李明博就任韩国总统之后，推行以修复和加强韩美、韩日关系为重点的实用主义外交政策，并通过出访美日两国，为这一目标的实现奠定基础。但突如其来的“牛肉风波”和“独岛争端”打碎了其如意算盘，使韩、美、日关系遭受重创。以席卷全球的金融大海啸为契机，韩、美、日关系得到恢复和加强，但由于三方之间尚存在诸多难以调和的矛盾，目前断言韩、美、日三角同盟的建立还为时尚早。
After Lee Myung-bak a pragmatic foreign policy after his accession to the president of Korea Republic，He wants to visit United States and Japan to rebuild ties with these two countries. But sudden Beef Issue and Dispute over Dokdo ruin his wishful thinking. Korea’s relations with United States and Japan suffered damage. Global Financial tsunami is turning point，their relations improved and reinforced. But it’s too soon to assert the Korea-U.S.-Japan triangle alliance to be set up now，because their contradictions among three countries can not be conciliated in a short period.
