[fn Editorial] ASEAN, the Land of the Future: From Neighbor to Brotherly Ties

On the 27th, President Lee Jae Myung attended the ASEAN-Republic of Korea Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. In his opening remarks, President Lee likened the relationship between Korea and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to that of 'close neighbors,' highlighting their proximity. With the establishment of the highest-level partnership, the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP), he declared that exchanges and cooperation in both economic and security fields would be further strengthened.
Founded in 1967, ASEAN is a large regional cooperation body with a population of 685.3 million, a GDP of $3.7814 trillion, and total trade volume of $3.514 trillion. Its ten member countries are Brunei Darussalam, Kingdom of Cambodia, Republic of Indonesia, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Since 1997, the ASEAN-Republic of Korea Summit has been held annually, further deepening ties with Korea.
Above all, the ASEAN region—Southeast Asia—is Korea’s third-largest trading partner after the United States of America (U.S.A.) and China. The importance of Southeast Asia lies not only in the present but even more in the future. The region’s population continues to grow and its rapid development offers boundless potential. To move away from an export structure centered on the U.S.A. and China, where trade disputes are frequent, Korea must pioneer a third market. Geographically close, Southeast Asia is the optimal trading partner.
Beyond trade, Southeast Asia is closely linked to the Korean economy as Korean companies have long been active there. With rising labor costs in China, Korean firms have relocated to Southeast Asia to take advantage of affordable labor and sustain their operations. Southeast Asian workers are diligently employed in Korean factories, and many women have settled in Korea as wives and daughters-in-law. The relationship has evolved from close neighbors to something akin to family.
Korea and ASEAN have numerous areas for future cooperation beyond trade and investment, including supply chain diversification, infrastructure development, joint development of future growth engines, and advancement of financial systems. The signing of the CSP last year laid a strong foundation for strengthening these ties. President Lee also redefined CSP (Comprehensive Strategic Partnership) as Contributor, Springboard, and Partner, emphasizing Korea’s commitment to support ASEAN’s development, achieve new growth through ASEAN, and build an equal partnership.
Japan has already established a strong presence in Southeast Asia, and China is making massive investments as part of its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Japanese cars dominate the roads of Southeast Asian countries, while China is winning favor by building infrastructure with its vast financial resources. Korea, as a latecomer, must make even greater efforts to catch up.
The recent transnational crime in the Kingdom of Cambodia should be seen as a temporary setback and not an obstacle to cooperation. While jointly responding to crime, Korea should continue and even expand its Official Development Assistance (ODA), which has reached $8.5 billion, providing unwavering support.