To Further Cement Korean-ASEAN Ties

K-A Forum chairman seeks to inaugurate the ‘Korean-ASEAN Parliamentarians’ Meeting’

The Lee Myung-bak government has declared the so-called New Asia Initiative, summing up its “Look to Asia” policies. The following are excerpts of an interview between NewsWorld and Rep. Hwang Woo-yea of the Korea-ASEAN Forum, which intends to expand horizons between Korea and ASEAN following the successful ASEAN-Republic of Korea Commemorative Summit.
Question: Will you tell our readers about the background and the purpose of the Korea-ASEAN Forum, dubbed the “K-A Forum”?
Answer: The ASEAN-Republic of Korea Commemorative Summit that took place on Jeju Island from June 1-2 was an occasion to confirm the need for Korea and 10 ASEAN countries to evolve into a further enhanced strategic partnership based on the so-called New Asia Initiative declared by President Lee Myung-bak.
Thirteen lawmakers including presidential envoys, Rep. Choung Byoung-gug and myself, discussed on several occasions parliamentarians’ ways of fleshing out the Jeju summit and concluded on the need for the establishment of a study organization specializing in Korea-ASEAN diplomatic ties ― leading to the inauguration of the K-A Forum.
Within one or two years, the forum is seeking the establishment of the tentatively named “Korean-ASEAN Parliamentarians’ Meeting” in which 20 Korean lawmakers, including 13 K-A Forum members and representatives doubling as chairmen of friendship associations between Korea and 10 ASEAN member countries and their 20 ASEAN counterparts will participate.
Q: Will you introduce the founding members of the K-A Forum?
A: The forum, headed by myself, comprises of Rep. Lee Byung-suk, Rep. Jeong Tae-keun, Rep. Hur Tae-yeol, Rep. Song Kwang-ho, Rep. Park Jin, Rep. Choung Byoung-gug, Rep. Gong Sung-jin, Rep. Park Soon-ja, Rep. Choi Ku-sik, Rep. Kim Young-woo, Rep. Cho Hae-jin and Rep. Hwang Young-cheul.











Q: What’re the results of the recent dinner held at the National Assembly Building VIP Restaurant to celebrate the inauguration of the forum with 10 ASEAN ambassadors or embassy representatives participating?
A: The lawmakers at the forum, the minister of foreign affairs and trade and the ambassadors and representatives of 10 ASEAN member countries were invited to the dinner meeting to hear about the achievements of the Jeju summit and consultations on follow-up measures of the summit. The participants exchanged words of hope and encouragement.
Q: Will you explain the New Asia Initiative declared by President Lee in Malaysia?
A: The New Asia Initiative is designed to enhance Korea’s standing and role as a major player in the Asian region and to expand its foothold in the international community.
This is designed to expand its diplomatic horizons in the Northeast Asian, Southeast Asian, Southwest Asian and South Pacific regions and to widen its vertical scope of concentration from the conventional areas of economic and trade ties to omnidirectional fields including security and culture.
ASEAN, the starting point and epicenter of President Lee’s initiative, is growing as one of the new emerging markets fast, as its gross domestic product amounted to $1.2 trillion as of 2008, and Korean companies are showing signs of deep concern. In particular, the region has become a new market for Korea whose total bilateral trade soared to $90 billion as of 2008 and its standing as a supplier of diverse resources is also getting more significant than ever before.
Q: Will you elaborate on the future activities of the forum?
A: The K-A Forum aims at helping the National Assembly in realizing President Lee’s initiative.
To this end, diverse activities the forum considers conducting in the years to come include the continuous pursuit of economic cooperation with ASEAN, the exploration of ways of securing the natural resources Korea lacks, the strengthening of political ties, the expansion of meetings with parliamentarians from the region and mutual visits, discussions with Korean residents in ASEAN nations, the cementing of educational and cultural exchanges and the widening of joint academic research.
Q: Will you comment on parliamentary activities you have been engaged in so far?
A: I, a four-term lawmaker, am with the National Assembly Education, Science and Technology Committee. I’ve put a priority on education and human rights. I’ve been with the Korean National Assembly Human Rights Forum since the launch of the 15th National Assembly. I served as the chairman during the 17th parliament.
With my focus on the human rights of North Korean asylum seekers, I work as co-chairman of the International Parliamentarians’ Coalition for North Korean Refugees’ Human Rights (IPCNKR), an organization of parliamentarians from around the world working on the improvement of the human rights of North Korean refugees. I also hold such posts as the chairman of the Parliament Morning Prayers’ Association and the chairman of the National Assembly Children’s Protection’ Union of the Environment (CPE).
Q: Will you tell us about your political career and political mottos?
A: I was a judge from 1974 to 1992 before serving as a commissioner of the Board of Audit and Inspection of Korea (BAI) between 1993 and 1996. I’ve been with the parliament as a four-term lawmaker since I was first elected to the 15th National Assembly. I served as the secretary general of the Grand National Party, being charged with holding a presidential election. I believe in Christian-oriented politics, designed to translate justice of the public into action with a Christian politicians’ focus on the rehabilitation of human beings. In order to realize the justice of the public, I pledge my commitment to justice, peace, trust and happiness. nw

Rep. Hwang Woo-yea, chairman of the Korea-ASEAN Forum

The founding members of the K-A Forum attend a dinner meeting to celebrate the inauguration of the forum at the National Assembly building on July 29.

Rep. Hwang Woo-yea, chairman of the K-A Forum explains ways of promoting ways ties between Korea and ASEAN during an interview with NewsWorld President-Publisher Elizabeth M. Oh.

Rep. Hwang Woo-yea, chairman of the Korea-ASEAN Forum poses together with NewsWorld President-Publisher Elizabeth M. Oh and Yonsei University President Kim Han-joong.