BILATERALISM AND REGIONALISM IN THAILAND-SOUTH KOREA RELATIONSHIP: THE CASE OF ASEAN-KOREA FTA

This paper aims to discuss multi-dimensional features of the cooperation between Thailand and South Korea and its implications on their relationship focusing on pre-existing bilateralism and regionalism which was highlighted mainly through the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), ASEAN plus Three (APT). The interest-conflict over the ASEAN-Korea FTA in particular on rice issue, which was signed between South Korean and ASEAN except Thailand in 2005, reveals the potential hurdle for the close bilateral relationship between two countries and the creation of regional community in East Asia. This article elucidates key factors to explain the disagreement on the FTA between Thailand and South Korea and Thailand and other ASEAN member countries such as the relative gain and loss of interests, the lack of shared goal, norm and identity, the influence of domestic politics, and the complexity of bilateralism. This article argues that deepening regionalism without mutual understanding and shared idea and norm could be conflicting with the further development of bilateral relationship.