The 13th Korea-Middle East Cooperation Forum Keynote Speech

- Close ties of Korea and the Middle East and Korea’s Middle East Policy -



Remarks
by Kim Hyoung-zhin,
Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs

H.E. Ambassador Abdullah Bishara, President of the Diplomatic Center for Strategic Studies,

H.E. Ambassador Moon Tae-young, President of the Jeju Peace Institute,

H.E. Ambassador Son Se-joo, Secretary General of the Korea-Arab Society,

and Distinguished Guests, ladies and gentlemen,

I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all of you here attending the Korea-Middle East Cooperation Forum which marks its 13th anniversary this year. Deep appreciation is in order for the devotion and hard work by the organizers of this forum. My thanks should go to the Kuwait Diplomatic Center for Strategic Studies, the Korea-Arab Society, and the Jeju Peace Institute for co-hosting this event.

The political and economic situation in the Middle East today casts a long shadow on the international community, both directly and pervasively. Recognizing this, the Korean Government has been focusing on the international strategic importance of the Middle East. Furthermore, as our economy is ever deepening its interdependence with the Middle East economy, the connection between Korea and the Middle East indeed runs deep in our society. In this context, it was more than 10 years ago that we launched the Korea-Middle East Cooperation Forum to further contribute to the peace and stability in the Middle East and better understanding between the two regions. I am delighted to see that this forum has developed as a venue for Korea and the Middle East to seek a shared future of co-prosperity together.

Distinguished Guests,

Let me first remind you of a few cases of how the world is deeply affected by the issues in the Middle East.

First of all, the Syrian civil war that has lasted for six years is affecting more and more of us today. I am sure all of you will vividly remember the picture of a blooded 5 year-old boy, Omran Daqneesh, sitting silently and in shock in the back of an ambulance. We also remember the picture of a boy, Alan Kurdi, wearing a red T-shirt, found lying face-down on a Turkish beach. Further, the pictures of the numerous boat people coming out of Syria appear rather frequently in the mass media all over the world. The Syrian civil war is a humanitarian disaster in itself. However, the internal turmoil is not the end of the story. The endless rows of refugees fleeing to neighboring countries such as Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon, and Iraq have inflicted a massive economic and social burdens on those receiving countries. In particular, as the refugees have poured into Europe, this has been a cause of serious conflict within the European societies too. The Brexit decision made by the people of the U.K. may not be unrelated.

Second is the rise and spread of violent extremism such as Daesh, often called the ISIL in the West. The social insecurity and chaos brought about by Daesh is not limited to just Syria and Iraq. The lone wolves influenced by Daesh, and Foreign Terrorist Fighters who return home constitute causes of social instability not only in Europe but also in Asia. The terrorist attacks from Brussels, Paris, Nice, Istanbul and to Dhaka are vivid examples.

Third is the conflict surrounding Iran. Last year’s Iran nuclear deal is deemed to be a positive signal because it reduced the uncertainty relating to Iran’s nuclear development. However, it is also true that some countries are deeply concerned at the possibility of Iran’s growing influence in the region. In this regard, there are concerns that the tension may escalate into another regional conflict, as seen in the recent Saudi-Iranian relations which have already turned sour.

Fourth is the economic interdependence. An American economist, Nouriel Roubini, has been warning that the global economy is heading for a “perfect storm.” One cause can be the persistent low price of oil. It does not only hurt oil producing countries. But globally, it leads to the decrease in consumption which is worsening the economic recession and having a negative impact on the world economy.

Distinguished Guests,

The issues of the Middle East are deeply connected with those of Korea and indeed the world. Tensions on the Korean Peninsula, the security of our people and economic growth are deeply affected by what happens in the Middle East.

Let me first turn to the case of the Syrian civil war. The United States and Russia are engaging in repeated conflicts and standoffs. The two countries are key players in Korean Peninsula issues as well. They are permanent members of the UN Security Council, members of the Six Party Talks on the North Korean nuclear issue and world powers surrounding the Korean Peninsula. Therefore, the tension between the two countries could undermine the international resolve to solve the North Korean nuclear issue too.

Second, the rise of Daesh has a direct impact on the safety and security of the Korean people. It has recently been revealed that there were even some Koreans that tried to join Daesh. This clearly demonstrates that the Daesh issue is not the story of a remote country to Korea, either. It cannot be separated from Korea’s national security.

Third, as the international oil prices remain low, the Korean economy has also been severely affected. As is well known, Korean companies have contributed to the industrialization of the Middle East. On the other hand, Korea’s participation in the mega projects of the Middle East has provided an economic stimulus to Korea. If the demand in infrastructure construction declines in the Middle East, the Korean economy also suffers.

Under the circumstances, the message is clear. The situation in the Middle East is deeply connected not only with the international community but indeed with Korea. Based upon this recognition, the Korean Government has implemented the three pillars of diplomatic policies towards the Middle East: that is Peace, Prosperity, and People to People Exchanges. And we will further strengthen these three “P”s policies continuously in the future.

