Today marks the 57th anniversary of the founding of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), a milestone celebrated annually as ASEAN Day. Born out of the turbulent post-World War II era and Cold War tensions, ASEAN was established on August 8, 1967, by Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. The founding nations sought to promote regional peace and economic development in Southeast Asia. Over the years, ASEAN has grown to include Brunei Darussalam, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia, forming a robust 10-member organization.
ASEAN has become familiar to Koreans in various ways. From enjoying Southeast Asian cuisine, such as nasi goreng and rice noodles, to following entertainment icons like Lisa of BlackPink and Minnie of (G)I-DLE, ASEAN culture has a significant influence in Korea. Moreover, athletes from the region, such as volleyball player Megawati Pertiwi and billiards champion Sruong Pheavy, are prominent figures in Korean sports. Southeast Asia remains a top tourist destination for Koreans, and the number of ASEAN nationals residing in Korea continues to rise, with approximately 660,000 residents and 100,000 students in the country.
The ties between ASEAN and Korea are underpinned by shared traditional cultures, particularly rice cultivation, and similar histories shaped by colonialism. During the Korean War, the Philippines and Thailand sent around 14,000 troops to support Korea’s fight for democracy and freedom. Economically, ASEAN is a vital region with vast natural resources, a young population with a median age of 30.2 years, and a rapidly growing digital economy. By 2040, ASEAN is projected to become the fourth-largest economy globally.
In international relations, ASEAN plays a crucial role as a platform for dialogue among major global powers like the United States, China, and Russia. Since the establishment of bilateral relations between ASEAN and Korea in 1989, their partnership has deepened, with trade volume increasing 22-fold and Korean foreign direct investment in ASEAN rising 77-fold. This has made ASEAN Korea’s second-largest trading partner and third-largest investment destination.
In 2022, the Korean government introduced the Korea-ASEAN Solidarity Initiative (KASI) to further strategic cooperation with ASEAN. As the 35th anniversary of the ASEAN-Korea Dialogue Relationship approaches, expectations are high for upgrading their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) during the ASEAN-ROK Summit in October. The CSP would represent the highest level of cooperation ASEAN has with a non-member state, opening new avenues for collaboration.
Recognizing ASEAN’s importance, Korea established the ASEAN-Korea Centre in 2009 to strengthen ties. Over the past 15 years, the center has played a key role in connecting the two regions through trade, investment, culture, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges. As we celebrate the 57th ASEAN Day, there is a strong anticipation for further enhancement of the comprehensive and strategic partnership between ASEAN and Korea, particularly in an era marked by global competition and uncertainty.
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