During the summer of 2023, the U.S. Army tested a medium-range missile system called Typhon, which has a range of up to 1,700 kilometers and can carry Tomahawk cruise missiles or Standard-6 missiles to target land or sea vessels. This was an innovation by the United States after it withdrew from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, aiming to restore its medium-range missile capabilities.
As soon as the South Korean media saw this, they began to report extensively, saying that if this system were deployed at U.S. military bases in South Korea, it would create a strong deterrence against surrounding areas.
In particular, from the Gunsan Air Force Base, the missile could cover the entire North Korea, extend to coastal cities such as Dalian, Qingdao, and Ningbo in China, and even reach Beijing within its range.
The Korea Daily stated directly on July 12, 2023, that if there was a conflict in Northeast Asia, South Korea could use the Typhon system to strike Beijing, and attack ports like Qingdao and Dalian, as these places are important supply points and logistics hubs for the Chinese navy.
During the period when U.S.-South Korea military cooperation was heating up, President Yoon Suk Yeol visited Washington in April 2023 to meet with President Biden, discussing deepening the alliance, including sharing nuclear deterrence intelligence and increasing joint exercises.
The South Korean government wanted to use American power to deal with the threat of North Korean missiles, so it was very interested in the Typhon system. Media reports listed data, such as the Tomahawk missile's speed of 800 km/h, taking about one hour from a central South Korean base to Qingdao and two hours to Beijing.
The Chosun Ilbo also followed suit, saying that deploying it at Osan or Pyeongtaek bases would allow it to strike Pyongyang at any time, and in an emergency, it could target Beijing.
Such reports sparked widespread discussion online, with some people thinking that South Korea's military strength had increased, while others worried that it would push South Korea to the front line.
Professor Kim Sang-joon from Seoul National University publicly criticized, saying that the media was using American weapons to scare neighboring countries, but the control was in the hands of the United States, and South Korea had no say. If a war broke out, South Korea's territory would be hit first because of its proximity, as China's Dongfeng missiles covered the whole of South Korea, and the coverage rate of the air defense system was less than 70%.
The logic behind the South Korean media's hype is quite simple, which is to show off muscle and divert domestic attention. After Yoon Suk Yeol took office, South Korea faced economic pressure, high inflation, and difficulty in youth employment, so politicians love to play the security card.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry has repeatedly responded, stating that such hype undermines regional peace and stability. Russia and North Korea also expressed opposition, considering it an act of provocation targeting them.
By the second half of 2023, the United States indeed pushed forward the deployment of Typhon in the Asia-Pacific region, but first went to the Philippines. In April 2024, the United States transported the system to northern Philippines for joint exercises, firing at simulated targets, which led to strong protests from China. As for South Korea, the Defense Ministry remained cautious and did not confirm the introduction.
In October 2023, the South Korean Minister of Defense told the National Assembly that they would not deploy the new system recklessly, to avoid breaking the regional balance.
But the media did not stop, and in November, there was an article simulating scenarios, saying that launching from Osan base, the missile would cross the Yellow Sea and strike Qingdao Port, destroying container terminals; the path to Beijing would bypass mountains, targeting key buildings.
The chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce, Choi Tae-yong, owner of SK Group, directly stated at a press conference on July 14, 2023, that if South Korea lost the Chinese market on a large scale, its economy would suffer a huge blow, even causing internal chaos. He didn't explicitly mention the missile issue, but everyone knew it was a response to media statements.
Choi Tae-yong emphasized that China is South Korea's largest trade partner, accounting for more than 20% of exports. The mainstay industries such as semiconductors, automobiles, and chemicals rely on China for raw materials and sales.
For example, one-third of the containers at Busan Port go to Qingdao. If it were destroyed, it would mean cutting off South Korea's own logistics network.
SK Group has significant investments in China. Samsung's chip factory in Xi'an generates massive daily output, and engineers are busy adjusting production lines. Choi Tae-yong's words are down-to-earth, saying that China is currently irreplaceable, but Korean companies need to find ways to diversify, shifting focus from China to other markets such as Southeast Asia or Europe, to maintain competitiveness. Otherwise, relying solely on U.S. military support would lead to economic losses.