Above all, our primary goal is to strengthen mutual cooperation in the sphere of politics and security. My Government is keen on holding both bilateral and multilateral high-level talks with the Middle East countries, as well as regional organizations, including the Gulf Cooperation Council, the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. Furthermore, the Korea-Middle East Cooperation Forum since 2003, and the Korea-EU International Conference on Middle Eastern and North African Affairs since 2014 provide the stage for an open and productive discussion on many challenges we face.

Our commitment to cooperate with the Middle East goes further beyond. The operation to retake Mosul was launched in Iraq a few week ago. Convinced that destroying Daesh in Iraq will help to rid the world of threat, the Korean Government, as a member of the global coalition to counter Daesh, has been doing its part in providing Iraqi refugees with humanitarian aid. It is determined to support any global efforts to stabilize Iraq. From 2014 to 2015, the Korean Government provided $11.2 million to Iraqi refugees and the scale of assistance has reached $7 million this year. Further the Republic of Korea has responded to the crisis in Syria and its neighboring countries. This year alone, the Korean Government's humanitarian assistance for Syrian refugees has amounted to $45 million. Today I want to reiterate that the Korean Government will actively engage in international efforts to help those who are in need of assistance.

The cooperation between the Republic of Korea and the Middle East is not one-sided. Many countries in this region have supported the Korean Government's tireless efforts for peace and security on the Korean Peninsula. Many countries of the Middle East issued statements condemning North Korea's continued nuclear tests and missile launches. We can see this kind of close and deep cooperation at the UN-level as well. The Korean Government will continue to work together with our partners in the Middle East to defuse tensions on the Korean Peninsula and bring peace and stability to this region, with the goal of achieving the nuclear-weapon-free Korean Peninsula.

The second goal is to enhance mutual cooperation for economic prosperity. You will recall the energy crisis in the 1970s caused by the first oil shock. It gave some pioneering Korean companies an opportunity to look into the new markets in the Middle East. When the Republic of Korea, an energy-poor country, was hit hard by the oil crisis in the 1970s, its newly built partnerships with oil-rich countries in the Middle East opened the way to find a breakthrough to overcome the crisis. Entering into the Middle Eastern market provided a driving force to accomplish the Miracle on the Han River in Korea. Meanwhile, Korean companies' expertise in establishing infrastructure laid the groundwork for economic development in many places in the Middle East.

Now the Korean Government is opening a new chapter of cooperation in the field of economic development. In the areas of health and medical services, information and communications technology(ICT), and renewable energy, the Korean Government is seeking to build up mutually beneficial relationship of "win-win relations", with the Middle Eastern countries. The advanced medical technology and systems of the Republic of Korea were first exported to the United Arab Emirates and then here to Kuwait. The Health and Medical Cooperation Forum just held yesterday here in Kuwait city is indeed a model example of cooperation in new areas. Across the region, Korean companies have played leading roles in ICT and high value-added industries while satisfying many Middle Eastern countries' need to diversify their sources of income.

Last year, President Park' official visit to Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar clearly demonstrated that the Korean Government has been keenly pursuing Rafik diplomacy of partnership with the Middle East as a critical pillar of its foreign policy. Based on its determination to work together with the Middle East, the Republic of Korea will indeed stay as a reliable partner to the Middle East in the future. This partnership will endure towards a better future of economic diversification, a transition to high value-added industries, and technological advances.

The third goal is to boost people to people exchanges. The Korean Government will enhance its cooperation with the Middle Eastern countries in the fields of culture, education and tourism. What is known as the Korean wave is now spreading in the Middle East driven by K-dramas and K-pop. Along with the increasing popularity of Korean culture among teenagers and young adults in the Middle East, the number of tourists from the Middle Eastern countries has quadrupled in the past decade. Signs of expanding cultural exchanges do not stop here. Arabic is gaining popularity among Korean students. For instance, the number of applicants choosing Arabic as a second foreign language on the Korean College Aptitude Test has been growing exponentially from 6% in 2007 to 16.6% in 2014. We see this change as an indication of great potential for expanding mutual cooperation. The bonds between future generations will indeed be much stronger and closer with deeper understanding about each other.

"Hearing one hundred times still falls short of seeing once yourself" says a time-old Korean proverb. Nothing can match people to people exchanges in breaking down barriers and deepening mutual understanding among peoples. I hope that we can come up with new ideas to boost people to people exchanges through open and active discussions in the forum.

Distinguished Guests,

I am not familiar with Arabic but please allow me to remind all of you of this Arab saying;

I understand it means that "Hard times will reveal true friends." Even after the outbreak of the Gulf War, Korean companies and workers had an unwavering determination to stay in the Kuwait construction sites in order to honour their promises. Likewise, the Republic of Korea will continue to be the "Rafik" of the Middle Eastern countries including Kuwait in traveling a long journey together.

Let me conclude by expressing once again my sincere gratitude to the Jeju Peace Institute, the Korea-Arab Society and Kuwait's Diplomatic Center for Strategic Studies for co-hosting this valuable forum. I would like to thank the Kuwaiti Government for its warm-hearted hospitality and all our guests from the Republic of Korea and the Middle Eastern countries for taking the trouble of participating in the forum. I look forward to hearing meaningful and constructive ideas from all of you. These will indeed be of great value, contributing to further developing and deepening the ties between the Republic of Korea and the Middle East. Thank you very much. (end)