The Philippines in ASEAN-South Korea relations

by Patricia C. Gloriani

INNN17F - International Negotiations

Mr. Jumel Gabilan Estraero
FS 403
 I. Introduction
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations was established in 1967 "to
strengthen further the current obligations of solidarity and cooperation." The Philippines
was one of the establishing nations when ASEAN was set up in Jakarta, while the
ASEAN Economic Community, which was actualized in December 2015, has a basic
role to make one of the biggest single market economies on the planet, encouraging the
free development of products, administrations, and experts between the 10 part states.
Thus, the Philippines relationship and association with ASEAN and its individuals is of
key significance to the coalition.

Given its re-balanced diplomatic relations with major global powers, the
Philippines, along with other middle powers in the region, has a critical role in
re-establishing, or moreover, strengthening and diversifying political and economic
relations. Knowing that ASEAN plays a vital role in maintaining peace and order within
political and economic relations, Philippines has been able to perceive stronger
relations despite of the arbitrary and dispute issues. South Korea and Philippines had
been strengthening its relations since the establishment of agreements in ASEAN. This
paper will evaluate how Philippines and South Korea perceives insights of growing and
strengthening bilateral relations through ASEAN Summit over the years.

ASEAN - South Korea Relations

ASEAN and the Republic of Korea (ROK) started sectoral exchange relations in
November 1989. At the 24th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting, the Republic of Korea was
granted a full Dialogue Partner status by ASEAN in July 1991 in Kuala Lumpur.
Relations between ASEAN And Republic of Korea was diverse since the association
between parties was lifted to a summit level in 1997 in Kuala Lumpur.
______________________________________________________________________
ASEAN-Korea (2015), Overview: ASEAN - South Korea Relations, Retrieved from :
http://www.aseankorea.org/eng/ASEAN/ak_overview.asp
 At the 8th ASEAN-ROK Summit on 30 November 2004 in Vientiane, The
relationship has been able to step up by the Joint Declaration on Comprehensive
Cooperation Partnership. After then, this has made a continuous gradual growth among
the members of ASEAN. On the 20th commemoration of the Dialogue Partnership
among ASEAN members and Korea was the path to make the ASEAN-Korea Center
through the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the 10 ASEAN Members in 2007.

In 2012, the Korean government built up the Mission of the Republic of Korea
(ROK) to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Jakarta, where the
ASEAN Secretariat is found. The Mission was set up to additionally reinforce the helpful
association amongst Korea and ASEAN, making it the fourth country to open an official
mission to ASEAN after the U.S., Japan, and China. Moreover, in 2015, the 25th year of
relations between ASEAN and South Korea was highlighted by the summit in Busan,
South Korea With the theme Building Trust, Bringing Happiness, ASEAN leaders met
with South Korean President Park Geun-hye and issued a joint statement promoting
increased political, economic, and socio-cultural cooperation. This established stronger
relations among member states.

The Republic of Korea plans to build up an ASEAN Culture House in Busan

which would serve to help respective social cooperation and member-to-member
contact. The arrangement is to finished the ASEAN Culture House by 2017 to
correspond with ASEAN's 50th Anniversary.

ASEAN - Philippines relations

ASEAN is one of the foundations of the Philippines' outside and exchange
______________________________________________________________________
ASEAN Briefing, (2017) The Philippines Relationship With ASEAN, Retrieved from:
https://www.aseanbriefing.com/news/2017/03/22/philippines-relationship-asean.html
strategies. This is showed in the Philippines policy to advance and promote a stable and
peaceful South East Asia, through various activities, in the policy economic, trading and
functional cooperation activities. With this, the Philippines effectively takes an interest
in molding of ASEAN's plan that will guarantee the alliance with among members. The
Philippines has always insisted that ASEAN centrality ought to be advanced constantly,
both in the domestic and international agreements. This is in accordance with the
improvement of the ASEAN Economic Community.

