Yoon Suk Yeol: ASEAN-Republic of Korea, Partners That Are Mutually Beneficial
Republic of Korea and ASEAN are bound to share strategic interests. Now is the optimal time for the Republic of Korea and ASEAN to forge a comprehensive strategic partnership.
President of the Republic of Korea Yoon Suk Yeol
The Republic of Koreais one of ASEAN's main partners. Regarding challenges in the region and efforts to strengthen cooperation, Republic of Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol is pleased to answer written questions which is raised by Kompas. Here's the excerpt:
In the region, The Republic of Korea, as with Japan and China, is one of ASEAN's main partners. So far, in Republic of Korea’s view, what can still be developed through a the Republic of Korea-ASEAN partnership? What are the opportunities and strengths? And what are the challenges?
A: Since the dialogue partnership was established in 1989, the Republic of Korea and ASEAN have steadily developed cooperative relations in politics, security, economic and socio-cultural pillars, the three areas most important to the ASEAN community. The Republic of Korea and ASEAN have now become essential, mutually beneficial and forward-looking partners in fields that encompass substantive and strategic cooperation.
The Republic of Korea rose from the ruins of war and has emerged as an advanced economy in just a half century. Two years ago, Korea became the first nation in the 57-year history of UNCTAD (United Nations Conference on Trade and Development) to be moved from the group of developing economies and recategorized as a developed country. The Republic of Korea has achieved unprecedented economic growth; become a mature democracy; and established freedom, human rights and the rule of law over a short period of time. We intend to share Korea’s development experience with ASEAN member states.
The Republic of Korea received a lot of help from the international community in the past. ASEAN member states also provided invaluable assistance during the Korean War by sending troops and necessary materials. The Korean government and people will never forget such kindness and will continue to repay it in a sincere manner. The Republic of Korea will fulfill its responsibilities and contribute to the international community with a view to becoming a global pivotal state based on our enhanced national strength and status in the global arena. Along the way, we will continue to think of ASEAN as a key partner and expand the practical support that it needs.
The Indo-Pacific region is at the center of geopolitical and geoeconomic challenges that face the international community. As the peace and prosperity of Northeast and Southeast Asia are closely intertwined, the Republic of Korea and ASEAN are bound to share strategic interests. The two sides must strengthen strategic solidarity and work closely together to defuse tensions in the region and lay the foundation for peace and prosperity.
At the ASEAN-ROK Summit held in Phnom Penh last November, I unveiled the outlines of the Republic of Korea’s own Indo-Pacific strategy and the Korea-ASEAN Solidarity Initiative, our regional policy tailored to ASEAN. At the end of last December, the full details of our Indo-Pacific strategy were made public. This April, all of the specific implementation plans for the Korea-ASEAN Solidarity Initiative were announced. These documents clearly demonstrate the Republic of Korea’s strong commitment to promoting substantive and strategic cooperation with ASEAN while respecting the region’s valued principles and vision.
The Republic of Korea will strengthen practical collaboration with ASEAN in the economic and socio-cultural fields while faithfully reflecting ASEAN’s needs. We will also expand mutually beneficial and future-oriented cooperation in the maritime, cyber, defense as well as other security sectors. At the forthcoming ASEAN-ROK Summit, I will propose a future cooperation project based on digital and IT technologies – the strengths of the Republic of Korea. I expect this project to become an exemplary case of cooperation and a link between the Korea-ASEAN Solidarity Initiative and the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP).
Next year will mark the 35th anniversary of the dialogue partnership between the Republic of Korea and ASEAN. Since the establishment of a strategic partnership in 2010, our two sides have steadily expanded the foundation for bilateral cooperation. Now is the optimal time for the Republic of Korea and ASEAN to forge a comprehensive strategic partnership. During the upcoming ASEAN-related summits, the participating leaders and I will share this vision and discuss concrete ways to work together.
Indonesia's President Joko Widodo, left, talks to his staff during the ASEAN - South Korea Summits (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Friday, Nov. 11, 2022. The ASEAN summit kicks off a series of three top-level meetings in Asia, with the Group of 20 summit in Bali to follow and then the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Bangkok.
According to the Republic of Korea, what is ASEAN's current position in the region, especially in terms of economic resilience and regional stability? From the Republic of Korea's point of view, where does ASEAN stand amid global geopolitical tensions and the competition of the world's major powers? What is the Republic of Korea's response or Republic of Korea's point of view regarding the ASEAN Outlook of the Indo-Pacific?
A: The global economy has been plagued by uncertainty and instability stemming from increases in climate change-induced disasters, persistent economic slowdowns in many countries and the mounting energy and food crisis that have followed the war in Ukraine. Despite the many headwinds, ASEAN’s 10 member states posted an average growth rate of 5.5 percent in 2022, continuing their solid growth momentum.
