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

Conference on
the Prospects of ASEAN-Korea Relations
February 26, 2014

Minister Wunna Maung Lwin of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar,
Secretary-General Le Luong Minh of ASEAN,
Secretary-General Chung Hae Moon of ASEAN-
Korea Center
Ambassadors of ASEAN countries to Korea,

Excellencies and Distinguished Guests,

Let me extend my heartfelt welcome to our guests from all corners of Southeast Asia, who traveled long distances to attend today’s conference.

On a personal note, as someone who was involved in virtually every stages of Korea-ASEAN dialogue process, it is with great sense of pride to take part in today’s conference.

Taking this opportunity, I would also like to thank the ASEAN-Korea Center, Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute (ASLI), and Chosun Ilbo for their generous efforts to host this event.

Since its inauguration 5 years ago, the ASEAN-Korea Center has successfully established itself as the main vehicle for bilateral exchanges and cooperation between Korea and ASEAN, especially under the able stewardship of Ambassador Chung Hae Moon.

Distinguished Guests,

25 years ago in Jakarta, a letter was exchanged between Foreign Minister Choi Ho-joong of Korea and Foreign Minister Ali Alatas of Indonesia – representing ASEAN at the time – to establish the dialogue relations between Korea and ASEAN.

As the then Director in charge of Asia-Pacific cooperation, I still vividly remember Foreign Minister Alatas’ passionate and eloquent speeches in conferences much like the one here today.

He also saw a great potential in working with partners like Korea as an outlet for future growth of ASEAN.

Thanks to many leaders and visionaries on both sides, Korea has become a close friend and a reliable partner of ASEAN. And ASEAN has become an indivisible part in the lives of many Koreans.

In 2010, Korea and ASEAN have established the strategic partnership, which accelerated the pace of our bilateral cooperation. In 2012, Korea opened a permanent mission to ASEAN in Jakarta.

Today, ASEAN is the number one destination of Korea’s foreign investment, and the second largest trading partner. For ASEAN, Korea is the sixth largest foreign investor, and the fifth largest trading partner.

Nearly 16 thousand visitors travel between Korea and ASEAN on a daily basis, and over 4 million Koreans visit ASEAN region every year. Our peoples are becoming closer and closer every day, showcased by the 60 thousand immigrants from ASEAN – mainly by marriage – that are enriching Korea’s culture and bridging us, in the true sense of the phrase, “heart-to-heart.”

Our relationship has matured so much so that in June last year, at the Ministerial Meeting of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) — the only multilateral security forum North Korea is part of — all 26 participants, except for North Korea, supported Korea’s position on the denuclearization of North Korea.

Indeed, ASEAN has become one of Korea’s most reliable partners in the international stage, and vice versa.

Colleagues and Distinguished Guests,

This year is a very symbolic year in the Korea-ASEAN relations. Celebrating the 25 years of the establishment of bilateral dialogue relations, the Korea-ASEAN Commemorative Summit will be held in Korea later this year.

In fact, this Summit is expected to be this year’s diplomatic highlight for Korea.

Korea will also be hosting Korea-ASEAN Security Dialogue and Korea-ASEAN Business Council. These initiatives are aimed at strengthening the framework of our cooperation that is currently more focused in economic and social areas, and expanding it into political and security areas, thereby elevating Korea-ASEAN relations to a new height.

With the launch of the ASEAN Community just around the corner in 2015, Korea’s interest in ASEAN, along with the rest of the world, is ever so deepening and indeed, ASEAN’s importance continues to grow in Korea.

Korea is aiming to increase its trade volume with ASEAN from 130 billion dollars today to 150 billion dollars by 2015 and 200 billion dollars by 2020.

The long list of ASEAN leaders President Park Geun-hye met in the first year of her Presidency, as well as yesterday’s launch of the Korea-ASEAN Forum in Korea’s National Assembly are just a few of many examples reflecting the growing importance of ASEAN in Korea.

I am committed to bring ASEAN further into the central sphere of Korea’s foreign policy priority in coming years, keeping in mind that some time in the near future, there will come “the year of ASEAN.”

Distinguished Guests,

The launch of the ASEAN Community in 2015 will upgrade Korea-ASEAN strategic partnership. As ASEAN is developing into a truly single community in the areas of political security, economy and social-culture, the three pillars of Korean-ASEAN cooperation – security, economy, and culture – will be further strengthened.

In other words, the year 2015 can be a turning point in our relations to evolve into a comprehensive and far-reaching partnership.

The advent of the ASEAN Community will also accelerate East Asian cooperation. As a model for regional cooperation, the ASEAN Community can be the very spark needed to reignite East Asia’s longing for integration, also serving as an important platform for cooperation among Korea, China and Japan.

In this regard, cooperation between Korea, a key player in Northeast Asian cooperation, and ASEAN, which is at the heart of Southeast Asia, will have a multiplier effect in the regional cooperation of greater East Asia region.

Particularly in the economic front, once the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is successfully launched in 2015, we could explore ways to bridge it with the future Korea-China-Japan trilateral Free Trade Agreement. If the two arrangements can be synchronized somehow, it will provide the basis for the early establishment of an East Asian Economic Community, as proposed by the East Asia Vision Group II.

In this aspect, Korea and ASEAN are optimal partners for the future East Asian integration.
Ladies and gentlemen,

The partnership between Korea and ASEAN has made a remarkable progress over the last 25 years. It was your efforts, contributions, and the vision for Korea-ASEAN relations that made such outstanding progress possible.

Today, as we plan ahead for the next quarter-century of partnership, I am confident that Korea and ASEAN, as strategic partners seeking co-existence and co-prosperity, will go beyond strengthening bilateral ties, and will ultimately emerge as the central pillar of peace and prosperity in East Asia.

In this regard, I ask you to share your wisdom and insights as Korea and ASEAN work together to create a new future of East Asia. Thank you.