South Korea’s partnership with ASEAN goes way beyond the economic realm, the head of the ASEAN-Korea Center said, defining the geostrategically crucial 10-nation group as sharing a “common destiny” with the country.

Kim Young-sun stressed that Korea’s evolving relationship with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations is vital given the bloc’s geopolitical value and growth potential and the ramifications of its ongoing integration efforts, not to mention the two sides’ complementary economies.

“ASEAN needs us and we, South Korea, need ASEAN. I would like to portray the bilateral partnership as one sharing a ‘common destiny.’ We’d better not think of it just as a group residing in a different region,” Kim, the center’s secretary-general, told The Korea Herald this week.

“The two sides have no historical or political tensions, and there is no need for them to get mired in any war of nerves for national pride or anything, as their relations are complementary. In addition, we share Asian values and cultural common ground,” he added. 

Taking the helm of the institution in March after some 35 years of diplomatic service, Kim has prioritized fostering trust between South Korea and ASEAN, which he highlighted as a critical element in forging a “mutually beneficial, substantive and sustainable” partnership.

The foremost thing to do to build mutual trust is to accurately understand each other, Kim said, underscoring the center will focus on removing Koreans’ “misperceptions” about ASEAN and help them better understand it. ASEAN consists of the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia.

“To build trust, you should first know the other side ― its cultural and social characteristics, and other basic things about it,” he said, noting the image of the fast-growing and economically vibrant ASEAN is still eclipsed by the negative image ― associated largely with illegal migrants here, only a fraction of ASEAN’s population of 625 million.

“ASEAN is not what it used to be a decade ago or so. It has made great strides in the direction of integration and technological development ― despite initial worries over their development gaps and other differences ― under their vision of ‘unity in diversity’ and ‘connectivity’ efforts.”

In recent years, the center has initiated a variety of programs, such as holding various lectures and forums on ASEAN, cultural exhibitions, tourism fairs and youth exchange events ― a reason why it has emerged as a core conduit to improve mutual understanding.

Launched in March 2009, the center has also made a series of publications such as “Korea’s Changing Roles in Southeast Asia” and “Understanding ASEAN through 4Cs (ASEAN Charter, Community, Connectivity and Centrality).”

These programs and publications reflect Seoul’s growing policy attention to ASEAN, which will become a giant integrated group boasting the world’s third-largest population, $2.4 trillion in gross domestic product and strategic locations linking the Indo-Pacific region hosting the world’s most crucial trading and energy supply routes.

At the end of this year, the bloc plans to launch the “ASEAN Community” consisting of economic, socio-cultural and politico-security pillars, all of which aim to deepen the bloc’s integration and contribute to the region’s peace and stability.

“The launch of the community slated for the end of this year would not bring about an abrupt, drastic change, but it can be a milestone in the integration of ASEAN and also in the development of the East Asian region as a whole,” he said.

“The transformation is an ongoing process, which has been happening and is happening now, and will continue beyond 2015. ASEAN is taking a far-sighted view rather than seeking immediate gains under its motto of One Vision, One Identity and One Community.”

Korea is not the only one to beef up policy efforts to cement ties with ASEAN amid its stepped-up integration endeavors ― the reason Korea needs a more strategic policy vision, the secretary-general pointed out.

The U.S. is seeking to court it with the so-called “rebalancing” policy, while China seeks to strengthen ties with the bloc with its “One Belt One Road” initiative. India is also pushing its “Act East” foreign policy drive to deepen its partnership with the fast-developing group.

“Korea should keep a watch on the changing contours of the Southeast Asian region which major powers and industrial leaders are scurrying to court,” Kim said, pointing out that Seoul needs to have a well-thought-out strategic policy direction.

“Just sticking to the way Korea has dealt with the ASEAN, Korea could lose economic and other opportunities.”

Entering diplomatic service in 1977, Kim has served in various domestic and overseas positions including those in Indonesia, Japan, Lebanon, Egypt, Israel and the U.S. He also served as the Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson between 2009 and 2011.

Kim obtained a bachelor’s degree in politics from Seoul National University in 1978 and master’s degree in politics from Keio University in Tokyo in 1991.

By Song Sang-ho (sshluck@heraldcorp.com)