Current Status and Tasks of Parliamentary Diplomacy: Focusing on the Federation of Korea-Japan Parliamentarians 

Miae Jung

(majung21@sejong.org)

Visiting Research Fellow

The Sejong Institute​ 

​■(The Concept)

   Parliamentary diplomacy is a diplomatic activity conducted by the Council at the collective or individual level to promote cooperation and exchange with foreign parliaments, governments, and institutions, and to secure international support for domestic and foreign issues

■(The Importance and Role)

   Today, Parliamentary diplomacy is an official diplomatic activity as one of the pillars of national diplomacy along with traditional government diplomacy. With the development of Parliamentary diplomacy around the world, the influence of parliaments in each country is expanding, and the importance of Parliamentary diplomacy continues to grow. In a situation where diplomatic issues and diplomatic actors are being advanced and diversified, Parliamentary diplomacy functions as an important diplomatic channel in that it expands multilateral diplomatic contacts and cooperation.

■(The Categories and Activities)

   In Korea, according to 「Regulations on Diplomatic Activities of National Assembly Members」, the category of Parliamentary diplomacy are △diplomatic missions, △diplomatic invitations, and △attending international conferences. Hence the subject of activities includes the presidency(Chairman of the National Assembly, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly), Parliamentary diplomatic organizations, Parliamentary diplomatic forums, Parliamentary associations, an association under the National Assembly's diplomatic department, and International conference attendees.

■(Supporting department)

   The support organization for National Assembly Diplomatic activity includes the International Affairs & Protocol Bureau at National Assembly Secretariat, The National Assembly Futures Institute, The National Assembly Research Service, and The National Assembly Advisory Committee for National Assembly's diplomatic activities. Since the size, the number of people, and the role of each organization are limited, it is necessary to expand the support department for the internalization of parliamentary diplomacy.

■(Importance and role of the Federation)

   In conflicts such as Korea-Japan relations, in which each issue is difficult to resolve through intergovernmental relations, the role of Parliamentary diplomacy is relatively large. Since its formation in 1972, the Federation of Korea-Japan Parliamentarians has played a role as a major actor in Korea-Japan relations, as an informal actor, a problem solver, and a creator of a cooperative agenda, as seen from recent deterioration in Korea-Japan relations can be said to be one of the main reasons for the weakening of the function of the Federation of Korea-Japan Parliamentarians.

■Assessment and tasks

(Expansion of support departments and the need for a dedicated organization)

   Parliamentary diplomacy is under the International Bureau of the National Assembly Secretariat, but it is necessary to expand the support department to improve parliamentary diplomacy as the dedicated organization is conducting diplomatic missions and joining conferences while it is not institutionalized in the fields.

(Enhance professionalism and promote Parliamentary diplomacy to the public)

   It is difficult to achieve practical results due to the lack of expertise and information on foreign affairs, frequent personnel transfer of standing committees, and parliamentary diplomatic activities limited to joining the conference, and visit to the institution due to the public's negative perception of parliamentarians overseas. Efforts and institutional foundations are required to enhance the expertise of lawmakers and discover and promote successful stories to secure public interest and consent to the necessity and function of Parliamentary diplomacy.

(Role of the Federation in future Korea-Japan Relations)

   As the functions and roles of the Federation of Korea-Japan Parliamentarians changed throughout time, it is necessary to focus on the role of creating cooperative agendas and actively advising on resolving pending issues.

   The Federation of Korea-Japan Parliamentarians should play a role in forming public opinion on Korea-Japan diplomacy by presenting alternatives and solutions to conflicts between Korea and Japan and the surface and intensify the National Assembly to serve as a public forum for Korea-Japan diplomacy.

   As an official organization of Parliamentary diplomacy between Korea and Japan, the Federation of Korea-Japan Parliamentarians should exchange opinions on the long-term vision of Korea-Japan relations and ways to implement cooperative tasks, share awareness of the strategic value of Korea-Japan relations, and expand the network of pro-Korea parliamentarians in Japan.​