The policy direction taken by each member states was all planned based on the
national interest; which means on how they will benefit. This has prompted conflict
between nations in ASEAN. Because of various political, economic and sociocultural
frameworks of the ten individuals, there are examples when the part states go up
against changing and clashing positions on issues. Given this circumstance, the
Philippines needs to keep up a delicate yet diplomatic stance in its relations with other
states, to push forward its enthusiasm, specifically in sensitive issues like human rights,
democracy, economic and trading issues, territorial and maritime issues, plus other
complicated relationship problems.

There are instances where there is no arrangement of interests leading the

Philippines, alongside other ASEAN members, to take lowest common denominator, in
order to have consensus on issues so as to arrive at an agreement. Furthermore, the
Philippines perceives that there is an existing contrasts within the part states.

In the conduct of the multilateral framework between Philippine-ASEAN relations,

there is surely is a strengthening of the both sides and exchanging ties that
______________________________________________________________________
_
ASEAN Briefing (2017), The Philippines Relationship With ASEAN Retrieved from:
https://www.aseanbriefing.com/news/2017/03/22/philippines-relationship-asean.html
may resolve issues building within each member states that may continue to degrade
and affect economic status of members states.

Philippines in ASEAN-South Korea relations

Another impression of ASEAN and South Korea's solid association is in

individuals to-individuals network. Consistently, a normal of five million voyagers go
between ASEAN part states and South Korea. Information from the ASEAN-Korea
Center additionally uncover that nationals from ASEAN nations represent 23 percent or
330,000 individuals of the aggregate number of remote occupants in South Korea.

According to 2017 ASEAN Chair Philippine Rodrigo Duterte, the latest statistics
perceives a robust ties between South Korea and Philippines. Thus, on November 13
2017, South Korea is determined to bring its ties with the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations to new heights to be able to promote its national interest. This may
indicate as a good opportunity for Philippines to build stronger relations with South
Korea through ASEAN.

II. A. Statement of the problem

This paper seeks to answer the following objectives:
1. Given the growing interaction between ASEAN and South Korea, how can
the Philippines take advantage of these relations and maximize its
participation in ASEAN- Republic of Korea?
2. What may be the possible implications of this to Philippines?

B. Methodology
The paper will utilize an historical development method; perceiving the it will be
more of a qualitative research. To support and answer the objectives, facts from the
establishment of ASEAN are considered to trace relations among involved member
states in the paper. Moreover, ASEAN Summits over the years are the stepping stones
to strengthen and reveal how Philippines and South Korea develop and strengthen their
relations through bilateral agreements and of course, with ASEAN.

III. Review of Related Literature

LOCAL

Aldaba, F. & Pea-Reyes,S. (2015) Enhancing the Future of Economic Relations

Between the Philippines and South Korea

The paper notes that growth prospects are generally positive for both the
Philippines and South Korea, with price stability expected to support economic growth.
The main policy challenge for the Philippines is to make its growth more inclusive, both
sectorally and geographically. Working closely with South Korea in the areas of
infrastructure, foreign direct investment, tourism, official development assistance, and
industrial policy could help the Philippines make structural changes in its economy that
will help spread the benefits of growth more widely.
This may help in expounding points to be able to prove or answer the questions
of the paper since the paper focus on how Philippines may contribute and cooperate
with South Korea-Asean relations that will benefit all involved states throughout the
years as mentioned or depicted on the plans of ASEAN.

Seachon, K. (2015), The Philippines in ASEAN-South Korea relations

This essay denotes the way Philippines construct its approach in order to thrive
successful relations with South Korea in ASEAN perspective. Historically speaking,
South Korea perceives an unstable relations with Philippines. However, when ASEAN
was established, both countries was able to build a relation. Working with ASEAN,
Philippines and South Korea continues to foster economic and social relations as both
countries strives for development.
In the paper, the essay may set a track timeline to trace whether or not
Philippines and South Korea are benefiting in ASEAN. This also may help to see the
implications of Philippines regarding the ASEAN-ROK relations that brought growth
economically and socially to the country.

