Abstract: Despite the ties between politics and economics, little attention has been given to how economic development affects foreign policy. To fill the gap in the literature, Heo and Roehrig developed a theoretical framework, linking economic development and foreign relations. We refine the theory and name it development power theory, which is based on the logic that economic development influences a country’s foreign policy in three broad directions: (i) it encourages a transition to democracy that leads to elite changes and foreign‐policy modification; (ii) it provides more resources and a larger set of tools to be used to pursue a broader set of national interests; and (iii) it enhances pride and ambition among state leaders and the public, resulting in a stronger military and a greater role in international affairs. Then, we apply the theory to the South Korean case.
