Page 65 - AEI Insights 2020 - Vol. 6, Issue 1

Rosland, 2020

enhanced not only for Koreans but also to be included in the study of ASEAN for ASEAN
people.

Challenges that can influence the cooperation between ASEAN and Korea.
In 2014, ASEAN-ROK celebrated its twenty-fifth years of their partnership dialogue and
declared the Joint Statement of the ASEAN-ROK to outline their strategic partnership. This
was followed by a Plan of Action (POA) that outlined its implementation during the period of
2016 to 2020. The POA mainly covered the cooperation in three sectors: 1) political-security,
2) economics, and 3) socio-cultural.

These three pillars are in line with the structures of ASEAN Community which has been
established in 2015. ASEAN Community comprised of ASEAN Political-Security Community
(APSC), ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), and ASEAN Socio-cultural Community
(ASCC). The action plan shows an official commitment by both ASEAN-ROK to become
comprehensive partners and to actively engage in more cooperation for all sectors.

However, imbalance still exists in ASEAN-ROK relations. ASEAN-ROK cooperation
developed at the beginning of globalization with economic factor as the main priority and
driving force of the economic cooperation. Political and security cooperation is less developed
compared to the interdependence of the growing economic of ASEAN-ROK. As the awareness
of political-security changes, the role of ASEAN in the region changes as well. The call for
participation and cooperation by ROK in the political-security sector has become more urgent.
Problems mainly arise from the third pillar which is the socio-cultural cooperation. Throughout
history, the socio-cultural element has often been neglected or positioned in the second or third
interest. The attention to socio-cultural sector was given in the late 1990s and 2000s, more than
a decade after ROK became a Dialogue Partner with ASEAN. Socio-cultural cooperation has
generally lagged behind economic and political cooperation since the establishment of
ASEAN-ROK relationship. However, the socio-cultural feature owned by a nation become
important as it is the most stable and least affected by external circumstances. It can even
enhance the conventional competencies such as economic or political power which has
elaborated above as ‘soft power’. Strong socio-cultural cooperation can therefore be a good
stimulus, welding both sides together. As ROK has placed their culture as part of ASEAN
people, it has not only boosted the traditional ties of political and economic but also become
more resistant to change and last longer.

Another challenge that can influence the ASEAN-ROK relations is North Korea. Historically
known that North Korea and South Korea is separated after the end of WWII and their war
continues till now. Since then, these two rivals have strengthened their security and military
forces. Like South Korea, North Korea also see ASEAN as an opportunity to be recognized
globally. The principle of non-interference and ‘ASEAN Way’ has given a way for North
Korea to embark its peaceful movement. North Korea has diplomatic relations with 164 UN
member states, along with Palestine, the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, and the European
Union. In 2000, North Korea has taken its step to become one of ARF member. In 2008, North
Korea acceded to TAC that showed their commitment in fostering peace. The signing of TAC
can be seen as the attempt to perceive North Korea from the other claimed nonconformist states
of the world. Asian experts say ASEAN profits by getting North Korea on board the
arrangement. They call it an improvement of ASEAN's territorial authority, which thus may
speed along the vision of an East Asian economic community. Thus, by signing the TAC puts
North Korea a step closer in joining the EAS.

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