South Korea seeks role in Asia Pacific

SEOUL (JP): As one of the powerhouses in Asia, Korea is seeking to play a role in the Asia Pacific region commensurate with its economic achievements.

This was reflected in a congress here last week organized by the Pacific Asia Society of Korea. The congress brought together scholars and society leaders from the region.

"Through interaction with foreign economies, Korea is particularly aware of its place, role and responsibility in the international community," said Yoo Chong-ha, senior secretary to the president for foreign policy and national security.

Recent developments in the country suggested that political democratization can be achieved together with economic development.

"This is the most important aspect Korea can contribute to other developing countries," Yoo said.

Images of two former presidents brought to court are still fresh in the minds of many, and justice does not seem to spare the big conglomerates, or chaebols, either.

To set up a clean government, it has now become mandatory for government officials in Korea to use real names in all financial transactions. High-ranking public officials should publicize their financial assets.

Arriving side by side with economic prosperity in the Asia- Pacific region is information technology. It crosses national borders with unprecedented speed, rendering existing regional economic organizations inadequate to address political and societal differences.

"Authoritarian regimes gave way in some countries to political democracies," Frank Gibney, president of the U.S.-based Pacific Basin Institute, said.

But changes toward democracy vary according to a variety of factors, such as history, religion, population size and people's exposure to democratic practices, he said.

"We can not expect change everywhere at the same pace. Patience is required. And democratic government takes on different forms in different countries," he said.

Gibney put forward three common denominators for democratic government: government accountability, an orderly method of succession and submission to the rule of law.

Singapore Ambassador for the European Union Pang Eng Fong said the Asia Pacific experience, in which the community is evolving, is economically driven, while those experiences in Europe are politically inspired.

"Europe has been astonishingly successful in averting war to the maximum," said Pang.

The lesson to be learned from this experience is that it is possible for one to wear a number of identities without any feeling of inferiority toward others, he said.

Pang said Asian dynamism has given rise to an awareness of what Asian identity means.

"Cooperation between Asia and the West does not have to mean a dilution of one's identity," he said.

The question is whether Asian countries are able to overcome the burdens of their histories.

"By becoming more assertive, Asian countries are rediscovering themselves," he said. (hbk)