Although President Roh’s recent remarks at the Evaluation Forum of his government have caused much controversy it is significant that each ministry of the government, in anticipation of the upcoming change of government, is attempting to produce official records that take stock of and evaluate the accomplishments of the current government.
In the field of diplomacy, where this author has worked for a long time, the government’s performance during the past 4 to 5 years receives a mixed review.
First of all, the election of Foreign Minister Ban Ki Moon to the post of UN Secretary General, as well as the successful conclusion of Free Trade Agreement negotiations between Korea and the US before the deadline, are notable successes under the Roh Government. Tangible accomplishments may also include reaching agreement among the 6 parties on the principles and the implementing measures necessary to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue, although many difficulties still lie ahead.
Second, there are many other instances where Korea’s diplomatic capabilities have been objectively demonstrated. In order for Korea to be treated as a developed, country in the international community, it needs to not only increase its GDP but to also actively participate in efforts to solve global issues such as international security, non-proliferation, environment, development, trade, and human rights, among others. In this respect, the number of Korean diplomats who are regarded as top-notch among expert groups and in international organizations—such as the UN and WTO—particularly in the fields of human rights, arms control, the environment, and trade is notably increasing. These diplomats’ energetic activities have contributed greatly to enhancing the international competitiveness of Korea’s diplomacy.
Nevertheless, it is also true that the Roh administration is not receiving high marks overall in the area of diplomacy. Though there may be many reasons, the most basic factor seems to lie in the fact that the current government has pursued a policy towards North Korea inadequately reflecting the delicate balance in the interplay of diplomatic, defense and inter-Korean relations. To put it more straightforwardly, the North Korean policy suffers from lack of balance by overly emphasizing “independent diplomacy” and “self-reliant defense” at the expense of practical national interest.
Korea’s relationship with the US is a case in point. Despite drastic changes in the international power structure since the end of the Cold War, there is a national consensus that smooth relations between Korea and the US form a firm foundation of our diplomacy, and that the bond of alliance relationship between the two countries must be further strengthened in light of Korea’s diplomatic, security, and economic interests. In retrospect, Korea has not only supported the concept of “strategic flexibility,” a new US defense strategy, but has also agreed to American –long- standing demands for the re-deployment of US forces in Korea. At the US’s request, Korea has also dispatched its troops to Iraq and Afghanistan. But while faithfully fulfilling responsibilities as an ally, Korea has failed to get due recognition from the US. Therefore, the conservative segment of the Korean people believed that the current government was unable to establish either a clear strategy or effective leadership in the process, which often gave rise to confusion and wasteful debates on the domestic scene, all the while making concessions to the US in the end. In fact, the average Americans are surprised when they learn that Korea has sent the 3rd largest military contingent to Iraq after the US and the UK. It is also true that experts on Asia in the US have for some time expressed deep concern for the future of US-Korea relations, although this concern has somewhat dissipated since the FTA negotiations were successfully concluded.
Under these circumstances, the ongoing task of evaluating the Roh government must not become a mere public relations event, but help upgrade the quality of government policies in various sectors. To achieve this goal, the Roh administration must humbly recognize the problems exposed in various areas in the past 4 years, and make sincere efforts to correct the mistakes during the remaining term of office.
In the field of foreign policy, the Government’s first priority should be to establish a systematic and comprehensive strategy encompassing diplomatic, defense, and South-North relations. In the process of establishing such a strategy, more experts in the foreign policy establishment must be encouraged to participate. As the Korean peninsula is in a unique position, one where the strategic interests of the US, Japan, Russia, and China converge, it is needless to say that devising critical foreign policy initiatives require experienced minds and their insights. In this regard, the upgrading of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade to a Deputy Prime Minister must be seriously considered. The management of South-North relations is not only a domestic issue, but also a top priority for Korea’s foreign policy. This being the case, the elevation of the Foreign Minister to a Deputy Prime Minister is necessary to pursue a balanced policy toward North Korea and efficiently coordinate South-North relations in conjunction with overall foreign policy objectives.
Secondly, improving a diplomatic support system is also important. Korea’s strengthened diplomatic relations with former Communist countries, its expanded external activities, increased participation in multilateral conferences since Korea became a member of the United Nations, its foreign travelers totaling 10 millions a year, its 7 million Korean residents abroad, and an ever-increasing number of North Korean refugees have all contributed to a surge in diplomatic demands. However, the manpower and budget allocations to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade have remained more or less at the same level as in the 1980s, making the upgrade of diplomatic capabilities virtually impossible. In particular, the issue of manpower cannot be solved by quantitative expansion alone. In view of the unique requirements of diplomacy, it is necessary to move away from the current system of recruiting diplomatic cadets mainly through the high diplomatic service exam. Efforts must be made to dramatically improve the system of recruiting and training diplomats. I believe that the field of resource diplomacy and development assistance (ODA) also requires speedy upgrading. but that it will be difficult without additional manpower, an increased budget, and reorganization.
It may be unreasonable to expect the current government to resolve such tasks in the short remaining term of office. However, for the upgrading of Korean diplomacy, the records which are said to be so diligently prepared by the various Ministries must not be a piece of public relations work. The Roh administration must use the remaining period as a valuable opportunity to recognize and solve its shortcomings, and thereby make the records part of its positive legacy.
2007. 6.13자 코리아헤럴드
