The entry of THAAD into South Korea has had an impact on economic cooperation as well as political trust between China and South Korea, and both have regressed to varying degrees. Since then, economic cooperation as well as political trust has been restored thanks to the joint efforts of the two governments. However, compared to the speed at which economic cooperation has improved, political trust has improved more slowly. Political and economic ties between China and South Korea fall under separate, autonomous domains that each have their own logic and rules of conduct. Specifically, market players dominate economic relations between China and South Korea, while political players dominate political relations. The difference in behavioral preferences between market players and political players has resulted in the phenomenon that political-economic relations between China and South Korea have not improved concurrently. Additionally, since politicization has a negative impact on economic ties, the rapid improvement of economic relations following the THAAD crisis has not been successful in fostering greater political mutual confidence. The political and economic issues currently plaguing China-South Korean relations can yet be resolved. First and foremost, in response to the trend towards politicization of official exchanges, the rational return of official exchanges can be achieved through depoliticization. Second, by encouraging private exchanges, the spread of nationalist sentiment can be slowed and public antagonism reduced, thereby rebuilding the public opinion base of China-South Korean relations.