`Smart Diplomacy Is Key to Power Economy’
By Kang Hyun-kyung
Staff Reporter
The importance of smart diplomacy cannot be overemphasized in an era of globalization, said Rep. Yoo Jay-gun, 70, of the Uri Party.
In an interview with The Korea Times, the third-term lawmaker said that a growing number of intellectuals are concerned Korea has become sandwiched between two great power states _ China and Japan.
They express worries that Korea is exporting jobs to China, and Japan has sought militarism to defend its country from North Korea’s security threat.
Rep. Yoo’s version of smart diplomacy boils down to two parts _ strengthening the alliance with the U.S. and forging solid strategic partnerships with the two neighboring power economies.
According to him, these elements will not only help Korea survive the tough economic and security environment but also pave the way for Korea to become one of the world’s largest economies as well.
The veteran politician stressed our understanding of our closest ally, the U.S., needs to be even further deepened. ``Former U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Donald P. Gregg from 1989-1993 used to tell me there are so many Koreans who earned their advanced degrees from universities in the U.S., but few of them understand how the society works,’’ said Rep. Yoo.
The lawyer-turned-lawmaker has offered optimistic views regarding the future of Korea. ``The smooth sailing of peace talks with North Korea and a free trade agreement with the U.S. will make it easier for South Korea to get through the challenging economic and security environment. We have to make the most of this chance so that the economy can take a big step forward,’’ he said.
He made it clear that peace building is a time-consuming and pains-taking process.
Rep. Yoo is chairman of the Uri Party foundation, an in-house think tank of the pro-government party, and he also serves as chairman of the Korea-US Inter-parliamentary Council.
Through these capacities, he has played a leading role in holding several global exchange programs. Last week he invited Jason Forrester, a scholar working with the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington D.C, to the National Assembly for a session presenting the findings of a year-long research project on the U.S. Congressional attitude toward the Korea-U.S. alliance.
He took part in an international seminar on finding ways of building sustainable peace in Korea with foreign ambassadors to Korea and scholars, which took place last Wednesday.
In August a group of US lawmakers including Edward R. Royce (R-CA) are scheduled to visit Korea. They are planning to visit the Gaeseong Industrial Complex during the five-day trip. Lawmakers of the two countries will hold serious talks over peace building on the Korean peninsula along with other key parliamentary agendas.
``It seems to be true that views are divided over the Feb. 13 agreement between some Koreans and Americans,’’ he said. There are concerned voices among intellectuals in this country claiming that the U.S. might intend to recognize the North as nuclear power with the agreement.
Their prediction was based on the U.S. completing the draft with Pyongyang over its possession of nuclear bombs. And this might imply that the foreign policy of Washington has shifted to implicitly recognize the North’s nuclear status by reaching the Feb. 13 agreement.
A consistent voice from Washington says, however, that the goal of the U.S. government with the six-party talks is the complete dismantlement of North Korea’s nuclear programs.
Facing growing interest in a four-way summit talk of two Koreas, China and the U.S. among the presidential hopefuls of the pro-government party, U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Alexander Vershbow has demanded them to slow down their inter-Korean cooperative activities until the North completes the follow-up measures of the Feb. 13 agreement.
``There is no doubt that both governments share a goal of the complete dismantlement of the nuclear programs of the North. We need to have more patience and wisdom to see a durable peace,’’ the lawmaker emphasized.
He underlined outstanding managerial skills in foreign policy and trade as the most important quality for next president.
``National leader’s skillful management of trade and foreign policy will connect the Korean economy to the advanced one. In this sense, I would say those who are aware of the need for engagement policy, multilateral diplomacy and strategic partnerships with neighboring countries are the most qualified for the top job.’’