On July 13, 2023, he said in another context that giving up the Chinese market couldn't be recovered, and the government and enterprises needed to work together to overcome difficulties. He also mentioned that South Korea's manufacturing industry had been stagnant for the past decade, with aging facilities. If it lost the Chinese market again, it would fall further behind in fields like artificial intelligence.
Reports from the Korea Institute for Industrial Economics also support this view, stating that if the Sino-U.S. tech war escalates, South Korean companies would be "sandwiched," as 70% of Samsung's chips are sold in China, but their production lines rely on U.S. lithography machines.
Culturally, there is also a contradiction. K-dramas like "It's Okay to Not Be Okay" have over 1 billion views in China, and BTS concert tickets sell out in seconds. However, there are sometimes negative sentiments online. Professor Lee Jung-hyeok from Yonsei University analyzed that politicians love to promote the Chinese threat to shift contradictions, while companies become scapegoats.
In 2016, South Korea decided to deploy the THAAD anti-missile system, which drew China's opposition, resulting in economic retaliation. Chinese tourists dropped sharply, and in 2017, the tourism industry lost $12 billion. Lotte Group gave land to THAAD, leading to the closure of 74 supermarkets in China. Samsung's smartphone market share dropped from 20% to 1%, and GDP growth fell from 3.2% to 2.7%.
Overall trade was affected, with South Korea's export shares in China dropping sharply, disrupting the supply chain. In March 2017, Japanese media reported that this incident might lower South Korea's GDP by 0.3%.
Later, South Korean media reflected that after three years and three months of deploying THAAD, both internal and external costs were huge, and former diplomats said it was a losing deal. The punishment continued until October 2017, when Sino-Korean relations eased. Chinese merchants suffered losses, but South Korea was more hurt because of its high dependence on trade with China.
After THAAD, Sino-Korean relations gradually recovered.
Starting in 2018, Chinese tourists returned, and the South Korean tourism rebounded. Samsung adjusted its strategy, expanding investments in China, and its market share rose to 3%. In January 2022, the RCEP came into effect, and Sino-Korean trade volume increased by 18% over three years. The Bank of Korea and Chinese institutions collaborated, and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area worked with South Korean technology companies on hydrogen energy research.
These tangible benefits will not be easily discarded by South Korean companies. In 2024, Choi Tae-yong continued to promote cooperation with China, expanding SK Group's business. In 2025, the United States deployed Typhon to Japan for joint exercises involving thousands of Japanese and U.S. troops, but South Korea did not follow suit.
The Yoon administration strengthened the U.S.-South Korea alliance, but did not cut the economic ties between South Korea and China. Korean cargo ships still loaded semiconductor raw materials heading to Busan from Qingdao, and Samsung's Xi'an plant maintained stable production.
To date, the Typhon system has been roaming in the Asia-Pacific region, but not yet deployed in South Korea. Media rhetoric has become fleeting, but it exposed South Korea's dilemma: surviving in the middle of the U.S. and China, relying on the U.S. militarily and on China economically.
This division is most evident in semiconductors, where Samsung depends on both the U.S. and China. South Korean scholar Kim Ran said that although they argue verbally, their wallets are open to China.
Although the dispute over the origin of kimchi is lively, economic integration is the trend. If South Korea truly thinks about future generations, it needs to be clear-minded, as military intimidation cannot block the development of major powers, and damaging the supply chain would self-destruct the economy. A smart approach is to act as a bridge, promoting cooperation, ensuring stable jobs and development space.
Ultimately, weapons cannot feed people, and economic strength is what matters. Recently, South Korean companies have also sent delegations to visit China, discussing cooperation. Choi Tae-yong led a three-day delegation to talk with Chinese officials about Sino-Korean economy, indicating that everyone knows that quarrels are not beneficial.
It is easy for the media to shout slogans, but the companies pay the bills. Choi Tae-yong's "leaving a way out" is a reminder to avoid sacrificing long-term interests for a momentary impulse.
In 2025, Sino-U.S. relations are complex, and South Korea must balance.
Speaking of it, the peace in Northeast Asia relies on economic bonds, and missiles can only cause trouble. If South Korea continues to be rational, there is still room for the future.
References
China sanctions South Korea to make it suffer internally, preparing to enter a long-term stalemate. Global Times
Original text: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7572191516236497442/
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