Opening Remarks by
H.E. Chancellor Cho Sei-Young, the Korea National Diplomatic Academy
KNDA Policy Forum “Korea’s Foreign Policy Initiatives: New Southern and Northern Policy”
8 May 2019 
 

H.E. Lee Taeho, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea,

H.E. Singtong Lapisatepun, Ambassador of Thailand to the Republic of Korea,

Honorable Members of the Diplomatic Corps,

Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

Let me, first of all, take this opportunity to extend my sincere gratitude to all of you participating in this KNDA Policy Forum, under the theme of “Korea’s Foreign Policy Initiatives: New Southern and Northern Policy.”

I am also pleased to have many eminent scholars, renowned experts and distinguished guests, from home and abroad, here for today’s Forum to discuss the Moon Jae-in government’s signature foreign policy initiatives - “New Southern Policy” and “New Northern Policy.”

Korea has come along a long way to become one of the most active trading nations in the world and our international profile has been characterized by constant interactions and cooperation with almost every part of the world. Nevertheless, Korea’s diplomatic horizon has been largely confined to the Korean peninsula and Northeast Asia.

However, with his ambitiously designed “New Southern Policy” and “New Northern Policy,” President Moon aspires to go beyond these geopolitical and geographical limitations of the past and forge closer ties with Eurasia and the Indo-Pacific region, and eventually broaden our diplomatic horizons and reaches.

During his state visit to ASEAN countries, President Moon outlined his “3P” visions that will guide Korea’s endeavor to build a people-oriented community of mutual prosperity and peace with partners in Southeast Asia and South Asia. With its “New Southern Policy” and “New Northern Policy,” the Korean government seeks to contribute to enhance regional connectivity across Eurasia and the Indo-Pacific region together with all the countries sharing this vision.

President Moon Jae-in’s signature “New Southern Policy” and “New Northern Policy” aim to elevate Korea’s ties with the southern and northern neighbors on a par with the four major powers surrounding the Korean Peninsula. This is indeed a newfound diplomatic activism that will further invigorate people-to-people exchanges, and deepen economic, trade, strategic and defense ties between Korea and its key partners in the region. Korea aspires to loosen the geographic shackles that have stood in our ways, and to bolster regional connectivity and promote prosperity and peace in Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, Central Asia and South Asia,

Korea, as a middle power, is geographically located in the midst of ever-growing geopolitical competitions and great power rivalry. We share similar geopolitical concerns with many countries in Central Asia and Southeast Asia. We are located in a place where continental and maritime areas are connected, serving as a bridge from Asia to Europe and the Pacific Ocean, but this geographical location has brought us to experience times of war and destruction as well as times of peace and prosperity over the past history.

Now, efforts are being made to prevent history from repeating itself. Southeast Asian and Central Asian countries have created organizations to promote regional cooperation, as part of an effort to prevent competition and join forces to deal with the pressure from neighboring countries. They are also striving hard to bolster regional connectivity and cooperation. Such efforts are not only safeguarding peace in the region but also contributing to world peace.

Korea is seeking to share its past experiences, insights to address today’s pressing issues and visions for the future with partners in Southeast Asia and Central Asia, and this is what President Moon Jae-in’s “New Southern Policy” and “New Northern Policy” ultimately aim to achieve in the coming future.

Distinguished Guests,

Today’s Forum will provide us with an invaluable opportunity to evaluate the foreign policy accomplishments the Moon Jae-in administration has achieved in the past two years, and discuss the ways forward. I look forward to fruitful discussions today and hope to gain new, brilliant insights. 

I would also like to thank my hard-working colleagues here at the Institute of Foreign Affairs and National Security (IFANS) of the Korea National Diplomatic Academy (KNDA) for arranging today’s Forum.

Thank You.