On 27 May 2024, the Sejong Institute hosted the ASEAN-ROK Expert Roundtable with a delegation from the ASEAN Secretariat, including Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary General of ASEAN. During the meeting, titled “ASEAN-ROK Partnership in the Indo-Pacific Era: Consolidation and Expansion,” the experts discussed various ways to strengthen ASEAN-ROK relations in the future, recognizing the importance of ASEAN and the ROK in the geopolitical turbulence of the Indo-Pacific region. In particular, this October, ASEAN and the ROK will celebrate the 35th anniversary of their dialogue relationship and establish the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP), the highest level of partnership. As ASEAN and Korea have developed their relationship by leaps and bounds over the past 35 years, experts from both countries will work together to create a new vision for the next 35 years of cooperation.
ASEAN Secretary General Kao Kim Hourn, who attended the meeting organized by the Sejong Institute as part of his first visit to Korea, introduced the journey that ASEAN has been on and expressed his hope that the Sejong Institute will contribute to ASEAN's community-building process, and in particular, suggest ways to expand Korea's participation in various ASEAN-led mechanisms.
Mr. Jang-keun Lee, Ambassador of the Permanent Representation of the Republic of Korea to ASEAN, recalled the importance of ASEAN-led mechanisms in giving birth to the Korea-Japan-China Summit, which was held on the same date, and emphasized that the Republic of Korea continues its efforts to support the centrality of ASEAN on several occasions, including the Camp David Declaration.
The panel of experts agreed that ASEAN-ROK cooperation in the Indo-Pacific geopolitical environment requires creative measures to ensure that ASEAN-ROK cooperation is constructive and inclusive of diversity, and suggested challenges for further development of ASEAN-ROK cooperation in the areas of political diplomacy, socio-cultural, and military security. Issues related to North Korea, the changing situation on the Korean Peninsula, and maritime security were also discussed in depth.