The Nuclear Security Summit here this week may boost South Korea’s diplomatic clout and further cement its alliance with the U.S. by supporting Washington’s security initiative.

Above all, the premier forum focusing on anti-nuclear terrorism is another chance for Seoul to strengthen its role as a “middle power” mediating between great and smaller powers to coordinate a joint response to challenges facing the world.

South Korea’s continuing efforts to foster a network of multilateral cooperation in security, trade, development and other areas has apparently added to its growing diplomatic influence on the international stage.

In recent years, Seoul has increased its profile in resolving global issues while hosting key forums such as the G20 summit in 2010, the 4th High-Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness last year and the nuclear summit this year.

In the past, however, it passively accepted and complied with already established governance due to its relatively weak economic and military clout.

Experts say Seoul’s enhanced diplomatic leadership will strengthen its “soft power” that will help it “punch above its weight.” Contrary to coercive “hard power,” soft power, a term coined by Joseph Nye of Harvard University, is based on intangible influences such as culture and values.

“South Korea has been a ‘rule taker’ rather than ‘rule maker’ due to its weak power. But at the Nuclear Security Summit, which seeks to establish a new nuclear security regime, it now plays a role of regime creator or rule maker,” said Kim Tae-hyun, professor at the Graduate School of International Studies at Chung-Ang University.

“As Seoul is hosting the summit, it can exert more influence than other countries in the process of setting the agenda and establishing the new regime. This will give Seoul global recognition and a greater say on challenges we face.”

Increased soft power can be translated into diplomatic prowess that goes beyond a country’s actual national power, Kim pointed out.

“Sweden has continued to show its interest and raise its voice in resolving international conflicts. It now has a much greater diplomatic voice compared with its actual military and economic power,” he said.

“But South Korea has had a smaller influence on the international stage which is not commensurate with its national power. Though (soft power) is abstract and intangible, it will help us secure a greater say and have others listen to our voice.”

Nam Chang-hee, political science professor at Inha University, said that through top-level gatherings like the nuclear summit, South Korea as a middle power can play a “role of a locomotive” to build a network of cooperation to push for the global agenda that also serves its national interests.

“Korea is a middle power in the vulnerable location in terms of security. To enhance its security and economic interests as well, it is desirable for Seoul to focus on a network-based diplomacy,” he said.

“We can seek to form a network that deals with security issues such as one on North Korea; non-proliferation; free trade; and others that serve global causes as well as our national interests. Pursuit of a multilayered, multilateral cooperative system is a diplomatic strategy that suits a middle power like South Korea.”

In addition to its positive effect on Seoul’s diplomacy, the summit agenda that follows a nuclear security line that Washington spearheaded is expected to help strengthen the long-standing alliance between the allies.

“President Barack Obama passed his baton to South Korea based on a mutual trust after the 2010 inaugural Washington summit. This demonstrates the firm alliance between the two countries,” said Chun In-young, professor emeritus at Seoul National University.

After Obama took office in 2009, he mapped out a new multilateral security strategy in a departure from his predecessor George W. Bush’s approach, which was much criticized for being “imperialistic, unilateral.”

Under the new strategy seeking to involve U.S. allies in its global initiatives at the time of economic difficulties, he held the first nuclear summit in Washington in 2010 with its focus on preventing nuclear materials from falling into the hands of non-state actors such as terrorists.

The summit is expected to demonstrate that the bilateral alliance, which some have considered simply as a remnant from the Cold War, deals with issues beyond the Korean Peninsula.

In 2009, the leaders of the two allies agreed to transform their military alliance into a global, multifaceted and value-based partnership, a move to deal with a variety of peninsular, regional and global challenges together.

“The alliance between Seoul and Washington has two primary missions ― deterring and repulsing a possible North Korean attack. Under Lee’s global Korea agenda, Lee has sought to expand the role of the alliance and left open its possibility of handling global issues such as terrorism, piracy and proliferation,” said Nam of Inha University.

Kim of Chung-Ang University said that expanded cooperation in various areas will help Seoul’s relations with Washington become “closer and more equal.”

On the economic front, the summit can help promote South Korea’s atomic energy industry. By introducing its advanced nuclear industry to the summit participants, including world leaders from more than 50 countries, Korea can improve its image as a nation that uses nuclear technology in a safe and peaceful manner.

Korea’s degree of dependence on atomic energy is more than 31 percent. It has 23 nuclear reactors in operation with three under construction.

In December 2009, Korea Electric Power Corp. and Emirates Nuclear Energy Corp. signed a $20 billion deal to build four nuclear reactors by 2020, becoming the world’s sixth exporter of nuclear power facilities.

By Song Sang-ho (sshluck@heraldcorp.com)