'Korea Seen as Example for Growth and Leadership for the World'

U.S. deputy chief of mission tells a forum, hosted by SNU GSPA-ACADA

The Seoul National University Graduate School of Public Administration's Advanced Center for Administrative Development Alumni (SNU GSPA-ACADA) hosted this year's second breakfast forum on state affairs titled Global Korea and the United States, at the Lotte Hotel in downtown Seoul on June 10 in which Mark Tokola, deputy chief of mission at the U.S. Embassy in Korea, lectured. Tokola participated in the forum in place of U.S. Ambassador Kathleen Stephens. The forum is part of SNU GSPA-ACADA's plan to hold four sessions during this year in which each if the ambassadors of the United States, China, Japan and Russia is invited as a guest speaker.
SNU GSPA-ACADA Chairman Lee Pil-woo delivered a speech in which he gave thanks to the lecturer. Tokola held a question & answer session after his speech.
During the Q&A session, the participating alumni posed questions on the U.S.'s position after handing over operating control to South Korea in 2015 and the recent Agent Orange incident.
Tokola said the U.S.-Korea ties remain unchanged as a close ally after the operational wartime command of the Korean military is transferred to Seoul, and there are no plans and no worry about the pullout of U.S. forces stationed in Korea.
Regarding the Agent Orange question, he said the Korean Ministry of Environment and the U.S. forces in Korea will organize a joint survey team and handle it in a fast manner and immediately take action upon the announcement of the outcomes.
The following are excerpts of the speech, delivered by the U.S. deputy chief of mission:
Global Korea is a phrase you hear often now. It has been used by the government to describe how Korea has developed into a global leader, setting an example for other nations through its economic performance, progressive environmental policies and effective foreign aid operations.
But Global Korea is more than just a slogan. Whether I am in Seoul or traveling outside the city in other provinces, I have found that the Korean people's way of thinking has changed in recent years.
Not long ago most Koreans were, quite rightly, focused on building their economy, and on challenges closer to home. Now people are much more interested in the wider world and believe what happens far from Korea can affect their lives here, and that Korea can have an effect on the world.
More and more, Koreans no longer ask the question, What will make Korea great? Instead they ask, How can Korea make the world better? Let me give some examples: At the G20 summit last year, Korea was a successful host and reinforced its standing as a global leader. At the summit, we took further collective measures to contain the damage from the global financial crisis, provide stimulus, and took steps to shore up the global financial system. Korea continues to be an active and influential member of the G20.
In regard to assisting other countries with their economic development, Korea has been stepping up and significantly increasing its ODA funding. Korea is the only country in the world that has moved from being an international aid recipient to becoming a member of the donor community.
It is the only country in the world that received U.S. Peace Corps Volunteers and has now gone on to having its own Peace Corps program. KOICA sends out over 1,000 Korean volunteers all over the world every year.
Just as the Republic of Korea hosted the G20 last year, this year it will be hosting the 4th High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness later this year in Busan, bringing development officials from all over the world to discuss development assistance.
In Afghanistan, Korea has launched a Provincial Reconstruction Team in Parwan Province. On Dec. 8, 2010, the Korean Vocational Training Center in Parwan held its first graduation ceremony with 84 Afghans completing the eight-month program. They learned skills in automotive repair, construction and computer systems. At the ceremony, Parwan Provincial Governor Abdul Basir Salangi said, We must rebuild our country as Korea did.
In Haiti, Korea quickly contributed a generous assistance package after the devastating earthquake. In addition, with the U.S. government providing support for its critical infrastructure, a Korean company, Sae-A, recently agreed to establish an industrial park in northern Haiti. During just the first phase of development, Sae-A's investment will create 20,000 full-time Haitian jobs, making it the largest private employer in all of Haiti. Over 10 years, it will create in excess of $500 million in wages and benefits and will directly support the livelihoods of 100,000 to 120,000 Haitians.
Economic development and foreign assistance are not the only ways that Korea has gone global. The Republic of Korea's balanced and measured response to provocations from the North has set a good example for the international community during these volatile times.
Perhaps to the disappointment of the North Korean government, last year's outrageous and provocative attacks against the naval vessel Cheonan and the island of Yeonpyong only showed the strength of the U.S.-ROK alliance in confronting aggression. We stood together shoulder to shoulder. We will continue to stand together to help ensure the security of the Korean peninsula. The challenges are many. The North Korean leadership is in the midst of a succession process, and its people continue to suffer great hardships. We will continue to make clear that there is a peaceful and constructive path available to North Korea. The United States and the Republic of Korea speak with one voice in affirming to Pyongyang that we are open to dialogue. We want to see North Korea take steps to reduce tensions and improve relations with the South.
We want to see the DPRK demonstrate a change in behavior, including taking irreversible steps to denuclearize, complying with international law, and to cease provocative behavior.
The U.S.-Korea alliance is stronger than ever. We have had a close alliance for decades, but now the Republic of Korea has also become a partner that has taken a place on the world stage and can help make the world a better place. Our shared ability to shape world events in a positive way ― based on our shared democratic values and respect for human rights and the rule of law ― has brought us closer together, and will do so even more in the future. nw

SNU GSPA-ACADA Chairman Lee Pil-woo delivers a speech at a forum on state affairs, titled Global Korea and the U.S, which took place in Seoul on June 10.

Mark Tokola, deputy chief of mission, the U.S. Embassy in Korea, lectures on Korean-U.S. relations at a forum organized by SNU GSPA-ACADA.

(below) U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission Tokola poses with the participants of a forum organized by SNU GSPA-ACADA, including Kim Byong-seob, dean of the Seoul National University Graduate School of Public Administration and SNU GSPA-ACADA.

Photo on Courtesy of SNU-ACADA