On contractual and legal aspects of Russian-South Korean military-political relations in 1991–2022

Importance. The purpose of the study is to consider the legal aspects of the process of evolution of military-political relations between Russia and the Republic of Korea (ROK) in 1991-2022. Of interest are the peculiarities of the approaches of the two countries to the formation of the legal basis for military cooperation, which influenced its level and content.

Materials and Methods. The materials of the Archive of Foreign Policy of the Russian Federation are used, as well as studies of Russian and South Korean scientists, twhich examine issues of legal support for the cooperation between Moscow and Seoul in the military-political and military-technical spheres. Along with general scientific methods, such as systemic historical analysis, comparative-historical and axiological methods were used, as well as the method of systemic-functional analysis of military-political relations as an integral system developing under the influence of external factors.

Results and Discussion. It was found that the military-political dialogue between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Korea was built primarily on the basis of memoranda of understanding on the field of military-diplomatic exchanges. Some agreements were also signed, including in the area of military-technical cooperation (MTC), which contributed to the establishment of practical cooperation. At the same time, Seoul refrained from conclusion of documents that were of fundamental importance for giving bilateral military ties a sustainable positive impetus.

Conclusion. The basis of relations between Russia and the Republic of Korea in the military field, in the absence of agreements defining long-term goals for cooperation, was built on a very fragile and fragmentary legal framework. This circumstance, ultimately, determined the susceptibility of bilateral military and political relations to the destructive influence of external factors.