The Relational Dynamics of China’s Sharp Power and Korea’s Chordal Triad of Agency

Since 2017, the concept of “sharp power” has gained traction within academic and policy circles, further reinforcing the metanarrative of China as a revisionist power. This study aims to substantiate the authoritarian form of sharp power influence that challenges liberal norms by exploring its social functions and restraining mechanisms in action, using South Korea as a case study. The findings underscore that China has projected sharp power through three distinct avenues: political attraction, economic coercion, and cultural socialization. By drawing upon the “chordal triad of agency” framework as elucidated by Emirbayer and Mische (1988), the article proceeds to illustrate three paths of responsive agency within South Korea, operating within and transcending these constraints.