Often found at theaters and museums, Kwon Mee-yoo has covered a wide range of cultural fields from K-pop and dramas to theater and fine art for over a decade. Now as K-Culture Desk editor, she tries to connect Korean culture with global readers through fresh perspectives.
EU, Korean experts discuss maritime security
French Ambassador to Korea Philippe Lefort speaks during a forum on maritime security cooperation co-hosted by the Embassy of France in Korea, the EU delegation in Korea and the Korea Institute for Maritime Strategy at a hotel in Seoul, Tuesday. Courtesy of Embassy of France in Korea
By Kwon Mee-yoo
By Kwon Mee-yoo
The Indo-Pacific region has a growing focus in international geopolitics as the GDP of the countries in the region occupies 60 percent of that of the entire world. Yet, despite its economic and strategic importance, there has been more competition and conflict than co-prosperity through cooperation among the countries in the region.
The Embassy of France in Korea, the EU delegation in Korea and the Korea Institute for Maritime Strategy (KIMS) co-organized a forum exploring various ways to enhance understanding on maritime security, centering on the Indo-Pacific region.
French Ambassador to Korea Philippe Lefort introduced the EU and France's maritime strategies and its importance during his welcoming remarks.
"Our oceans are subject to increasing changes such as strategic competition, questioning the freedom of navigation, crime, pollution and erosion of biodiversity. The European Union has been aware of these challenges for a long time since the adoption of its maritime security strategy in 2014," Lefort said.
"In this regard, the Republic of Korea appears to be an indispensable partner for the European Union and its member states and we already do a lot together. But I'm convinced that we can go even further from now."
KIMS chairman Chung Eui-Sung noted that the significance of the Indo Indo-Pacific Oceans cannot be sufficiently emphasized.
"According to the IMO (International Maritime Organization) report, over 90 percent of world trade is carried by sea and more than 50 percent of the world's trade passes through the Indo-Pacific Oceans. The peace and prosperity of both South Korea and the European Union deeply rely on the Indo-Pacific region. It is therefore crucial that we cherish and protect our two oceans," Chung said.
"I believe that this is one of the reasons why last year the European Union released a strategy for cooperation in the Indo-Pacific and expressed the desire to work with like-minded partners in the region. Likewise, the South Korean president-elect has last month disclosed his intention to send a special envoy to the European Union. Both South Korea and the European Union have thus expressed shared interest and determination to work closely together in the maritime domain in this vital part of the world."
Rear Admiral Jurgen Ehle, Senior Military Advisor to the Managing Director for CSDP (Common Security and Defence Policy) and Crisis Response, European External Action Service, delivered a keynote speech on the EU's maritime security, highlighting why the security of seas and oceans is a priority for the EU and its member states since it is a prerequisite for all types of maritime activities and also allows them to take measures to safeguard the marine environment.
"The EU maritime security strategy and its action plan seek to protect the EU's global maritime interests and promote the EU as a strong contributor to global maritime security by strengthening the link between internal and external security and combining European security with international maritime governance," he said.
The EU Strategy for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific offers seven priority areas to advance cooperation with partners ― Sustainable and inclusive prosperity; Green transition; Ocean governance; Digital governance and partnerships; Connectivity; Security and defense; and Human security.
"I would like to underline that the EU Indo-Pacific Strategy is inclusive. This inclusivity is inclusive of all partners in the region, wishing to cooperate with us when our interests coincide. At the same time, and working with international partners who share similar concerns, the EU will continue to protect its essential interests and promote its values, namely democracy, human rights and the rule of law," Ehle said.
Vice Admiral Jeong Seung-kyun, chief of Korea's Naval Education and Training Command, briefed on how Korea and the EU can cooperate on maritime security.
"There are three major risks of maritime security in the Indo-Pacific region. First, the natural disasters such as COVID-19, earthquake and tsunami. Second, transnational and conventional threats such as piracy and terrorism. Lastly, the expansion of challenges against the rules-based maritime order," Jeong said.
"We do have common interests and that is why a free, open rules-based order needs to be established in this region through cooperation. And as responsible actors of the international community, we should also work together and pay more attention to maintaining the regional stability and free, open rules-based order."
In the first session titled "Enhancing Mutual Understanding of Each Actor," a variety of missions and operations were introduced, from the Republic of Korea Navy and its missions and the French Navy and its missions in Asia-Pacific to the EU's Operation Atlanta, the European-led operation in the Strait of Hormuz and the EU-coordinated maritime presence concept.
The second session discussed ways to enhance cooperation in maritime security capacity building. South Korea and the EU presented their respective perspectives on maritime capacity building as well as examples of capacity building activities of the Netherlands and Czech's approach to the Indo-Pacific region.