In the age of the Indo-Pacific marked by the coming proliferation of military competition, the notion of relevance and practicality may increasingly be associated with security cooperation. Yet despite the increased regional standing and elevation of ASEAN’s status in Korea’s foreign policy strategy, as well as the increasing regional demands and challenges that come from security issues, the Republic of Korea (ROK) continues to project a limited security role in Southeast Asia. This book caters to solving this policy gap through promoting a catalyst for furthering and deepening security cooperation between the ROK and ASEAN: boosting security cooperation between ROK and Maritime Southeast Asian countries.

To examine the prospect of a greater ROK role in the region and the prospect of boosting security cooperation between ROK and Maritime Southeast Asian countries, this edited volume hosts several perspectives both from scholars of ROK and Maritime Southeast Asian nations. Each side presents their observations, ranging from national-level observations of security cooperation between ROK and a Maritime Southeast Asian nation as well as the regional-level observation of the impetus and challenges in proceeding with the idea.

The edited volume finds that, while convergences between security priorities between ROK and Maritime Southeast Asian countries remain limited, the relationship do not lack in common geopolitical outlook and similar ideals. Whilst different priorities reflect the homework left to be done, the ROK holds a big potential upon a specific security role for Southeast Asia. Why should ROK start from focusing on Maritime Southeast Asia? What would be such security role about?

This edited volume will be of interest to policymakers, analysts, and students who seeks to understand not only the specific policy issue of whether there is a prospect for a greater ROK role in Southeast Asia, particularly in security cooperation, but also in engaging a discussion on the crucial role of middle power collaboration in facing the incoming regional dynamics.