The ASEAN region is a geopolitical nexus that links the Indian and Pacific Oceans and is rich in natural resources, including critical minerals. Moreover, there is an abundance of young, hardworking and skilled work force. In Indonesia alone, the demographic bonus is expected to reach its peak in the 2030s with its working age population accounting for 68 percent of the entire population. Better yet, ASEAN is drawing attention as a future growth engine for the world economy as it is projected to emerge as the world’s fourth largest economy by 2030 as the recent relocating of global supply chains to the region picks up speed. Indonesia, this year’s ASEAN Chair, chose “ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth” as its summit theme, and I believe that no theme is better suited than this.
Founded in 1967, ASEAN has contributed to regional peace and prosperity by promoting mutual trust and understanding through dialogue and cooperation with countries within and outside the region. I will be attending the ASEAN-ROK Summit, the ASEAN Plus Three Summit and the East Asia Summit to be held on September 6 and 7. ASEAN’s international status and strategic significance are demonstrated by the number of major Indo-Pacific countries attending this ASEAN-led body for regional cooperation.
The values that ASEAN espouses – openness, transparency and inclusiveness – are becoming all the more important amid global rivalries that have grown more complicated recently. They offer a way to alleviate conflicts and confrontations between countries and promote dialogue and cooperation. These values are also in line with the principles of cooperation pursued by the Republic of Korea’s Indo-Pacific Strategy – inclusiveness, trust and mutual benefit. Moreover, the Republic of Korea and ASEAN share the importance of a rules-based international order.
As I emphasized at the NATO Summit held in Lithuania last July, peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region are directly linked to the peace and stability of the international community as a whole beyond Europe and the Atlantic. Due to the war in Ukraine and North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats, international norms are being ignored, and existing agreements and promises are being breached. Notably, North Korea’s ever-increasing missile provocations and nuclear threats pose a direct and existential threat to ASEAN member states as well. In times like these, the Republic of Korea and ASEAN must join forces to respond decisively and cooperate closely on North Korea’s denuclearization. ASEAN-ROK solidarity and cooperation must be enhanced further, so the rules-based international order will be able to take firm root in the Indo-Pacific region.
In this process, the Republic of Korea will pursue solidarity and cooperation in a way that places ASEAN at the center and contributes to its unity. Korea’s Indo-Pacific Strategy and the Korea-ASEAN Solidarity Initiative are based on its firm support for ASEAN Centrality and the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP).
At the upcoming ASEAN- ROK Summit, the Joint Statement of the 24th ASEAN-ROK Summit on Cooperation on the AOIP will be adopted, thereby demonstrating the leaders’ common determination to create a “free, peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.” In cooperation with ASEAN, the Republic of Korea will pursue a partnership that jointly promotes peace and prosperity in the region from a long-term perspective.
Can the ASEAN Plus Three summit support ASEAN's centrality, especially in the midst of the evolving minilateralism in our region, such as AUKUS, the QUAD and other similar steps?
A: ASEAN Plus Three member states far outnumber those of AUKUS and the QUAD, and ASEAN Plus Three specializes on mutual cooperation between Southeast Asia and Northeast Asia. Therefore, it is not appropriate to directly compare ASEAN Plus Three to other minilateral groupings in the region.
President of the Republic of Korea Yoon Suk Yeol
Launched as part of a joint response to the 1997 Asian foreign exchange crisis, ASEAN Plus Three has continued to develop into one of the region’s most successful consultative bodies. Today, ASEAN Plus Three serves as the main vehicle for East Asian cooperation in such areas as finance, food, health and disaster response with over 60 consultation channels. I believe that Korea, Japan and China’s solid support for ASEAN Centrality and the three countries’ determination to enhance cooperation enabled ASEAN Plus Three to establish itself as the most institutionalized consultative body in East Asia.
In order for ASEAN Plus Three to continue expanding the scope and depth of its cooperation and to realize the vision of an East Asia community in the long term, cooperation among the Republic of Korea, Japan and China is an overriding prerequisite. To create synergy between the separate summits that the Republic of Korea, Japan and China are having with ASEAN, trilateral cooperation must be revitalized.
Since last March, I have taken a series of steps to normalize and improve Korea-Japan relations for the first time in 12 years. Building upon this progress, President Biden, Prime Minister Kishida and I opened a new era of ROK-U.S.-Japan trilateral cooperation at Camp David on August 18. At the Camp David summit, the three countries once again expressed unwavering support for ASEAN Centrality and agreed to coordinate and cooperate with each other in implementing development cooperation programs with ASEAN.
Now is the time to put cooperation among the Republic of Korea, Japan and China back on track as well. To this end, the Republic of Korea, as chair of the trilateral consultative body and the three countries’ coordinator for ASEAN Plus Three, will do all it can to revitalize the trilateral cooperation. I expect that if cooperation among the three Northeast Asian countries regains vitality, collaboration in ASEAN Plus Three will also gain greater momentum, which will in turn strengthen the ASEAN Centrality further.
