Sixty Years of Korea-Japan Scientific and Technological Cooperation - A Strategic Transition through a Co-evolutionary Analysis

Korea-Japan scientific and technological cooperation over the past 60 years since diplomatic normalization in 1965 represents a paradigmatic case of international collaboration that has evolved from unilateral technology transfer to strategic partnership. This study applies co-evolution theory to analyze structural changes in cooperation through the interaction of technology, organization, and institution. The research identifies four distinct phases of cooperative development. Phase 1 (1965- 1985) was characterized by vertical cooperation centered on Japanese technology, establishing Korea's heavy and chemical industrial base. Phase 2 (1985-2000) witnessed the transition to a mutually beneficial relationship with the establishment of institutional cooperative frameworks. Phase 3 (2000-2019) saw government-level cooperation constrained by political conflicts, while private-sector collaboration continued. Phase 4 (2019-present) has been marked by the full-scale development of strategic technology cooperation centered on economic security. The analysis confirms that Korea-Japan scientific and technological cooperation exhibits co-evolutionary characteristics of a complex adaptive system rather than simple linear development. Both countries have adapted and learned from each other in response to external environmental changes, demonstrating resilience mechanisms where political conflicts selectively impact cooperation ecosystems. This study proposes three policy directions for sustainable cooperation: ensuring political independence of the scientific and technological sector, expanding future-oriented cooperation centered on strategic technologies, and establishing multilayered governance systems. Through these measures, Korea-Japan scientific and technological cooperation is expected to serve as an exemplary model of East Asian regional cooperation, contributing to the development of global technology governance.