Congratulatory Remarks
by H.E. Yun Byung-se
Minister of Foreign Affairs

Asia Society Dinner
June 11, 2014

Thank you, Prime Minister Lee, for your kind words of introduction.

As we all know, Prime Minister Lee is a towering figure in Korea with an illustrious career in academia as well as public service. For me, though, he is one of my most cherished mentors together with Minister Han Sung-Joo and Ambassador Hyun Hong-Joo.

Chairman Chan (챈) ,
Chairwoman Fore (포어) ,
President Sheeran (쉬런) ,
Minister Han and Ambassador Hyun
Chairman Shin Dong-bin,
Excellencies and Distinguished Guests,

The New York Times once said of Asia Society that [quote] “at a time when the eyes of the world are on Asia, this institution is indispensable.” [unquote]  Indeed, when Asia interacted with the rest of the world, the Asia Society has always been there, connecting the hearts and minds of billions of people in and out of Asia.

In this regard, I think it is quite significant that the Asia Society’s Global Council meeting is taking place here in Korea for the first time. It is certainly an indication of the strong partnership that Korea has built over the years with the Asia Society. For this reason, I think Honorary Chairman Lee Hong-koo and Chairman Shin Dong-bin deserve a big round of applause for their instrumental leadership as bridges between Korea, Asia, and the world. [Applause]

Speaking of bridges, I have just come back from Myanmar last week, a country that is now reconnecting with the world after decades-long seclusion. Cities of Yangon and Naypyidaw, the capital city, are now bustling with Western visitors who are seeking new business opportunities. They are reaping the fruits of what is called “Myanmar’s Way,” which describes the series of reforms and liberalizations under way.

In a country in midst of such meaningful transformation, I was delighted to see that the Korean waves, or Hallyu, has reached the shores of Myanmar, touching the hearts and minds of the Myanma people.

In a similar vein, I hope you all enjoyed tonight’s performance, which brought together traditional Korean and Western music. It was a great example of what creativity can produce, as it presented us with a beautiful harmony, a new kind of culture that we all can identify with.

All these are good examples of the important nexus between diplomacy and culture. Both are aimed at enhancing connectivity among peoples of diverse beliefs and backgrounds by fostering the habit of communication and exchange.

For this reason, I most sincerely congratulate Mr. Lee Byung-hun for his award tonight. As you well know, he is a Korean superstar turned Asian Hallyu star and then a Hollywood superstar. For me, Hallyu stars like Mr. Lee represent perfect illustration of the old maxim – [pause] what is most local is most universal.

Distinguished Guests,

As we are all aware, Asia is the most dynamic region of the world. Asia is the place to expect the unexpected. Such dynamism of Asia has been the driving force that brought about the dawn of the “Asian Century,” or the “Pacific Era.”

It is this kind of dynamism that fueled the ever-growing economic interdependence, allowing Asia to become a locomotive for global economic growth.

On the other hand, there exists another kind of dynamism at work in Asia. As I remarked at the Jeju Forum two weeks ago, which was quoted in yesterday’s Financial Times, today’s Asia looks like a Pandora’s box that is being opened, with all sorts of problems popping up at the same time. It is as if we are reverting back to “the old Asia” in which geopolitics brewed competition and confrontation.

Thus, Asia faces a historical challenge. Today, all across Asia, many different futures are being dreamt. As Americans pursue the “Pacific Dream,” the people of China are dreaming the “Chinese Dream.” ASEAN is dreaming its own dream for the ASEAN Community. In Korea, we are dreaming the “Korean Dream” of the unified Korean Peninsula.

It is as if we are sitting together side by side, but staring at varying directions. If we hope to make these dreams into a reality, we should begin by directing our attention to a common direction. We should harmonize our dreams into a greater Asian or Asian-Pacific dream to the extent possible. This is the starting point of the advent of “a New Asia" instead of the return to the old.

Distinguished Guests,

Asia’s challenge is in turn, a challenge for the Asia Society, as the mission of the Asia Society “to promote mutual understanding and strengthen partnerships” will become a mission impossible, if we are to return to “the old Asia.”

To cope with such a challenge, we must first identify the root cause of the problems. My diagnosis is the severe lack of trust in our region. Therefore, we must first turn Asia’s chronic trust deficit into trust surplus. In other words, our strategy for a new Asia must begin with a strategy for trust. As in the words of UNESCO Constitution, [quote] "it is in the minds of men that the defences of peace must be constructed." [unquote]

In this endeavor, Korea will be the Asia Society’s natural partner, as the Park Geun-hye government seeks the vision of “a new Asia” to replace the existing distrust and conflict with trust and cooperation through a policy we call Trustpolitik. We wish to see all those bodies of waters across Asia be turned into a great “Sea of Trust.”

Let us believe that this is possible, as we have seen in the past, that Asia is a place where wonders can happen.

As Korea endeavors to build “a new Asia” of sustainable peace and common prosperity, I ask that the Asia Society to redouble its role as the bridge of friendship and understanding between Asia and the world. I have every confidence that you will.

Thank you.