Pedrosa, C. (2017), The Philippines and ASEAN: A unique Opportunity

This traces the wide opportunities brought by ASEAN to Philippines, both

economically and diplomatically. As Philippines strive for innovation and development,
bigger opportunities continues to come since it has been part of ASEAN. As one of the
member that plays the vital part in the association, it also strengthen its relations not
only with the member states but also with other states and associations the Philippines
has been part.
To help with the paper, the article can show the approach used by Philippines
from the past that may come to conclude what are the possible approach of Philippines
to develop relations with ASEAN and South Korea.

FOREIGN

ASEAN, (2017) Overview of ASEAN-Republic of Korea Dialogue Relations

ASEAN Briefing, (2017), Bilateral Investment Treaty between Korea and Philippines
This shows the set of agreements South Korea and Philippines had since the
establishment of ASEAN until the latest ASEAN Summit that happened here in the
Philippines. It also showed the numerous bilateral and trade relations of of both states
with other member states that can benefit and protect their national interest.

ASEAN Studies Program, (2016), ASEAN South Korea Economic Relations: The
Way Forward
The article takes in consideration the collective efforts from both ASEAN and
South Korea that required a specific end goal to develop financial participation.
Pioneers should work firmly together to guarantee that the AKFTA can be completely
used by the two sides. With a specific end goal to enhance its use, private segment and
MSMEs must know about the advantages from the current exchange and venture
cooperation. Having said that, the duty of giving data about the FTA ought not be the
administration's separated from everyone else but rather likewise different partners, for
example, scholastics and business affiliations.

In a way, the article derives a path for the paper to develop a track line on how
South Korea was developed when it became part of the ASEAN. This can help in
refining the paper on how it also developed it relations with Philippines through ASEAN
perspective.

IV. Presentation, Interpretation & Analysis

Among ASEAN states, South Korea's exchange volume with the Philippines
remains bleakly low. Starting at 2012, the nation positions sixth in reciprocal exchange
at US$770 million contrasted with Indonesia's US$29.631 million and Malaysia's
US$2.294 million. Starting at 2013, Philippine fares to South Korea achieved US$3.4
billion while Philippine imports from South Korea added up to US$4.82 billion. From this
information, a trade surplus favoring South Korea exists. This has been seen with the
different issues encompassing the climate in the Philippines; issues on the uses of
natural resources of the nation; and low-value of the local products/industries. Philippine
financial diplomacy could enhance more Korean investments; however, these must be
cleared with strong foundation and enhanced investment grounds in the nation.

In the field of tourism, the country has far to go in the event that it needs to be
keeping pace with its neighbors, in spite of the fact that the Philippines is right now
experiencing framework improvement and restoration. Among ASEAN nations, the
Philippines has the second most astounding vacationer landings from South Korea
next just to Thailand with 1,165,789 voyagers in 2013.

In 2014, the Philippines positioned 52nd among 144 economies in the Global
Competitiveness Index. Philippines climbed up from 59th from 148 countries last 2013.
Although Philippines showed great development from this statistics, there is still a lot of
red tapes showed to begin a business.

Maximizing opportunities: implications for the Philippines

Given South Korea's solid enthusiasm for the district, the Philippines should
exploit this open door. South Korea is dynamic in offering help for ventures in ASEAN.
This is seen through the foundation of the ASEAN-ROK Special Cooperation Fund
(SCF) and the ASEAN-ROK Future Oriented Cooperation Fund (FOCP). Figures on the
Regional Development Assistance from South Korea add up to US$59 billion. The
tremendous sum offered by South Korea for advancement programs remain
underutilized by ASEAN nations. Philippine Permanent agent to ASEAN Amb. Elizabeth
P. Buensuceso additionally expressed that most tasks are South Korea-started and
there is a need to synergize ASEAN and South Korean needs.
______________________________________________________________________
_
ASEAN, (2017) Overview of ASEAN-Republic of Korea Dialogue Relations
ASEAN Briefing, (2017), Bilateral Investment Treaty between Korea and Philippines
Finished undertakings under the SCF and the FOCP are for the most part trade projects
and learning exchange programs.

