Surrounded by bigger neighbors, Korea has always looked too far for help, failing to see friends in its own village.
So President Lee Myung-bak's considerable shift of diplomatic focus to Asia and Southeast Asia in particular seems rather long overdue, especially considering it's been decades since these countries grouped themselves into a bloc rivaling any other giant in size and power.
Actually, the 10-member Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) has already emerged as Korea's third largest trade partner after China and the EU and ahead of the United States and Japan, as well as its second largest investment destination and construction market. For example, Seoul depends on ASEAN for all of its natural gas demands.
No less important is the group's diplomatic importance, as shown by the Asian Regional Forum in which North Korea is also a member, at a time when security gloom is deepening on this peninsula. Furthermore, no where else is the Korean pop culture boom of ``hallyu" felt as strongly as in ASEAN countries, reaffirming not only geographical proximity but also cultural and emotional affinity between Southeast Asians and Koreans. This also explains the reasons behind a rapidly increasing number of Southeast Asian immigrant workers ― and more importantly, wives ― in this country.
In short, Southeast Asia and Korea are mingling together economically, politically, culturally and socially, far faster than the average pace of globalization. What's left now is figuring out how to turn bilateral ties into more equitable and mutually beneficial cooperation. It seems all the more symbolic in this regard that Korea, which has always been a guest at the ``ASEAN plus 3" meetings, is hosting a special summit with the leaders of 10 nations.
The ASEAN-Republic of Korea Commemorative Summit, which opens today in Seogwipo, Jeju Island, for a two-day run to mark the 20th anniversary of their relationship, can hardly be more timely in a global context, too.
A case in point is the $120-billion Asia Joint Fund, a regional currency swap arrangement to which ASEAN and Korea will contribute to help each other escape from a possible future foreign currency crisis. It is significant that ASEAN and Korea, both victims of the 1997-98 Asian currency crisis, are uniting to ensure that past mistakes are not repeated. That their contributions to the joint fund are only half that of China and Japan, respectively, also shows their limits and the way their cooperation should be directed in the future.
Korean officials have long blamed the hegemonic rivalry between China and Japan for the snail-paced progress in the East Asian regional community, but paradoxically, it shows Seoul's dereliction of duty for a greater initiative by joining hands with ASEAN to sometimes facilitate the cooperation of the two giants, while checking their domination.
Likewise, Korea approaches ASEAN should be based on its ``middle power" and ``latecomer" status, sharing development experiences with relative laggards with more open and humble attitudes. In cultural exchange, for instance, Korea ought not to try to unilaterally export its own but should be more open to importing Southeast Asian cultures. To start with, Seoul must eliminate various discriminations against Southeast Asians here and provide greater considerations to them as part of a large Korean family.
Both President Lee's Asian diplomatic initiative and its overall direction appear appropriate. As always, however, what matters is what substantive and durable results they can attain. Calmness and humility should replace hastiness and over-ambition to accomplish a long-term, win-win relationship. The upcoming special summit should be a good starting place for that.