In 1989, Harvard professor Joseph Nye predicted that the 21st century would be an era of "soft power," referring to an influence actualized by culture or the arts, instead of military power or economic sanctions.
The ASEAN-Republic of Korea Commemorative Summit, a meeting of leaders from Korea and the 10 ASEAN members, will be held in Busan beginning on December 11. The summit celebrates the 25th anniversary of the Korea-ASEAN relationship, ever since it started in 1989. Regardless of the coincidence of the year 1989, the past 25 years of connections between Korea and ASEAN corresponds to the growth of soft power, as advocated by Nye. The power of Hallyu, or the Korean Wave, started in ASEAN, and Korea and those nations have become ever closer and friendlier over the years. In fact, the number of tourists to Korea from ASEAN has increased every year, from 1 million in 2010 to 1.55 million in 2013.
In terms of the culture-related industries, the two sides have continued to cooperate in the joint production of news and broadcast content and in the exchange of TV programs. In sports, they have also been training sports leaders together, strengthening sports diplomacy. In addition, Korea has been pursuing its Cultural Partnership Initiative, hosting the Korea-ASEAN Culture and Arts Forum, and inviting talented Asian artists and librarians to work at children's museums across the region.
ASEAN is also an important partner for Korea in terms of politics and economics. ASEAN members are nations that can never be overlooked when Korea seeks international support on many different issues, including North Korea's development of nuclear weapons and the naming of the East Sea.
After their many meetings together, the two sides have become closer than they ever were before. At the ASEAN-Republic of Korea Commemorative Summit on December 11 and 12, the Korean government intends to upgrade the current "strategic partnership" between Korea and ASEAN to a "strategic partnership of trust and happiness." This will further solidify the foundation of mutual development. Its base will be culture and the arts. When soft power shines, the relationship between Korea and ASEAN will be further stabilized as time goes by.
By Kim He-beom
First Vice Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism
The ASEAN-Republic of Korea Commemorative Summit, a meeting of leaders from Korea and the 10 ASEAN members, will be held in Busan beginning on December 11. The summit celebrates the 25th anniversary of the Korea-ASEAN relationship, ever since it started in 1989. Regardless of the coincidence of the year 1989, the past 25 years of connections between Korea and ASEAN corresponds to the growth of soft power, as advocated by Nye. The power of Hallyu, or the Korean Wave, started in ASEAN, and Korea and those nations have become ever closer and friendlier over the years. In fact, the number of tourists to Korea from ASEAN has increased every year, from 1 million in 2010 to 1.55 million in 2013.
Kim He-beom, first vice minister of culture, sports and tourism, talks about the ASEAN-Korea relationship and soft power.
In terms of the culture-related industries, the two sides have continued to cooperate in the joint production of news and broadcast content and in the exchange of TV programs. In sports, they have also been training sports leaders together, strengthening sports diplomacy. In addition, Korea has been pursuing its Cultural Partnership Initiative, hosting the Korea-ASEAN Culture and Arts Forum, and inviting talented Asian artists and librarians to work at children's museums across the region.
ASEAN is also an important partner for Korea in terms of politics and economics. ASEAN members are nations that can never be overlooked when Korea seeks international support on many different issues, including North Korea's development of nuclear weapons and the naming of the East Sea.
After their many meetings together, the two sides have become closer than they ever were before. At the ASEAN-Republic of Korea Commemorative Summit on December 11 and 12, the Korean government intends to upgrade the current "strategic partnership" between Korea and ASEAN to a "strategic partnership of trust and happiness." This will further solidify the foundation of mutual development. Its base will be culture and the arts. When soft power shines, the relationship between Korea and ASEAN will be further stabilized as time goes by.
By Kim He-beom
First Vice Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism
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