The Philippines can exploit the assets accessible by proposing ventures that are
in accordance with tourism and framework advancement, two key regions where South
Korea has relative advantage.With the up and coming ASEAN coordination, ASEAN
nations are scrambling to enhance their foundation and components keeping in mind
the end goal to oblige the progressions that will happen in the district.

The Philippines can utilize this as method of reasoning to complete required

changes in creating framework and enhancing the speculation atmosphere in the
nation. It can't boost its organization with South Korea through ASEAN on the off
chance that it stays dreary in its exertion. Be that as it may, with a difference in
organization in 2016 approaching, ideally, the present organization will have the
capacity to cover all potholes in the Philippines' respective relations with South Korea.

Present ASEAN: Philippines-South Korea relations

South Korean President Moon Jae-in communicated his administration's

preparation to additionally extend ties between South Korea and the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) part states.

Im determined to bring Korea and ASEAN relations to a new height,Moon said

amid the nineteenth ASEAN-South Korea Summit. Moon said that since his sat as
president, he has dispatched an special way to ASEAN, taking note of that he was the
primary Korean president to make such a move; As ASEAN and Korea both enter
______________________________________________________________________
_
Mendez, C. (2017), South Korea to boost ties with ASEAN, PhilStar, Retrieved from:
http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2017/11/14/1758794/south-korea-boost-ties-asean
an era of new leaps and development, I believe it is the most appropriate time to
upscale the level of bilateral cooperation, Moon paid tribute to the "eminent
accomplishments made by ASEAN" in the previous 50 years. Im confident that
enhanced cooperation will bring about new benefits and prosperity to both side, He
said, ASEAN has consistently advanced the combination into real complex worldwide
conditions and has hoisted position in the global group."

As far as it matters to Philippines, President Duterte, as seat of the current year's

ASEAN Summit, praised the endeavors of Moon to additionally develop ASEAN-Korea
ties, taking note of the South Korean pioneer's turn to dispatch a special way to ASEAN.

The ASEAN-ROK ties have grown over the past 28 years with our dialogue
relations elevated to the strategic partners for peace and prosperity, Duterte stated,
taking note of that exchange and speculation and socio-social participation amongst
ASEAN and South Korea keep on growing.

V. Summary

The Philippines remains a solid and establishing individual from the ASEAN
gathering, in any case, the many contrasting political contrasts do make issues inside
the association. No doubt exchanging relations will turn into the most essential part of
ASEAN and the Philippines relationship.

The gathering has come with economic integration, signing six free-trade
agreements with other regional economies However, different analysts say that
ASEAN's effect is constrained by an absence of vision, unclear interests and unstable
administration. ASEAN's greatest test is arranging a bound together way to deal with
China, especially because of its across the board sea asserts in the South China Sea.
Another vital viewpoint is the United States still considers ASEAN to be crucial to the
achievement of its key rebalance and vital relationship, both politically and financially
with Asia. In like manner, other exchanging gatherings and countries, the EU, Russia,
Australia, Japan and so on, additionally see ASEAN as basic in keeping up the
exchanging quality of the individual part conditions of ASEAN.

Outside financial specialists ought to particularly be vigilant for framework

advancement extends additionally connecting the Philippines to whatever remains of
Asia, while the Philippines itself is situating itself both as a BPO benefit community for
ASEAN (and to some degree, China) and as a light assembling other option to Chinese
based creation.

VI. References

Aldaba, F. & Pea-Reyes,S. (2015) Enhancing the Future of Economic Relations

Between the Philippines and South Korea
ASEAN, (2017) Overview of ASEAN-Republic of Korea Dialogue Relations
ASEAN Briefing, (2017), Bilateral Investment Treaty between Korea and Philippines
ASEAN Studies Program, (2016), ASEAN South Korea Economic Relations: The
Way Forward
Mendez, C. (2017), South Korea to boost ties with ASEAN, PhilStar, Retrieved from:
http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2017/11/14/1758794/south-korea-boost-ties-as
ean
Pedrosa, C. (2017), The Philippines and ASEAN: A unique Opportunity
Seachon, K. (2015), The Philippines in ASEAN-South Korea relations