By : Dinda Afrina Marfirah
ASEAN and the Republic of Korea began the first established sectoral dialogue relations in November 1989. Since then, the relationship between ASEAN and the Republic of Korea has continued to expand and deepen, and in 2010 it became a strategic partnership for peace and prosperity. 13th ASEAN - ROK Summit held in Hanoi on October 29, 2010, during the summit the leaders of two countries agreed to elevate ASEAN – ROK dialogue relations from comprehensive cooperation to a strategic partnership and adopted the Joint Declaration on ASEAN – ROK Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity and its Action-Plan, which covers the period of 2011 – 2015. (mofa.go.kr)
Pic 1.1: 21st ASEAN – ROK Summit, on Busan, South Korea
Based on empirical observations on the relationship between ASEAN and South Korea over the past three decades, South Korea’s New Southern Policy is indeed a foreign policy facing the future. President Moon Jae-in announced a New Southern Policy On November 9, 2017, aimed at establishing closer ties between the Republic of Korea and the member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The relation between South Korea and Southeast Asia has a long history. The 30th anniversary of the ASEAN- Republic of Korea dialogue relationship was celebrated at the commemorative summit held in Busan in 2019. South Korea has participated in the ASEAN+3 group since 1997 and then established the ASEAN - Republic of Korea Center in 2009 (nsp.go.kr). Despite such impressive results, South Korea’s role in Southeast Asia is often overshadowed by its two larger neighbors. South Korea has great potential for deepening ties with Southeast Asia. The relationship between ASEAN and South Korea can develop rapidly not only based on common interests but also based on mutual trust and common values. Politically, we all desire peace. This is exactly the background of the New Southern Policy, which seeks to strengthen friendly and cooperative relations with ASEAN on the three pillars of people, prosperity, and peace.
There are several achievements of the New Southern Policy so far since it was implemented. First, reflecting the opinions of private experts, public institutions, public companies, and ASEAN local needs, New Southern Policy has adapted and expanded the number of its core projects since 2017. Recently the committee determined to expand 16 strategic tasks to 19 tasks and 57 core projects to 92 projects. Second, human exchanges between the two regions have expanded significantly since the announcement of the New Southern Policy. Mutual tourism increased by 11.4% per year, from 8.9 million in 2016 to 12.3 million in 2019. Third, the goal of prosperity includes reaching $200 billion of trade with ASEAN by 2020. To this end, Seoul has focused on strengthening the institutional basis for promoting trade and investment and participating in infrastructure development projects for ASEAN connectivity. Currently, ASEAN is Korea's second-largest trade and investment destination. Exports to ASEAN accounted for more than 20% of total Korean exports for the first time last year. (EastWestCenter.org/AsiaPasificBuletin)
Pic 1.2 : President of South Korean, Moon Jae In.
We have looked at the core and several achievements of the New Southern Policy. Behind the policy that has been implemented, we must also pay attention to the challenges ahead regarding this policy. Firstly, if South Korea can't properly implement its New Southern Policy, the policy will become a deceptive idea. Therefore, the New South Policy should be implemented as a strategy in which the government will eventually realize the long-term prosperity axis through links with the New North Policy and prepare for the era of peace on the Korean Peninsula. If the road map of the New Southern Policy is organized and systemized, not only the Koreans but also the countries part of the New Southern Policy will have great confidence in the policy.
Secondly, ASEAN and the Republic of Korea need to work hard to increase the understanding of the Korean people, and at the same time must also promote the understanding of ASEAN. The Korean people are the main participants in promoting policies such as the New Southern Policy that emphasizes interpersonal communication. In Consequence, the Korean people’s understanding of the New Southern Policy will determine its success or failure. South Korea should also implement various projects to alleviate any false prejudice held by ASEAN against South Korea. In this regard, the government should actively use the Republic of Korea’s soft power to promote the New Southern Policy, for example, by actively offering Korean courses or more exchange students throughout ASEAN.
Thirdly, South Korea has shown its ambitions for such a policy on the pillar of peace. But until now, this policy has emphasized the pillars of prosperity and the people. There is not much discussion about the pillar of peace. So far the defense and security industry cooperation that has been established is an initiative to develop a demilitarized zone as an international peace zone that received support at the ASEAN- Republic of Korea special summit last year. The Republic Korea-Thailand GSOMIA was also signed in September 2019. In addition, by 2022 Korea will increase the amount of official development assistance to ASEAN by 2.5 times compared to 2017. Security cooperation lags behind economic, social, and cultural cooperation. This strategic gap in policy is not entirely South Korea’s fault. ASEAN also tends to avoid traditional security issues because it is still very sensitive to security issues involving external powers. Unfortunately, the South China Sea Dispute in the region has not weakened, which makes it difficult for South Korea and ASEAN to ignore long-term security cooperation politically. In the future, hopefully, that ASEAN members may increasingly look towards South Korea for weapons procurement, including large ticket items such as ships and submarines. Not only ASEAN but also South Korea that can do more to promote the pillars of peace in the New Southern Policy.
Source :
Asia Pacific Buletin.”Planning the Future of Korea’s New Southern Policy”. https://www.eastwestcenter.org/system/tdf/private/apb516_0.pdf?file=1&type=node&id=37921 accessed October 25, 2020.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs.” ROK-ASEAN Relations”. http://www.mofa.go.kr accessed October 24, 2020.
Presidential Comitte on New Southern Policy.”History of NSP”. http://www.nsp.go.kr/ accessed October 24, 2020.
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