Intense rivalries between imperial powers dominated the second-half of the nineteenth-century world order. These great powers capitalized on their formidable military and technological prowesses, vying with each other to expand their spheres of interest across different continents. For centuries, Chosŏn Korea was a faithful participant in the Sino-centric tributary system, closely observing norms and rituals and maintaining a foreign policy that recognised China's primacy in the East Asian order. With the 'opening' of Korea to the Western powers for trade, however, the Korean court embarked on a crash course of the Westphalian system, which contained its own set of norms and rules of engagement. As the Korean peninsula gradually transformed into a hotbed of geopolitical competition, Korean elites had to reconcile with their country's fragile geopolitical position, which seemed to epitomise Korea's periphery status in the international system. As we witness the gradual weakening of the U.S.-led world order, both scholars and policymakers must reflect critically on Korea's previous foray into multilateral diplomacy, which still leaves much room for contemplation today.