ASEAN-ROK dialogue relations began as a sectoral dialogue in 1989, and have developed over the years to encompass political and security, trade, investment and tourism and development cooperation. The ROK was elevated to full Dialogue Partner status at the 24th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM) in July 1991 in Kuala Lumpur. As a Northeast Asian country and participant in the ASEAN Plus Three framework, the ROK is an important Dialogue Partner of ASEAN. The ROK is also committed to assist ASEAN in its integration efforts.

Political and Security Cooperation

The ROK supports ASEAN’s efforts to establish a Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality (ZOPFAN) and a nuclear weapons-free zone in Southeast Asia. It also supports ASEAN as the driving force of the ARF. The ROK has also demonstrated its interest in strengthening cooperation with ASEAN on the issue of global disarmament and in promoting their mutual interests through close consultation. The inclusion of political and security matters under the ASEAN-ROK Dialogue meetings in 2001 was a manifestation of closer cooperation with ASEAN. ASEAN, for its part, supported former ROK President Kim Dae Jung’s “Sunshine” policy for the normalization of relations between the ROK and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). ASEAN and the ROK, among others, welcomed the participation of the DPRK in the ARF, starting at the Seventh ARF in Bangkok on 27 July 2000. 

Treaty of Amity and Cooperation

At the 8th ASEAN-ROK Ministerial Meeting on held on 27 November 2004 in Vientiane, the ROK acceded to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) in Southeast Asia, demonstrating its strong commitment to strengthen political and security engagement with ASEAN, and to contributes to regional peace, stability and prosperity.

Terrorism and Transnational Crime

During the ASEAN+3 Summit held on 5 November 2002 the ROK pointed out the critical need for cooperation among countries in East Asia in addressing the issue of terrorism. In July 2005 at the sidelines of the 38th AMM/ASEAN Plus Three/PMC/ARF held in Vientiane, the ASEAN-ROK Joint Declaration for Cooperation to Combat International Terrorism was signed by the ASEAN and ROK Foreign Ministers. The first SOMTC+ROK Consultations was held on 9 June 2006 in Bali, Indonesia. As such, ASEAN is already cooperating with the ROK in combating terrorism and transnational crime through the AMMTC+3, SOMTC+3 and ARF mechanisms.

ASEAN-ROK Declaration on Comprehensive Cooperation Partnership/ ASEAN-ROK Plan of Action 

The ASEAN-ROK Declaration on Comprehensive Cooperation Partnership, which was signed at the 8th ASEAN-ROK Summit on 30 November 2004 in Vientiane. At the 9th ASEAN-ROK Summit in Kuala Lumpur on 13 December 2005, the Leaders adopted a Plan of Action to implement the Declaration. The PoA covers political and security cooperation, Comprehensive Economic cooperation, bridging the development gap among ASEAN member countries, ASEAN regional integration, strengthening ASEAN competitiveness, social and cultural exchange, cooperation in addressing global issues, regional and international cooperation, and deepening East Asia cooperation.

Economic Cooperation

At the 9th ASEAN-ROK Summit in Kuala Lumpur on 13 December 2005, the Leaders signed the Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Economic Cooperation, looking forward to the early conclusion of the negotiations on the ASEAN-ROK Free Trade Agreement (AKFTA). The goal of the AKFTA is to have at least 80% of products with zero tariffs by 2009, with consideration for special and differential treatment and additional flexibility for the new ASEAN member countries. Under the Framework Agreement, the Economic Ministers also signed the agreements on DSM (Agreement on Dispute Settlement Mechanism) and the TIG (Agreement on Trade in Goods). 

Development Cooperation

Since the establishment of the ASEAN-ROK Dialogue relations, development cooperation has broadened and expanded to cover the areas of trade, investment, transport, tourism, agriculture, science and technology, ICT, environment, health, human resource development, culture, people-to-people exchange and bridging the development gaps. The ASEAN-ROK development cooperation projects and programs have been implemented and supported by the ASEAN-ROK Special Cooperation Fund (SCF) and the Future Oriented Cooperation Project (FOCP) Fund. 

The ROK supports the Vientiane Action Programme (VAP) 2004-2010 and is the top contributor to the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI), committing USD 5 million for five IAI projects/programs. It also supports the ASEAN Framework Agreement for the Integration of Priority Sectors, which calls for the building of a connected, vibrant and secure ASEAN Community as well as for the progressive integration of the e-ASEAN sector by 2010. At the 9th ASEAN-ROK Summit on 13 December 2005 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, ASEAN encouraged the ROK to strengthen cooperation in ICT, including e-Government. The ROK stated that it would continue to look for cooperation projects to boost the competitiveness of ASEAN countries. It will contribute to the ASEAN ICT Focus 2005-2010, which was adopted on 27 September 2005 at the 5th ASEAN Telecommunications & IT Ministers Meeting. The ASEAN ICT Focus 2005-2010 is the guiding document for concerted and collective cooperation for the building of the Information Society and for enhancing the region’s connectivity and competitiveness.

Recent Developments

The Tenth ASEAN-ROK Summit chaired by H.E. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, President of the Republic of the Philippines, was held on 14 January 2007 in Cebu, Philippines. The Heads of State/Government of the ASEAN Member Countries had a productive meeting with H.E. Roh Moo-hyun, President of the Republic of Korea.

The Leaders agreed to enhance cooperation in areas such as energy security, ICT, combating avian flu, science and technology, narrowing development gaps, disaster management and transnational crimes, culture and tourism.

At the Meeting, the Economic Ministers proposed to extend the deadline for the Agreements in Trade in Services and Trade in Investment to November 2007. The Leaders expressed hope that these Agreements would enter into force in 2008. 

The ROK announced that it will double Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) to ASEAN Member Countries by 2009. The ASEAN Leaders expressed appreciation to the ROK for its support of ASEAN’s efforts in narrowing the development gap and accelerating ASEAN integration, through the implementation of the Vientiane Action Programme (VAP) and the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI). They thanked the ROK for being the top contributor to the IAI and for indicating its willingness to provide more funding for IAI projects. Heeding the call of concerned ASEAN Member Countries, the ROK said that it would look into how it can assist in the construction of missing links in the Singapore-Kunming Railway Link (SKRL).

It was agreed that ASEAN and the ROK should pursue the establishment of an ASEAN-ROK Center, for which the ROK has already made a feasibility study. In addition to trade, investment and tourism promotion, the proposed center can promote socio-cultural cooperation, which has much potential given the popularity of Korean culture, including the so-called “Korean Wave.” 

The ASEAN Leaders acknowledged the innovative and pioneering role of the ROK in East Asia community – building, beginning with the formation of the East Asian Vision Group (EAVG) in 1999. They thus welcomed the proposal of the ROK to establish an ASEAN Plus Three Center for the Gifted in Science.

The ROK also informed the Meeting that it planned to launch the ASEAN-ROK Knowledge Transfer Programme on Narcotic Crimes in Laos in 2007. It hopes to extend the Programme to other ASEAN Member Countries by 2009. Subsequently, the ROK had proposed to undertake the programme in Laos from 7-14 February 2007. Laos agreed to the Programme which was implemented starting 7 February 2007.