뉴스레터

This year is going to see many changes in the leadership of Northeast Asia. With the death of Kim Jong-il late last year, the future of North Korea is becoming uncertain. It is hard to predict how much longer North Korea could go on in the state of isolation, lagging behind the times and being disapproved of by the international community. South Korea is already busy preparing for the general and the presidential elections. The United States is also proceeding with a presidential election and Japan is expecting general elections. China is scheduled to replace its leadership. Russia is also going to have a presidential election. In other words, the political situation in Northeast Asia is becoming increasingly volatile.

Giving a thought to the direction of history while assessing and forecasting the regional political situation is a very meaningful thing to do. Although it is said that history repeat itself, the history of mankind has made consistent progress and at an increasingly faster rate these days. If we took a long-term view of the future while considering the course of history, we could wisely pass through a historical turning point without getting caught up in confusing situations or obsessed over complex pending issues.

Efforts and Cooperation Needed to Heal the Wounds from the Past

The history of mankind has made and will make consistent progress toward expanding universal human values such as freedom and equality. Individual freedom has expanded and our society has become more equal. There has been improvement in human rights and a further understanding of common interests. The advancement of science and technology has brought about economic development and dramatically improved the standard of living. There have been enhanced joint efforts and cooperation for peace and prosperity. If the universal human values are beacons of historical progress, the driving forces behind it would be reform and opening. Faith in historical progress gives us hope and courage.
Reform and opening have become the undeniable trends of the times. Reform and opening are the expression of hope for international cooperation and the results of enhancement in individual freedom and human rights. Peace and equality have been the core driving values in the history of mankind. Reform and opening are the result of faith in the common values of peace and prosperity, and they are facilitating interdependence and cooperation the international community. The reform and the opening in East Asia have resulted in the rapid economic growth of the region, which, in turn, is significantly enhancing the status of East Asia in the international community.

Many sacrifices have been made sometimes in the course of history. The Korean peninsula and the Northeast Asian region are not the exceptions. Just think about the sacrifices that the Korean War forced on us Koreans. And history has also left us deeply wounded in Korea-China and Korea-Japan relations. The wounds left by history are hard to heal. It is such wounds that sometimes hurt us more. Efforts and cooperation to heal the wounds from the past are indispensable to historical progress toward the future. Healing and rising above the wounds from the past have become the challenges for us all.

The history of Europe has been a history of war. When it comes to wounds from the past, Europe has been wounded more deeply than any other region. Nevertheless, Europe has wisely overcome the wounds and successfully achieved cooperation that led to integration. This is not a coincidence, considering that Europe is the region where the universal human values of freedom and equality have been respected and democracy developed first. This was perhaps due to their conviction that dialogue and cooperation would be more effective than conflict and cooperation in achieving common interests: peace and prosperity. A new history is made in a society that takes the lead in historical progress.

The Upcoming General and Presidential Elections as Springboard for Korea

The new changes of the times demand dialogue and cooperation rather than conflict and confrontation in Northeast Asia as well. The Korea-China-Japan summit will facilitate cooperation among the three Northeast Asian countries. And the regional cooperation of East Asia is also taking place on many fronts. Organizations for international cooperation, such as East Asia Community and Asia-Pacific Cooperation, are making progress. Co-existence and co-prosperity will be the important values in the international community as well and serve as the catalysis of international cooperation. The direction of history will be also an important measure in international cooperation.

In China, which has emerged as a G2 country thanks to its rapid economic growth resulting from reform and opening, freedom and equality as universal human values will also present the immutable direction of history. For this reason, the international community is closely watching the future of China. The ASEAN countries in Southeast Asia are also walking the path of reform and opening. The waves of reform and opening are finally rising in Myanmar, a country condemned for suppressing human rights and isolated from the international community. The changes in each of these countries will enhance international cooperation and a sense of community across East Asia.

We take pride in that Korea is taking the lead in historical progress in the Asian region. We have been given more freedom to enjoy than anyone else. And freedom feeds our creativity. This is what makes us competitive. The world-class products made in Korea and the Korean Wave sweeping the world beyond Asia are all rooted in our creativity. Hopefully, the general and the presidential elections this year will be the springboard for the Korean society.

Since the division of the country, the gap between North and South Koreas has grown too much. Even in North Korea, a country lagging behind in the stage of historical progress, freedom and human rights will be expanded and reform and opening will become unavoidable challenges. With domestic suppression, international conflict and confrontation alone, they will not get closer to solving any problem. The reform and opening of North Korea will open a new chapter not only for peace and prosperity in the Korean peninsula but also for cooperation in the Northeast Asian region.