Neighbors not by Geography, but by a Shared Vision: Park Jae-kyung

When people talk about South Korea’s foreign policy, they are more often than not focused on how Seoul engages with its immediate neighbors on denuclearization. However, as a global trading power, South Korea’s foreign policy interests extends beyond the Peninsula.

In particular, President Moon Jae-in has been focused on building a more robust relationship with nations in Southeast Asia. Dubbed “The New Southern Policy,” South Korea is committed to working with ASEAN nations to build a more prosperous future. But will it be able to compete against China and Japan with their massive investments through One Belt One Road and the Asian Development Bank? And how will Korea navigate the geographically, politically, and economically fragmented community? What does South Korea bring to the table, and what does the region offer to South Korea?

Our guest today, Senior Coordinator of the Presidential Committee on New Southern Policy Park Jae-kyung shares with Korean Kontext his outlook on the region and where he sees Korea's advantages.

Also watch the panel discussion between Mr. Park and figures from U.S.-ASEAN Business Council, U.S. Department of State, Asan Institute for Policy Studies, and others discuss U.S.-ROK cooperation in Southeast Asia and India here: https://youtu.be/rmXWkn8fEEE