Joint efforts needed to push NK into dialogue
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ASEAN-Korea Center Secretary General Kim Young-sun / Courtesy of ASEAN-Korea Center
By Kim Jae-kyoung
ASEAN-Korea Center Secretary General Kim Young-sun said that South Korea and ASEAN should work together to involve North Korea in international dialogue and open its doors to the outside.
“ASEAN and South Korea can make joint efforts to induce North Korea to participate in security and trust-building dialogue, and come forward to become a responsible member of the international community,” Kim said in a recent interview with The Korea Times.
“Although there remain diverging views on the North Korea issue among the ASEAN countries, it is time for ASEAN to play a key role.”
He explained that ASEAN countries can play a role in changing the reclusive country because they have maintained diplomatic relations with North Korea, and both South and North Korea are members of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF).
According to him, ASEAN has been expanding its presence in ASEAN-led multilateral forums such as the ARF, ASEAN+3, East Asia Summit, and ASEAN Defense Ministerial Meeting.
“Furthermore, Myanmar and Vietnam’s reform and open-door policies can be a more embraceable case that can set a good example for North Korea,” he said.
Kim, who took the helm of the center in 2015, said that with remarkable progress in economic and cultural cooperation, South Korea can now work toward further enhancing its political and security cooperation with ASEAN.
“To strengthen its relations with ASEAN, Korea should explore further cooperation in non-traditional security fields such as environmental sustainability, climate change, health, cybercrime, maritime safety, and food and energy security,” he said.
“These cross-border issues of common concern need to be addressed together for effective solutions.”
The secretary general stressed that it is important for Korean players to see greater opportunities deriving from the launch of ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) at the end of 2015.
“Korean companies will have the chance to participate in various projects pertaining to the industrialization of ASEAN member states,” he said.
“For example, there will be opportunities to take part in large scale infrastructure projects that aim to strengthen connectivity within the region.”
The former Korean ambassador to Indonesia recommended Korean firms come up with strategies tailored to local markets and speed up liberalization of bilateral trade.
“Amid the changing landscape of the global economy brought about by the AEC, Korean companies should adopt glocalization strategies to successfully expand in the region,” he said.
Glocalization strategies
“Furthermore, while actively participating in the ASEAN-led Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) negotiations, Korea should accelerate efforts for further liberalization with an ASEAN-Korea FTA.”
He believes that the liberalization would contribute toward achieving the goal of $200 billion in bilateral trade by 2020 as set by the leaders at the ASEAN-Korea Commemorative Summit in 2014.
Despite big improvements in bilateral relations, the career diplomat still sees a variety of areas for cooperation the two parties can explore — the small- and medium-sized enterprise (SME) sector and creative industries.
The SME sector, in Kim’s view, will provide huge opportunities for both because SMEs account for more than 95 to 99 percent of all business establishments.
“SME-related cooperation is becoming more important than ever,” he said. “Korean experts are dispatched to ASEAN member states to share valuable information on how to gain greater access to the Korean market.”
The ASEAN-Korea Business Council was launched in 2014 as the first private channel to further promote closer collaboration among the business communities of the two regions.
“The efforts of supporting ASEAN SMEs, the backbone of the ASEAN economy, will contribute to achieving the goal of $200 billion in bilateral trade,” he said.
Kim said that Korean firms should be able to see the ongoing transition in ASEAN countries that are gradually shifting their industrial priority from labor-intensive manufacturing to high value-added industries such as information and communications technology and the services industry.
Indonesia, Thailand and Singapore are working to boost their creative industry and digital economy such as broadcasting, gaming, animation and music.
For example, as part of efforts to transform the country into an ASEAN digital hub of the region, the government of Thailand designated Phuket as a Smart City, which is expected to attract technology start-ups to the city and enhance digital-related investment.
“Korea is able to be a partner in sharing its experiences and expertise in developing these industries of ASEAN,” he said.
“In line with this, the ASEAN-Korea Centre has been inviting game companies based in ASEAN countries to participate in G-STAR to support ASEAN’s efforts to nurture and promote creative industries.” G-STAR is Korea’s biggest annual game exhibition
The center is an international organization established in 2009 to promote exchanges among Korea and ASEAN member countries.
Brexit and AEC integration
The secretary general said that the UK’s vote to leave the EU won’t hurt the direction of AEC integration because its unique integration process is different.
“Compared to Europe, ASEAN has its own way of regional integration which allows members to maintain their national sovereignty and independence,” he said.
“The ASEAN Way” of integration in his words is the gradual integration process based on compromise through formal and informal meetings and consensus-based decision making.
“This unique integration process that suits the region’s diverse culture, religions, history and political systems will create the strength for ASEAN to forge ahead toward further integration,” he said.