Over the past few years, exchanges between the Republic of Korea and China have slowed, with people-to-people interaction and investment activities significantly constrained by the impact of the pandemic and shifts in the international environment. Recent diplomatic engagement following the APEC meeting held in Gyeongju in late October, however, suggests that channels of dialogue aimed at restoring exchanges are gradually being reestablished.

Recent international meetings have carried significance beyond routine multilateral diplomacy. Even amid a regional atmosphere marked by recurring tensions, efforts have continued to keep lines of communication open. In this context, the ROK's proposal of a framework often described as "bridge diplomacy" has drawn attention, underscoring the growing importance of structures that sustain dialogue as regional dynamics become more unsettled.

This trend has become more concrete through the meeting of the leaders of the ROK and China. The two sides shared an understanding of the need to manage bilateral relations in a stable manner, grounded in mutual respect and practical cooperation, and reaffirmed the importance of restoring exchanges. Such signals suggest a shared intention to keep dialogue ongoing in a sustainable way, even amid uncertainty in the regional order.

When Time magazine referred to ROK President Lee Jae-myung as "The Bridge" in September last year, the concept appeared largely symbolic. Following the Gyeongju meeting, however, the idea has taken on a more tangible meaning. The ROK has demonstrated an approach focused on adjusting communication frameworks to prevent dialogue from being disrupted during periods of tension. Rather than seeking short-term diplomatic gains, this reflects a longer-term effort to keep dialogue manageable and resilient amid an unsettled regional landscape.

As competition between the United States and China becomes more prolonged, approaches to managing friction are also evolving. Instead of relying primarily on military signaling or hardline rhetoric, greater emphasis is being placed on the institutional and social foundations that help ensure dialogue does not break down. In this process, non-military factors such as culture and tourism, alongside technology and industry, are beginning to play more substantive roles. Such forms of soft power function not only as elements of national image, but also as diplomatic assets that preserve space for engagement and help ease tensions.

China's diplomatic posture can also be understood within this broader context. During the latest summit held in China, discussions extended beyond high-level exchanges to cooperation in several areas, including the economy and culture. The scope of these discussions reflects a growing recognition in China of ROK's technological capabilities and the global influence of KCulture as practical foundations for cooperation.

Within the ROK-China relationship, one of the areas demonstrating relatively strong resilience lies in civilian-level exchanges centered on tourism. People-to-people interaction, cultural exchange and tourism tend to recover more quickly than other forms of cooperation amid political fluctuations, and tourism in particular allows changes in bilateral relations to be felt first at the societal level. Everyday points of contact formed as Chinese visitors experience ROK's history, cuisine, wellness culture and creative industries quietly help rebuild trust between the two societies.

Koreans' sustained preference for traveling to China, grounded in broad geographic, economic, and cultural affinities, suggests strong latent demand and the possibility of a significant increase in the future. The revival of such people-centered exchanges can serve as a realistic starting point for stabilizing bilateral relations.

A Korean proverb "Break up quarrels and encourage negotiations" captures the essence of diplomacy with simplicity. The more challenging the situation, the greater the value of communication. Bridge diplomacy is less an idealistic slogan than a practical choice aimed at preserving channels of dialogue precisely when they are most needed.

Recent diplomatic engagement indicates that there is renewed space for ROK-China relations to be managed in a stable manner. In this environment, the restoration of exchanges should be understood not as a pursuit of short-term achievements, but as a process of sustaining the relationship over time.

Tourism-centered people-to-people exchanges, in particular, carry a relatively low political burden while allowing both societies to perceive change at an early stage. Amid an unsettled regional atmosphere, the recalibration of ROK-China exchanges can proceed gradually through the steady restoration of these human connections.

The author is a visiting professor in the Department of Global Service at Sookmyung Women's University, and served as an advisor to the Presidential Office of the Republic of Korea and the dean of the Korea Military Academy.

The views don't necessarily reflect those of China Daily.

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