South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol delivered the 47th Singapore Lecture on 9 October 2024, entitled “A Vision for Korean Unification toward a Free, Peaceful, and Prosperous Indo-Pacific Region” at the Orchard Hotel Singapore. President Yoon shared South Korea’s deepening relations with Singapore, his vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific, and a unified Korean Peninsula. He also talked about ongoing geopolitical and international developments. In attendance were approximately 420 people from the diplomatic corps, public agencies, local business community, academia, and the general public.
Wednesday, 9 October 2024 – Singapore Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security, Mr. Teo Chee Hean, chaired the Lecture. In his Opening Remarks, SM Teo praised South Korea’s technological progress and position as a leader in high-bandwidth memory chips, semiconductors, and artificial intelligence innovation. He also spoke about South Korea’s deepening ties with Singapore and increasing engagement with ASEAN. SM Teo concluded his Remarks by commending President Yoon’s commitment to promoting a free and open international order and a denuclearised Korean Peninsula.
President Yoon opened his address by expressing his gratitude to distinguished guests and ISEAS for hosting the event. He spoke of South Korea’s relations with Singapore and how both countries shared a special bond. Since establishing diplomatic relations in 1975, South Korea and Singapore have increased their political, economic, social, and cultural cooperation. Both countries signed a bilateral Free Trade Agreement in 2005 and the Digital Partnership Agreement in 2022. Singapore Prime Minister Mr. Lawrence Wong and President Yoon also agreed to upgrade Singapore-South Korea ties to a Strategic Partnership in 2025.
In sharing his vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific, President Yoon highlighted the importance of safeguarding peace, stability, prosperity, and a rules-based order in the region. He also talked about his commitment to building a free and peaceful Indo-Pacific through cooperation with ASEAN. Disputes should be resolved through dialogue and peaceful means instead of conflict. Given the ongoing developments in Ukraine and the Middle East, global realities seem to deviate from this principle. As such, there are no guarantees that the reality in the Indo-Pacific will remain different from Ukraine or the Middle East. In the Indo-Pacific, tensions and conflicts have occurred mainly in the maritime domain.
President Yoon highlighted South Korea’s efforts to strengthen cooperation and safeguard regional maritime peace. South Korea has actively participated in joint exercises held by ASEAN Member States while increasing exchanges and training programmes for maritime law-enforcement agencies, including the navy. South Korea has also transferred decommissioned vessels from the Republic of Korea Navy and Korean Coast Guard to regional countries to support capacity-building in maritime security. South Korea also helped regional countries build real-time monitoring capabilities to combat illegal fishing.
Separately, President Yoon shared his “August 15 Unification Doctrine,” which puts forth a vision and strategy for a unified Korea. He opined that a unified Korean Peninsula would bring freedom to the North Koreans suffering from poverty and tyranny. South Korea is committed to a free and democratic system that safeguards individual freedom. Therefore, President Yoon emphasised the need to spread the message of hope to North Korea on what unification based on freedom could bring. He added that South Korea would renew momentum for the public and private sectors to engage in the International Korean Peninsula Forum while redoubling efforts with the international community to realise a unified Korean Peninsula.
President Yoon indicated his commitment to increasing solidarity with the global community in realising Korean unification. A free and unified Korean Peninsula would advance peace significantly throughout the Indo-Pacific. The absence of North Korean nuclear threats would boost efforts to build peace and trust among regional countries. President Yoon posited that an open Korean Peninsula would connect the Pacific and the Korean Peninsula with the Eurasia continent, unlocking a vast market. The eventual realisation of a free and unified Korean Peninsula would also reduce the demand for illicit trafficking substantially and ensure safe maritime navigation.
Finally, President Yoon outlined South Korea’s efforts to contribute to regional prosperity. An open economic environment is essential to the continued prosperity of the Indo-Pacific. As such, South Korea would lead efforts to revitalise the existing multilateral free trade regime through the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF). South Korea would increase its Official Development Assistance (ODA) in digital development, education, climate response, smart cities, and transport infrastructure to support ASEAN economies. South Korea will also host the APEC Summit in Gyeongju in 2025 to promote regional economic cooperation.
After the lecture, SM Teo moderated the Question-and-Answer (Q&A) segment. President Yoon addressed questions relating to how South Korea needed to strengthen its liberal democracy system and informed North Koreans about freedom and human rights, even as the “August 15 Unification Doctrine” could be perceived as a threat by the Kim Jong Un regime. Given the strategic competition between the two powers, he also answered a question on how South Korea navigates between the US and China.
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1. News on the event
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