Korea to play bigger role in ASEAN integration

Kim Young-chae, South Korea's new ambassador to ASEAN

New ambassador vows to strengthen bilateral alliance

By Kim Jae-kyoung

South Korea will step up efforts to play a key role in the process of integrating the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), said Kim Young-chae, South Korea's new ambassador to ASEAN.

He said Korea's rich experience and expertise in economic development will be needed in community-building of the 10-member group.

"One of Korea's policy initiatives toward ASEAN is to contribute and assist the community-building process," Kim said in a recent interview.

Based in Jakarta, Indonesia, Kim believes Korea and ASEAN can be close strategic partners because Korea has rich experience and capital, while ASEAN has high growth potential with vast markets.

"Korea regards highly ASEAN's efforts to build a regional community at a time that regionalism is under scrutiny," he said.

"To maintain unity is crucial to ASEAN, and Korea needs ASEAN in order to punch above its weight. Even though Korea's resources are limited, Korea's expertise combined with the size of ASEAN can play a truly meaningful role in regional peace and development."

The Korean government is considering many win-win strategies and programs in order to flesh out Korean President Moon Jae-in's policy initiatives, including a cross-sector task force.

During his visit to Indonesia in November, Moon unveiled his "New Southern Policy" based on the 3P approach ― cooperation on ‘people,' ‘prosperity' and ‘peace,' to pursue a more comprehensive alliance with ASEAN.

"It is lucky ASEAN and Korea do not have any contentious issues such as historical baggage or territorial disputes," he said.

Against this backdrop, Kim, who took office in January, plans to focus on strengthening cooperation with ASEAN by promoting trade and personnel exchanges.

"First of all, I would like to keep up the momentum of enhanced cooperation between Korea and ASEAN," he said.

"As Korea and ASEAN will be celebrating their 30th anniversary in 2019 of working together, it will be an excellent opportunity to enhance mutual cooperation on the right path to success."

Currently, ASEAN is Korea's second-largest trading partner, investment target and overseas construction market and has the most popular tourist destinations.

With a combined GDP of over $2.8 trillion, the ASEAN economy is the fifth-largest in the world and the third-largest in Asia. Its population is also the third-largest in the world with 640 million people.

"To realize the targets of $200 billion in trade and 10 million tourists by 2020 is the Korean government's ambitious but achievable goals," Kim said.

He also plans to seek ways to better use Korea's various financial assistance mechanisms for ASEAN, citing President Moon's announcement last year to expand the ASEAN-Korea Cooperation Fund and the Mekong Fund.

Moon promised to increase the ASEAN-Korea Cooperation Fund to $14 million and triple the current size of the Mekong Fund.

"It is an important task to find better ways and means so these mechanisms contribute to the betterment of the ASEAN people," he said.

Kim also expressed his intention to contribute to the strengthening of the ASEAN Secretariat's capacity as it is the main contact point in implementing Korea's various projects.

"I believe it is imperative for the Secretariat to take more roles and responsibilities in order to realize the vision of three ASEAN Communities ― Politico-Security, Economic, and Socio-Cultural Communities," he said.

Mutual exchanges

In order to keep Korea-ASEAN relations sustainable, it is important to ensure mutual exchanges between ASEAN and Korea.

The veteran diplomat, who previously served as Korean Ambassador to Libya, is well aware of the importance of Koreans learning more about ASEAN and its cultures.

"Considering the trend that more and more Koreans appreciate the similarities between the two cultures and at the same time recognize their differences, our understanding of ASEAN's diverse heritages and cultures will be matured in the coming years," he said.

He pointed out the inauguration of the ASEAN Culture House in Busan last year has been highly appreciated by ASEAN.

"It will play a significant role to improve our awareness of ASEAN while the ASEAN-Korea Centre in Seoul will promote trade and investment, as well as culture and tourism," he said.

He expects that Korea's multicultural families originated from ASEAN can help ensure sustainable relationships between Korea and ASEAN.

"The more we appreciate our multicultural families from ASEAN, the stronger bond we can build between Korea and ASEAN," he said.

ASEAN and North Korea

Kim thinks ASEAN can play an important role in addressing the North Korean nuclear issue and securing stability on the Korean Peninsula.

Most ASEAN member states have maintained diplomatic relations with North Korea, and both South and North Korea are members of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF).

"ASEAN has consistently shown its willingness to play a constructive or facilitating role in peacefully resolving the North Korean nuclear issue," he said.

"When we look at its recent statements on the North Korean issue, we can clearly see ASEAN is seriously concerned with North Korea's nuclear and missile tests."

Kim said Korea and ASEAN share a goal of maintaining and promoting peace and stability in the region and beyond.

He explains given Korea's export-oriented economy and heavy reliance on foreign energy sources, it is crucial to maintain peace and stability in the ASEAN region, while peace and stability in Northeast Asia is important to ASEAN.

"This is the very foundation that Korea can enhance its political and diplomatic presence in ASEAN. Personally I believe the best way forward is to increase exchange visits by leaders of both sides," he said.

He also stressed Korea should take responsibility more actively for political stability in the ASEAN region as emerging threats to peace and stability in the region such as terrorism, violent extremism, natural disasters and refugees require all stakeholders to stand together.

"As a responsible middle power in the region, Korea should now engage with ASEAN to tackle those issues," he said.

He also said Korea needs to see ASEAN in a broader picture to understand where the 10-member bloc ― Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam ― is heading.

Driven by the initiative for the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) launched at the end of 2015, ASEAN is building a single market and production base that can compete in terms of size and efficiency with major emerging economies such as China and India.

He said Korea should capitalize on the solid platform created by ASEAN's integration movement to expand its diplomatic horizons.

"ASEAN has been in the driving seat of the so-called evolving regional architecture which has contributed tremendously to the peace and stability of the wider East Asia region as well as Southeast Asia," he said.