Taiwan has begun designating South Korea as "South Korea" rather than the "Republic of Korea" in official documents, marking the latest escalation in a diplomatic dispute over how Seoul lists the island in its electronic entry systems.
The change, which affects alien resident certificates for South Korean nationals, implements what Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs calls "the principle of reciprocity" following Seoul's refusal to alter its online arrival system launched February 24, 2025.
South Korea's e-arrival system lists Taiwan as "China (Taiwan)" in dropdown menus for departure and destination locations, a designation Taipei views as undermining its sovereignty. The ministry has repeatedly asked Seoul to correct the listing but received no positive response.
Taiwan set a March 31 deadline for correction. If South Korea fails to comply, Taipei will extend the designation change to arrival cards, completing the documentary mirror image of Seoul's treatment.
The timing exposes the delicate calculus facing middle powers in East Asia's diplomatic landscape. South Korea maintains no formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan while pursuing deeper economic ties with Beijing, which claims the island as its territory. The e-arrival system's wording likely reflects Seoul's effort to avoid antagonizing , but has triggered a tit-for-tat response that neither capital appears eager to de-escalate.
