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▷ 일 시 : 2004년 8월 2일(월) 18:00
▷ 장 소 : 경희대 수원캠퍼스 밀레니엄홀

To the organizers of this event,
Distinguished guests and participants;
Ladies and gentlemen,

First of all, I would like to thank the organizers for inviting me to this event. It gives me great pleasure to address the participants of this forum, the leaders of tomorrow, on a subject of great importance East Asian integration and cooperation.

At the dawn of the 21st century, the world has witnessed an acceleration of economic globalization and, at the same time, increased regional integration. The nations of East Asia have been leaders in the former trend but have unfortunately lagged behind in the latter.

For its part, the European Union has not only expanded but also has grown ever closer in terms of legal uniformity and the standardization of trading practices. Ten years ago, North America, too, formed a powerful economic entity, and the volume of trade between Canada, the United States, and Mexico hassince surged. There is, unfortunately, no such comparable structure in East Asia.

If the nations represented here are to continue to emerge as global leaders, it is imperative that we forge closer bonds not only economically but also diplomatically and culturally. The ASEAN + 3 process presents us with a framework within which we can work to achieve this. And you, the young, are our best hope in carrying out the vision of a closer East Asia.

Yet despite the pressing need for enhanced cooperation in our region, there is still a wide perceptual distance among East Asian nations and no consensus among the people of the need for the making of a regional community. While government policies may shape a nation's formal relations with other countries, governments cannot simply disregard the sentiment of their citizens. It is only with the emergence of a common regional identity among East Asians that the idea of regional integration can be realized,because while the leaders of East Asian nations may meet and agree to work towards better relations, if the masses harbor deep-rooted distrust towards one another, this will render useless any decisions or agreements made at the top. This is why a "bottom up"change that will bring about a sense of unity by promoting cultural exchanges and building a community of like-minded people is in need. To bring about change from the bottom up, it is necessary to inform the masses about the need of regional cooperation and inspire the youth in that direction. Informing the people is the best way to influence government policy and government thinking, which in turn brings about change. Responsive politicians, such as myself, are sensitive to voter opinion. This forces the issue into political discourse and as a result can have an effect on the government and institutions. Thus, educating the people of East Asia about the need for more cooperation and the need for a regional identity is paramount.

The EACOS Youth Forum is an ideal beginning step in bolstering this grassroots movement to bring about East Asian integration. And the enthusiastic and diverse turnout of this forum gives me great hope that this will indeed be a significant beginning, one from which we can help to close the gap in the East Asian understanding of a regional community --for it is in our region's youth where old prejudices are weaker and common bonds are stronger. You do not share the wounds of the past rather you celebrate a common future. Whether it is in music, film, or fashion, East Asia has a shared culture unlike ever before.

However, this is not enough. All too often the cynicism of people in power can act as a stumbling block to regional peace and prosperity. Thus it is up to you, student delegates, to bring your youthful idealism, free from preconceptions and disillusionment, and provide fresh perspectives and policy recommendations on some of the most pressing issues facing the regionin order to persuade the older people to abandon their historical grudges in favorof a harmonious future in the region. This is the vision of EACOS. This is the vision of me and of the Uri party. And we will work to make this the vision of all Asian people.

Now, therefore, the question is not whether we can succeed or not, but how we succeed and what obstacles we shall overcome for our success.

I would now like to address my own country's role in the process of East Asian integration.

Korea must be committed to the EACOS vision, for we can play a vital role in bridging divisions between the great Asian powers, such as China and Japan, and in ensuring some of the smaller nations are not crowded out by the bigger ones. Some outside observers have urged Korea to act as a "facilitator" or "enforcer" of cooperation between Asian countries. I agree with this sentiment. Korea is ready to take a leading role in the region. Our unique economic position, of being a great exporter of goods and technology and also containing an educated and savvy consumer base, allows us to simultaneously act as an export market for developing Asian countries as well as a supplier to more advanced economies.

To be sure, Korea has a long way to go in fulfilling its role as a mediator in the region and especially in accepting the fact that closer East Asian integration entails not only the freer movement of goods, but also of people. Immigration is a sensitive topic in all countries, especially in this age of global instability, but Korea cannot shirk the responsibility of being a relatively wealthy and modern society and thus must learn help to shoulder the regional economic burden by promoting the opening of the employment market and eventually standardizing immigration laws across East Asia.

But it is not just Korea that needs to come to grips with more diversity and more open borders. The inclination of Asian countries to be somewhat inward-looking and closed offremains one of the biggest obstacles to our East Asian vision. Therefore, through cultural exchanges and forums such as this, we can slowly but surely break down barriers and reach a better understanding of each other, which can go a long way in shattering prejudices and misconceptions we might have.

There is one last issue I would like to discuss. We must be careful when we foster and nurture this East Asian identity that we do not define it against external forces. The last thing we want is a world characterized by closed regional blocks competing with each other. Such an environment only breeds resentment and hostility. We need East Asian integration to take an open form. While we should celebrate the similarities found amongst the people of our region, we must not forget the common bonds that tie us to our American, European, and African cousins. The point of East Asian integration is to act as a stepping-stone to greater global cooperation, because, in the long run, that is the best guarantor of peace and prosperity for all of the world's people.

I would like to close by saying once again this forum and your participation in it gives me great hope for the future. I hope you learn a great deal and take it with you when you leave. Not only that, I hope this experience encourages you to continue to work for the EACOS vision of regional sharing and cooperation.

Thank you.


2004년 8월 2일
열린우리당 대변인실