Page 60 - AEI Insights 2020 - Vol. 6, Issue 1

AEI Insights, Vol 6, Issue 1, 2020

to-people contact, and 4) support ASEAN integration efforts (CENTRE, 2016). This centre
organized programme such as ASEAN school tour programme 2017, ASEAN Lecture series
2017, various of youth network workshop, and culinary festivals as part of activities that can
strengthened the cooperation among ten member countries and ROK.

The history of socio-cultural exchanges between ASEAN-ROK countries cannot be easily
reconstructed because of a lack in historical records (before the WWII). Thus, this study will
highlight the significant changes which are divided into three phases that can help compare
socio-cultural ties between ASEAN-ROK in each period of interest and allow a comparison of
how these have changed and developed over time.

a) Establishment Period: 1989-1998

This phase was important for both ASEAN and ROK as they engaged in an official partnership
and ROK began a Dialogue Partnership with ASEAN in 1989. ROK became a full Dialogue
Partner in 1991 and the ASEAN-ROK partnership elevated to summit level in 1997. Official
socio-cultural exchanges between ROK and ASEAN were initiated by KOICA. After KOICA
was established in 1991, the Conclusion of Agreement on Korea Overseas Volunteer (KOV)
with five ASEAN countries was signed over the period until 1997; the Philippines, Indonesia,
Thailand, Myanmar, and Vietnam. This attempt was followed by an increase in the ASEAN-
Korea Special Cooperation Fund (SCF) which has been launched in 1993 with its aim to
intensify ASEAN-ROK cooperation. Its annual fund was one million until the figure doubled
in the third year. The funding was mainly used for cooperation in the economic sector until the
fund was separated and renamed as the Future Oriented Cooperation Fund (FOCF) in 1996.
The FOCF used to enhance people-to-people exchanges between ASEAN-ROK, including
youth exchanges, journalist exchanges, as well as cultural and art exchanges. In this phase, the
people of ASEAN did not have much information on ROK, and vice versa. This was due to the
fact that official cooperation was not yet established. The agenda of ASEAN-ROK was mainly
carried out by these two governments. Therefore, there were not much socio-cultural changes
in this period. The most significant achievement in this phase was the official interaction at
government level that was established by ASEAN and ROK. This official tie became a platform
supporting further socio-cultural exchanges in the years to come.

b) Development phase: 1999-2008
Korean wave is a key word to describe in this phase. The expansion of Korean dramas gained
a lot of popularity in Southeast Asia countries after 1999. Hallyu, along with the rapid
economic development of ASEAN countries has contributed to the increasing numbers of
tourists for both ASEAN and ROK. Government efforts to foster socio-cultural ties between
two sides also continued. ASEAN-ROK elevated their relationship to a Comprehensive
Cooperation Partnership in 2004. During the fifteenth year of ASEAN-ROK anniversary, the
Korean Cultural Center was opened in Hanoi for the first time in Southeast Asian country. The
Center aimed to promote Korean culture and facilitate cultural exchanges overseas. In this
development phase, ASEAN-ROK relationship became more robust and well-developed. The
interaction was not only carried out by the government, but the society has also assisted in
promoting each other’s culture. The ASEAN people learn modern culture of Korean through
Hallyu and caused ASEAN culture to slowly evolve in Korean people.
c) Consolidation phase: 2009-present

In this phase, ROK became a Strategic Partner of ASEAN and established a number of
prestigious institutions to enhance socio-cultural cooperation with ASEAN. The effort begins
with the establishment of AKC which was established in 2009. AKC is an international

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