Forum explores Korea's Indo-Pacific strategy amid 21st century's 'Great Game'

Experts at a Seoul-based think tank emphasized the significance of the Indo-Pacific as the stage for the "Great Game" that will shape the global trends of the 21st century, calling for heightened interest in the strategy.

Panelists speak at the 6th Korea Peninsula Future Forum Symposium held at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies in central Seoul on Wednesday afternoon. [SEO JI-EUN]

Experts at a Seoul-based think tank emphasized the significance of the Indo-Pacific as the stage for the "Great Game" that will shape the global trends of the 21st century, calling for heightened interest in the strategy.

Chun Yung-woo, chairman of the Korea Peninsula Future Forum, noted that while it has been a year and a half since Korea’s Foreign Ministry announced its Indo-Pacific strategy on Dec. 28, 2022, "the discourse on the Indo-Pacific strategy has yet to gain the momentum and attention it deserves."

Chun made the observation in his opening remarks during the 6th Korea Peninsula Future Forum Symposium held on Wednesday afternoon at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies in central Seoul.

"Korea's future largely depends on the success of our government's Indo-Pacific strategy, and Korea's choices significantly influence the security and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific region," Chun said. "Therefore, it is crucial for intellectuals and opinion leaders to delve deeper into this strategy, gather collective intelligence and enhance national interest and understanding."

Korea's Indo-Pacific strategy, announced by the Yoon Suk Yeol government in late 2022, aims to promote freedom, peace and prosperity through a rules-based order founded on inclusiveness, trust and reciprocity. Key initiatives include security cooperation in the economy and science and technology, as well as climate change and development cooperation.

The strategy has been widely seen as aligning Seoul with Washington amid the growing U.S.-China rivalry. Critics argued that South Korea's approach may merely mimic the strategy of the U.S. and Japan. Additionally, some warned that aligning too closely with the U.S. could harm Korea-China relations and jeopardize the country's national interests.

The Korean government, however, maintained that the strategy does not aim to exclude or contain any particular nation.

Chung Kee-yong, Korea's special envoy for Indo-Pacific Affairs, delivered a keynote address on the distinctive elements and implementation status of Korea's Indo-Pacific strategy.

"Our Indo-Pacific strategy begins with the declaration that 'Korea is an Indo-Pacific nation,' which signifies our expansion of strategic activity beyond the Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia to encompass Southeast Asia, South Asia, Oceania and Africa's Indian Ocean littoral," Chung said.

"Additionally, our strategy is comprehensive, including security and economic aspects," explained Chung. "While past regional policies focused on trade promotion, infrastructure investment and development cooperation, our Indo-Pacific strategy pursues comprehensive cooperation, covering traditional and nontraditional security issues such as nonproliferation, counterterrorism, maritime, cyber and health security, including the North Korean nuclear issue."

Chung emphasized the strategy's focus on a rules-based order grounded in universal values.

"This has strengthened the foundation for advancing the U.S.-ROK alliance into a comprehensive global strategic alliance," Chung said. "It also serves as a basis for fostering more sustainable solidarity and cooperation with regional countries sharing common values, such as Japan, Australia and India, as well as extra-regional countries like the EU, France, Britain, Germany and the Netherlands."

While major countries have already adopted the Indo-Pacific strategy concept, and Korea adopted such a strategy in 2022, Chung noted that this does not mean Korea is a "follower" but rather a "latecomer."

"As an advanced economic and military power with cutting-edge technology and cultural influence, we are poised to become a central Indo-Pacific nation executing the strategy most effectively," Chung concluded. "For this, we must continue to develop the Indo-Pacific strategy with the awareness that its security and prosperity are in our national interest."

The symposium also featured a panel discussion, including Taisuke Mibae, the deputy chief of mission at the Japanese embassy in Seoul.

Mibae highlighted the similarities between South Korea's Indo-Pacific strategy and Japan's Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) strategy.

"The strategies share many similarities, and cooperation between Japan and South Korea under the FOIP vision is expected," he said.

Mibae elaborated on Japan's evolving concept of the Indo-Pacific.

"The core idea is the maintenance of a free order based on law," he said. "Freedom means that every country makes decisions based on sovereignty, which requires governance by law. Japan values respect for diversity and ideology and emphasizes inclusivity without excluding any country,"

BY SEO JI-EUN [seo.jieun1@joongang.co.kr]