열린장관실

Congratulatory Remarks by H.E. Park Jin

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea

4^th Annual Korean Security Summit 

April 11, 2023

President 김기환 of the Korea Foundation,

Professor Eric Rosenbach, Co-Director of the Belfer Center,

Professor Nicholas Harkness, Director of the Korea Institute,

Dr. John Park, Director of the Korea Project at the Belfer Center, 

Former Foreign Minister 윤병세, 

Distinguished speakers and guests,

Members of the faculty, fellows, and students of Harvard University,

It is a great pleasure to be back at the Korean Security Summit.

The pleasure is all the greater because this forum brings back warm memories of my time at the Kennedy School of Government some 40 years ago. 

Let me start by extending my appreciation to the Belfer Center and the Korea Foundation for organizing and supporting this prestigious forum every year.

I wish to congratulate, in particular, the signing of the Korea Foundation Endowment Fund this morning. 

The new fund will provide a welcome boost to further advancing Korean security studies. 

As you all know, this year marks the 70th anniversary of the ROK-U.S. Alliance.

The Korean Security Summit and Harvard University provide a very fitting place to mark this historic occasion.

First, many of the panelists and participants in today’s forum have served in government with great distinction.  

They have been key players in nurturing, sustaining and advancing our alliance through thick and thin. 

I thank them for their decades-long service and dedication to the Korea-U.S. Alliance.  

Second, Harvard University is where the Republic of Korea’s founding president, Syngman Rhee, earned his Master’s degree. 

The intellectual nourishment within the storied halls of this great institution, no doubt helped sow the seeds of President Rhee’s later vision for a Mutual Defense Treaty with the U.S. 

It is the signing of the Mutual Defense Treaty on 1 October, 1953, that formally kicked off the 70-year journey of our alliance. 

President Rhee said at the time of the signing of the Treaty :

“The Treaty will bring tremendous benefits across many generations and it will enable us to enjoy prosperity.”

The subsequent journey of our alliance has borne out the prescience of these words. 

At the dawn of the 21st century, the Korea-U.S. relationship has gone from a security-focused alliance to an economic partnership undergirded by an ambitious FTA. 

On a personal note, I am gratified to have played a role in navigating the FTA’s passage at the National Assembly when I was serving as Chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Trade Committee.

Most recently, our two countries articulated a vision of a Global Comprehensive Strategic Alliance.

The Global Comprehensive Strategic Alliance between Korea and the U.S. has its work cut out. 

Since last year’s Korean Security Summit, the global security environment has only gotten worse. 

Indeed, it is telling that the term “poly-crisis” has gained widespread currency since the turn of the year. 

Russia’s aggression against Ukraine continues unabated.  

North Korea's nuclear and missile threats are reaching unprecedented levels. 

Supply chains are at constant risk of disruption. 

The rules-based international order is being undermined. 

Against such a challenging backdrop, the ROK-U.S. alliance assumes greater importance than ever before.

Professor Joseph Nye - who I understand is also here today - has written long ago that the United States is “bound to lead.”  

He also coined the term “soft power.”  

Korea today not only has the hard power – ranked sixth in the world by US News and World Report - but also increasingly the “soft power” to help lead, as evidenced by the growing popularity of its culture.  

Korea therefore stands shoulder to shoulder with the G7 in its capacity and readiness to contribute to safeguarding the rules-based international order. 

The Yoon Suk Yeol administration's “Global Pivotal State” - or GPS – vision represents our commitment to do so.  

It redefines and recalibrates Korea’s roles and responsibilities in the world. 

Together, Korea and the U.S. play a crucial role in securing peace and stability not just on the Korean Peninsula, but also in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond. 

We have a shared commitment to upholding universal values such as freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law across the world. 

The 2^nd Summit for Democracy held a couple of weeks ago is one prominent instance of our joint leadership.

Korea co-hosted this meeting with the U.S. and three other democratic partners, and will be hosting a third summit in the future. 

Crucially, leaders from more than 70 democracies committed to revitalizing an international rules-based order and supporting democracy against threats to undermine them.  

Distinguished Guests, 

The Global Comprehensive Strategic Alliance also has more work to do bilaterally, if we are to stay competitive in a poly-crisis era. 

Korea and the United States are further reinforcing collaboration in the field of security.  Notable among our efforts are those aimed at strengthening extended deterrence to counter North Korea's growing nuclear and missile threats. 

Tackling North Korea’s crypto theft in order to stem the revenues that fund its illegal WMD programs, will also proceed in tandem.  

Based on the robust combined defense posture of the Korea-U.S. Alliance, Korea will also solidify R.O.K.-U.S.-Japan trilateral security cooperation.

In an era where innovation is increasingly the critical determinant of power, Korea and the U.S. are pushing the boundaries of our collaboration to the realms of science and cutting-edge technology. 

We are exploring new growth engines in cutting-edge sectors such as AI, biotechnology, quantum computing, and space exploration. 

Building resilient and stable supply chains for critical minerals is another priority.

At the same time, we must lay the groundwork to ensure that our alliance endures for another 70 years and beyond.  

In this vein, it is imperative for our youth and future leaders to become more cognizant of the actual benefits that our partnership brings. 

One couldn’t have asked for a better place to do this than here at Harvard University.

In two weeks, President Yoon Suk Yeol will pay a State Visit to the United States – the first leader in the Indo-Pacific to do so during the Biden administration. 

The fact of this State Visit alone speaks volumes about how special and close our bonds are.  

The occasion will allow our leaders to jointly celebrate the platinum jubilee of our alliance; to reflect on all that we have achieved thus far, and set a clear, shared vision for our future. 

The discussions that will be held at this forum will surely help enrich and enlighten our two governments’ efforts to chart the future of our great alliance.  

I wish this forum every success over the next three days.  

Thank you all for your unwavering commitment and support.    /END/