This Year's First 'Diplomatic Strategy Adjustment Plenary Meeting' Held... Establishing Directions in Four Areas: Security, Economic Trade, Science and Technology, and Value Norms

'Expanding Our Role in Security, Economy Through Openness and Inclusion'
Minister Kang Kyung-wha: "Self-help and De-globalization Spreading... Must Recognize and Prepare Seriously"
'Consulate Closures' Escalate US-China Conflict... Seeking Responses to Rapidly Changing Situation

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] "While the demand for international cooperation and solidarity in response to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) has increased, the spread of deglobalization based on self-help and intensified total national power competition have led to a shift beyond mere competition based on interests to confrontation at the level of national systems."

Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha stated this during her opening remarks at the 3rd Foreign Strategy Coordination Plenary Meeting held on the 28th at the International Conference Room of the Seoul Government Complex Annex in Jongno-gu, Seoul. She expressed concern that "the existing buffer zones and links that used to provoke and resolve conflicts between countries are weakening," adding, "The multilateral cooperation framework where various countries' positions are coordinated is not functioning properly, and in the meantime, the role of international organizations is being marginalized, while global supply chains and private exchanges are shrinking."

She emphasized the importance of proactively expanding a consistent policy foundation, as even minor frictions could escalate into intense clashes. Minister Kang said, "There is concern that minor frictions could escalate into severe conflicts and that finding compromises and seeking cooperation will become more difficult. We must seriously recognize and prepare for the possibility of facing higher-intensity external challenges at an earlier stage," adding, "It is increasingly crucial to proactively expand a consistent policy foundation based on national interests and principles, keeping various possibilities in mind."

She then presented consistent directions in four areas?security, economic and trade, science and technology, and value norms?derived through discussions at various levels. Minister Kang stated, "In the security sector, while firmly strengthening the ROK-U.S. alliance, which is the cornerstone of peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia, we must expand our constructive role to enhance regional stability," and "In the economic and trade sector, we need to strengthen a norm-based approach that is fair, reciprocal, open, and inclusive."

She continued, "In the science and technology sector, efforts to strengthen technological security should be pursued alongside maintaining strategic openness," and "In the value norms sector, we should contribute to the practical promotion of values jointly pursued by humanity."

She also stressed the need to strengthen international solidarity and cooperation by leveraging the achievements of Korea’s COVID-19 K-quarantine, which attracted global attention. She said, "Based on the elevated international status following the COVID-19 pandemic, we will actively communicate with like-minded middle powers and proactively strengthen international solidarity and cooperation across various issues and fields," adding, "We will become a capable middle power connecting coasts and continents, advanced and developing countries, contributing to world peace, stability, and prosperity."

The 3rd meeting was attended by officials from 10 ministries including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of National Defense, Ministry of Economy and Finance, Ministry of Unification, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, and Ministry of Health and Welfare, as well as experts from various sectors. The Foreign Strategy Coordination Meeting was launched in July last year to prepare foreign strategies to actively respond to rapidly changing international situations such as Japan’s export restrictions and the U.S.-China trade conflict. This plenary meeting is the first of the year, held about seven months after the 1st meeting in July and the 2nd meeting in December last year.

The meeting discussed ways to seek South Korea’s response strategy amid the recently escalating U.S.-China conflict. The government plans to closely monitor the U.S.-China conflict and respond on a case-by-case basis, but there may be situations where South Korea is forced to choose between the two. In particular, the recent U.S.-China conflict has expanded and intensified over issues such as pressure to exclude Chinese Huawei products, the use of 5th generation mobile communication (5G) networks, the Anti-China Economic Prosperity Network (EPN) initiative, the enactment of the Hong Kong National Security Law, and the closure of consulates in each country.

Deputy Foreign Minister Kim Gun told reporters immediately after the meeting, "It is important to have a flexible yet consistent framework," adding, "We will respond more proactively to the international order by forming solidarity with middle powers similar to us." He also said, "We plan to go into details on each issue."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.