offers maritime security, missile warning and semiconductor supply chains; Australia offers critical minerals and energy; Canada provides resources, clean energy, security cooperation and AI and quantum research; Indonesia offers industrial and digital connections with ASEAN; India has digital expertise, defense co-production and maritime security cooperation; and across Europe there are research networks, defense partnerships and technological standards.

Science diplomacy, shared research, resilient supply chains and coordinated responses to economic coercion reinforce the Korea-U.S. alliance and diversify risks. Relations with China require principled engagement and selective de-risking: Protect sensitive technologies, diversify critical supplies and cooperate where interests align, upholding sovereignty, maritime law and regional stability.

Credibility rests on democratic accountability, judicial independence, predictable regulation, fair competition, responsible AI and transparent safety standards.

Sustained innovation, reciprocal cooperation and trusted partnerships will make Korea an even more indispensable and vital U.S. ally, advancing shared security and prosperity.

Park Jin is South Korea's former foreign minister. He is a distinguished invited professor at KAIST.

韩国的战略能力和伙伴关系支持着美国的安全和经济复苏。其民主制度、工业实力、技术优势和全球联系为美韩同盟在国防、制造业和投资领域的贡献奠定了基础。韩国在存储半导体领域处于领先地位，为美国的人工智能系统提供高带宽存储器，并拥有美国最大的海外军事基地——汉弗莱斯营。互惠合作、加强国防和多边外交能够进一步巩固美韩同盟。

韩国在研发方面的投入占国内生产总值的5%以上，研发强度位居全球第二。

预计三星和SK海力士将满足英伟达2026年近80%的高带宽内存需求。

韩国人均GDP接近4万美元，如果增长势头持续下去，预计今年商品出口额将达到1万亿美元。

该双边投资框架将1500亿美元用于造船合作，并纳入2000亿美元的战略投资计划。

韩裔美国人社区约有 220 万人，其中包括四名国会议员。

发布于2026年10月12日下午3:39（韩国标准时间）

更新于2026年10月12日下午5:59（韩国标准时间）

韩国的战略位置、健全的民主制度、工业实力、技术优势和全球伙伴关系，为美国的安全和经济复苏提供了支持。其不可或缺性源于能力、互联互通和信誉：互补优势、合作与持续信任。

韩国为美韩同盟做出了特朗普政府所强调的可衡量的贡献——军事战备、投资、就业和制造业——从而支持了美国的技术领先地位和工业韧性。美国的延伸威慑对韩国的安全仍然至关重要。首尔可以通过互惠互利来塑造同盟的未来。

国际秩序的瓦解、大国选择性执法以及联合国安理会的瘫痪，都对中等强国构成威胁。韩国需要加强国防，并通过多边外交捍卫《联合国宪章》、国家主权和领土完整。规则仍然是战略资产。

韩国在存储半导体生产方面处于领先地位，研发投入占国内生产总值5%以上，研发强度位居全球第二。其产业竞争力排名第三，国际专利申请量排名第四，核电产量排名第五，并在2026年全球火力指数中名列前茅。此外，韩国的丹努里月球轨道器、努里运载火箭、国防工业以及经济和能源实力也为其增添了优势。

韩国人均GDP接近4万美元；如果增长势头持续，预计今年商品出口额将达到1万亿美元。按照这些预测，韩国在这两项指标上都将超过日本。两国名义GDP总和预计将超过6万亿美元，作为单一经济体，其排名将位列全球第四，仅次于美国、欧盟和中国。

制造速度和规模、一体化的供应链和经验丰富的员工队伍能够可靠且具有竞争力地交付精密的半导体、船舶、电池和国防设备，满足紧急需求。

韩国供应对先进计算至关重要的高带宽内存（HBM），并开发了自己的基础模型。

韩国、日本和台湾构成了全球半导体产业最集中的生态系统之一：三星和SK海力士在DRAM（包括HBM）和NAND闪存领域处于领先地位；日本提供关键材料和设备；台积电在晶圆代工制造领域处于领先地位，并且是先进封装领域的全球领导者。韩国企业为美国经济提供支持，为英伟达人工智能（AI）图形处理器提供至关重要的HBM，预计到2026年，韩国企业将满足英伟达近80%的HBM需求。

韩国科学技术院 (KAIST) 在卡内基国际和平基金会基于 NeurIPS 的人工智能研究排名中实现了质的飞跃，跃居全球第三，位列北京大学和清华大学之后，麻省理工学院和斯坦福大学之前，比 2022 年上升了 12 位。

研究、机器人技术、精密制造、通信和电池技术推动了物理人工智能的发展。与美国合作伙伴建立联合实验室、工业测试平台并开展研究人员交流，应促进人工智能、量子技术、生物技术和清洁能源的发展，同时加大对国内计算基础设施、基础研究和人才的投资。

韩国向位于平泽的汉弗莱斯营地（美国最大的海外军事基地）提供土地，以支持朝鲜半岛和东北亚的威慑、和平与稳定。韩国应加强侦察、精确打击、导弹防御、弹药储备、网络作战和韧性基础设施建设。人工智能系统需要严格的测试和人为责任。战时作战指挥权应在满足商定条件后移交，并由美国战略能力提供支持。

核能协商小组应深化规划和演习；核动力潜艇的采购和和平利用燃料循环的合作需要商定的法律安排和保障措施。

互联互通将美国安全与韩国的造船、国防生产、半导体、电池和生物制造等领域联系起来。双边合作框架包括1500亿美元的造船合作项目和2000亿美元的战略投资计划，旨在推进能源合作，其中包括为人工智能数据中心建设燃气发电设施以及建立核反应堆建设框架。

投资中心包括美国德克萨斯州（三星半导体）、佐治亚州（现代、起亚、SK和韩华的制造企业）、田纳西州（电池、材料和家电）、阿拉巴马州（现代汽车生产）和密歇根州（LG电池）。这些投资将不同政府的工人、社区、州长和国会联系起来。韩裔美国人社区约有220万人，其中包括四位国会议员，他们为美国经济和社会做出了贡献。

商业可行性需要经过法律审查、拥有可靠的市场需求、获得稳健的回报、控制融资和外汇风险，并保障韩国企业的利益。投资应确保公平的市场准入、采购机会和长期合作关系，同时遵守约定的年度投资上限和财务保障措施。互惠互利有助于巩固联盟关系并获得公众支持。

中等强国合作遍及印太地区：日本提供海上安全、导弹预警和半导体供应链；澳大利亚提供关键矿产和能源；加拿大提供资源、清洁能源、安全合作以及人工智能和量子研究；印度尼西亚与东盟建立工业和数字联系；印度拥有数字技术专长、国防联合生产和海上安全合作；而在欧洲，则存在着研究网络、国防伙伴关系和技术标准。

科学外交​​、联合研究、稳健的供应链以及对经济胁迫的协调应对，巩固了韩美同盟并分散了风险。与中国的关系则需要秉持原则的接触和有选择地降低风险：保护敏感技术，实现关键物资供应多元化，并在利益一致的领域开展合作，同时维护主权、海洋法和地区稳定。

信誉建立在民主问责制、司法独立、可预测的监管、公平竞争、负责任的人工智能和透明的安全标准之上。

持续创新、互惠合作和互信伙伴关系将使韩国成为美国更加不可或缺的重要盟友，从而促进共同安全与繁荣。

朴镇是韩国前外交部长，现任韩国科学技术院（KAIST）特聘教授。