South Korean President Lee Jae Myung’s efforts to expand the country’s strategic autonomy continue to depend heavily on the U.S.-ROK alliance, underscoring the limits of how far Seoul can pursue greater independence while relying on Washington for security, technology and diplomatic support.

For years, critics in South Korea and abroad have portrayed the Democratic Party as less enthusiastic about the alliance than its conservative rivals. A year into Lee’s presidency, however, many of his administration’s most consequential initiatives have reinforced rather than loosened South Korea’s ties with the U.S.

That dynamic is particularly notable given an international environment in which