Korea's Solidarity with the Global South (to Which It Didn't and Doesn't Belong)*

The Global South is a relational and collective identity of a group of states suffering colonialism and sharing particular material and normative traits. Drawing on an exploration of the historical path of Korea's Southern identity, or the lack thereof, this article explores the origins of Korea's diplomatic narrative of solidarity as a Southern donor. In the past, the Global South did not recognize Korea as one of “us” due to its security dependency on the USA, and internally, Korea's national obsession of developmentalism held a negative view of the South. Today, Korea has succeeded in un‐Southing itself as it has become a member in the Northern donors' club. The article argues that the linear understanding of the Global South shapes Korea's Southern solidarity, something nostalgic that is reflected in its verbal and visual vocabulary of its development assistance. The article aims to start a discussion of the state identity of Korea as a donor and expand the contours of the dialogue on what makes the Global South with the twisted case of Korea.