South Korea faces a significant existential threat from North Korea and its defense posture has been primarily focused on the Korean Peninsula. To counter this persistent threat, South Korea relies heavily on its alliance with the United States. Amidst this situation, South Korea has been actively expanding its strategic partnerships with countries across the Indo-Pacific region. These strategic partnerships are focused on joint responses to Indo-Pacific regional security issues rather than the Korean Peninsula issue itself. Given the increasing sophistication of North Korean threats, why is South Korea expanding its strategic partnerships with countries in the Indo-Pacific region, potentially spreading its capabilities thinner? Some argue that this represents South Korea's diversification of security affiliations beyond the United States, preparing for a potential U.S. retreat from the Indo-Pacific region. Others view it through the lens of South Korea’s role-seeking behavior, reflecting its growing national power and self-identification as a global pivotal state. This paper critically engages with these perspectives and argues that South Korea’s strategic partnerships—formed with states that serve as key regional hubs in the U.S.-led Indo-Pacific security network—are primarily intended to strengthen its position within this network.