Global Peace Foundation President Seo In-teck delivers his welcome remarks during the Korean Dream Unification Strategy Forum at Seoul Global Center, Friday. Korea Times photo by Jhoo Dong-chan

Conservative experts in inter-Korean and South Korea-U.S. relations gathered for a forum, Friday, to assess the diplomatic doctrine of President-elect Donald Trump's second term and discuss how to prepare for Korean unification amid growing uncertainties surrounding the power transition in Washington.

The forum highlighted growing concerns among experts that the U.S. presidential transition could significantly impact inter-Korean relations and complicate efforts towards reunification. The event was hosted by Action for Korea United and the Global Peace Foundation and co-hosted by the Kookmin University Graduate School of Global Peace & Unification.

"North Korea's regime change is inevitable. It is a matter of time," Global Peace Foundation President Seo In-teck said in his welcome remarks for the Korean Dream Unification Strategy Forum held at Seoul Global Center. Seo also chairs Action for Korea United.

"President-elect Donald Trump will soon come to office. During his first presidency, Trump defined China as an enemy. I hope his hawkish stance would contribute to building a unified Korea over the next four years."

Action for Korea United Co-Chair Kim Choong-hwan agreed.

"Geopolitical dynamics are changing rapidly with America's power transition. Trump will undoubtedly continue to press his signature Make America Great Again doctrine," Kim said in his welcome remarks.

"World order is currently being reshaped by two ongoing wars — one in Ukraine and the other in the Middle East. However, we have yet to see any significant changes on the Korean Peninsula. We must continue our efforts toward a united Korea. Our work will also contribute to world peace."

Action for Korea United Co-chair Kim Choong-hwan delivers his keynote speech for the Korean Dream Unification Strategy Forum at Seoul Global Center, Friday. Korea Times photo by Jhoo Dong-chan

The seminar was followed by presentations from Nam Kwang-kyu, director of the Maebong Institute for One Korea, and Kim Eun-sun, a researcher at the Korea University Convergence Institute for National Unification.

During his lead-up presentation, Nam said Trump's second term is expected to be even more hawkish toward China than his first.

"Republicans have seized control of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate. The majority of the U.S. Supreme Court justices are also Republican appointees. Returning Trump now has no domestic hurdles for what he is going to do," Nam said.

"There is, however, no government here in Korea to address this since President Yoon Suk Yeol was impeached by the National Assembly. Yoon managed to normalize diplomatic ties with the U.S., and the basic framework of current U.S.-Korea relations should play an important role under the Trump administration."

Nam also expressed concerns that a liberal administration taking control of South Korea's government could have an impact on Seoul-Washington relations.

"The impeachment symbolizes the confrontation between democracy and communism, and between liberalism and authoritarianism. North Korea's Kim regime will fall within 10 years, and we need to be ready for it. If leftists come to power, Seoul may be seen as part of China's sphere of influence by the incoming Trump administration."

Korea University Convergence Institute for National Unification researcher Kim Eun-sun highlighted the potential for heavy tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, expressing concerns that Seoul could get caught in the crossfire.

"Trump said during his presidential campaign that he would impose a 60 percent tariff on Chinese goods. While it is difficult to predict whether he will actually impose such heavy tariffs, a potential tariff clash between the two superpowers could have a significant impact on intermediate goods exporters like South Korea," Kim said.

"Another geopolitical factor that could influence Seoul is Taiwan and [chipmaker] TSMC. Harvard University history professor Niall Ferguson once said, ‘Who controls Taiwan will control the world.' China is expected to assert control over Taiwan for political reasons, symbolizing Chinese leader Xi Jinping's legitimacy during his tenure. On the other hand, the U.S. views TSMC as a critical component in maintaining its leadership in artificial intelligence technologies. The tug of war between the two superpowers over Taiwan is also closely related to Korea."

Acknowledging a shift in South Korea-U.S. relations, Kim urged Seoul to navigate more cautiously in an increasingly polarized world order.

"President-elect Trump said during his campaign that he would have made Seoul pay $10 billion if he were president, because [South] Korea is a ‘money machine.' This symbolizes the shift in the Korea-U.S. alliance from the current Biden administration's ‘deep alliance' concept to the Trump administration's ‘easy alliance,'" Kim said.

"He also signaled that the U.S. might exit NATO if European member states do not increase their defense contributions. Beijing will undoubtedly take advantage of the current situation to expand its influence."

In November, Beijing decided to waive visa requirements for South Korean citizens, signaling a thaw in relations ahead of Xi's visit to Seoul for the scheduled APEC meeting.

"This could be an opportunity," Kim said.

"China is also one of the most important trade partners for Seoul. This could help ease strained relations between Korea and China. At the same time, however, it is essential for Seoul to demonstrate its commitment to the Korea-U.S. alliance."