If ASEAN, the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) and the South China Sea issues are serious concerns in the Camp David Spirit and Principles – apart from the Taiwan and North Korea issues – can you elaborate: In regard to the summit, what are the real benefits for ASEAN-PIF member states? How will it impact Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands? How can the Republic of Korea, the United States and Japan ensure that ASEAN-PIF member countries will not end up becoming ROKUSJ’s geopolitical tools? How can ROKUSJ contribute concretely to stability, security and prosperity in the region?
A: The three countries – the Republic of Korea, the United States and Japan – share the goal of contributing to the promotion of freedom, peace and prosperity not only in the Indo-Pacific region but also in the international community as a whole by establishing a rules-based international order based on common values of freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law. ASEAN and Pacific Islands Forum member states are key cooperation partners for achieving this goal.
The Spirit of Camp David, the joint statement adopted at the ROK-U.S.-Japan summit, clearly emphasizes the importance we place on ASEAN and Pacific Island countries by prioritizing cooperation with them over any other regional issues. Of note, the joint statement confirmed our steadfast support for ASEAN Centrality, ASEAN-led regional architecture and the AOIP and declared that we will also work together to support the development of the Mekong River Basin. Regarding Pacific Island countries, we reaffirmed our stance that we will cooperate in a transparent and effective manner in accordance with the Pacific Way that these nations value. For instance, the Republic of Korea, the United States and Japan have agreed to closely coordinate and cooperate on support for strengthening the maritime security capabilities of each ASEAN member and Pacific Island state through the newly launched Trilateral Maritime Security Cooperation Framework.
South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol, left, President Joe Biden and Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, right, meet Friday, Aug. 18, 2023, at Camp David, the presidential retreat, near Thurmont, Md.
Let me stress here that cooperation between the Republic of Korea, the United States and Japan does not intend to exclude any specific country or respond to a particular power. This is clearly stated in the Republic of Korea’s own Indo-Pacific Strategy document. The three countries will contribute to the peace, stability and prosperity of the international community by promoting universal values and the rules-based international order and will strive to achieve results that are beneficial to all nations.
As a region projected to become one of the centers of global growth, what areas does the Republic of Korea believe ought to be strengthened by ASEAN and its partners?
A: ASEAN is the most dynamically growing region in the world. As a strategic nexus that connects the South China Sea, the Strait of Malacca and the Indian Ocean, it also plays an important role in diversifying global supply chains.
For all members to enjoy the benefits of economic growth and development in the ASEAN region and for ASEAN to evolve into a competitive, innovative and dynamic community, it is vital to address development gaps and promote connectivity. To this end, the Republic of Korea will not only support ASEAN as a whole but also continue to expand support and development cooperation for sub-regions, including the Mekong area and the BIMP—EAGA (Brunei Darussalam–Indonesia–Malaysia–Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area) when it comes to climate change responses, water resources, agriculture, oceans and tourism.
As I already stated at the ASEAN-ROK Summit last November, we will keep these promises through actions. The Republic of Korea’s annual contributions to ASEAN-ROK, Mekong-ROK and BIMP-EAGA-ROK cooperation funds will all be doubled by 2027. I hope that ASEAN countries will also continue to respond favorably, for instance, by working closely with Korea to improve various policies and systems and pursue innovation as well as enhance the efficiency of development cooperation projects.
ASEAN member states must secure sustainable future growth engines to escape the middle-income trap and surge ahead to become high-income countries. The Fourth Industrial Revolution, which is rapidly spreading within ASEAN, will provide new opportunities for economic development.
The Republic of Korea intends to follow the path of innovation in the Fourth Industrial Revolution together with ASEAN by expanding substantive cooperation centered on such future fields as digital transformation, new and renewable energy, electric vehicles and smart cities – which are in high demand in ASEAN. As already stated in the detailed implementation plans of last April’s Korea-ASEAN Solidarity Initiative, the Republic of Korea will pursue customized collaboration that faithfully reflects the economic conditions and demands of individual member countries in tandem with cooperation toward ASEAN as a whole. I look forward to the Republic of Korea and ASEAN working together more closely for years to come to bring progress and prosperity to the Indo-Pacific region.
What are the opportunities and potential pathways for the advancement of the Republic of Korea-Indonesia relations following the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA)?
A: The amount of trade between our two countries has increased more than 140 times from US$185 million in 1973, when we established diplomatic ties, to US$26 billion last year. Over 2,000 Korean companies are operating in Indonesia.
The Korea-Indonesia CEPA came into effect in January this year, greatly improving the environment for trade and investment with Indonesia.
Korean companies’ investment in Indonesia is expected to grow significantly going forward, which will contribute to advancing Indonesian industries, expanding exports and employment and revitalizing the local economy.
The Republic of Korea provides a prime example as a country that has successfully transitioned from a developing to a developed nation.
I am confident that the Republic of Korea will be an optimal partner that can share its economic development experience and know-how with Indonesia during its own economic development.
