On the 24th, it will be the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and China. The final decision-maker for the establishment of diplomatic relations was former President Roh Tae-woo last year, and his son, Ro Jae-hun, President of East Asia Culture Center, is pouring efforts into the development of Korea-China relations in line with his father's intentions. He even attracted attention by visiting Gwangju to seek forgiveness for the victims of the May 18th democratic uprising on behalf of his father.
President Ro, in an email interview with CBS No Cut News, introduced, "My father had a sense of mission that diplomatic relations between Korea and China must be achieved." He recalled, "Through direct and indirect dialogues with Chinese leaders, including Deng Xiaoping, he expressed the idea that if the two countries cannot reconnect the severed history in this generation, it would be committing a sin against history."
Continuing, he expressed, “As the son of the ‘architect of diplomatic relations,’ I feel it is my mission to open up the future of Korea-China relations for further developed.” He also expressed his intention to work on “a positive picture of the future of Korea-China relations, who should go beyond regular neighbors to become neighbors that cannot live without one another.”
He emphasized the importance of avoiding a simplistic, anachronistic choice between the United States and China, stating, "This could be an opportunity for Korea to pursue a more autonomous and proactive foreign policy that is flexible, as well as pragmatic diplomacy that aligns with national interests."
Regarding the current mixed feelings between the two countries, he expressed concerns about the situation where mutual perceptions have not improved due to the suspension of interpersonal exchanges after COVID-19. He emphasized the importance of discovering and developing shared values for cooperation between the two countries and called for enhanced cooperation in cultural exchange, increased cooperation among young people, and joint collaboration on universal human values and issues.
President Ro also mentioned that he is aware that there is active consideration for President Xi Jinping's visit and expects that the President's visit will play a significant role in the recovery of bilateral relations.
--Korea-China diplomatic relations on August 24, 1992 is one of the major achievements of his father, the late former President Roh Tae-woo. As a son, you must have different feelings about the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations. How do you feel about the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations?
In commemorating the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Korea and China, I express gratitude for the progress and success in bilateral relations over the past 30 years. While acknowledging concerns and challenges in the current state of affairs, there is a sense of duty to overcome these challenges and open the door to a more advanced future in the relationship between our two countries. It is true that there are voices of concern regarding the current state of bilateral relations, and there are internal and external challenges. However, both countries should strive to become indispensable neighbors, looking beyond the current challenges and painting a positive picture for the future of Sino-Korean relations. To achieve this, it is crucial to reaffirm the initial principles of mutual respect and trust established during the establishment of diplomatic ties, as well as actively rediscover and develop shared values for future cooperation.
--Please tell us about the anecdotes you heard from your father at the time of diplomatic relations, his relationship with China, and the exchanges.
My father held a sense of mission to establish diplomatic relations between Korea and China. He was convinced that overcoming the historical disconnect and restoring relations with China would lead to the development of South Korea in various aspects, including diplomacy, security, and the economy. I remember him expressing in direct and indirect dialogues with Chinese leaders, including Deng Xiaoping, that "if the two countries fail to reconnect the severed history in this generation, it would be a sin against history." Even after retirement, during his visit to China, he emphasized the importance of both countries increasing understanding and consideration for each other to advance Sino-Korean relations.
--In the 30 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, Korea-China relations have made rapid developments in all fields. In particular, exchanges and cooperation between economic, social, and cultural sectors have been of great benefit to both countries, but what is the cause or reason for the two countries' rapid development?
I believe that in the process of development, both countries complemented each other well. Over the 40 years of China's reform and opening-up and Korea's entry into the ranks of advanced nations, there have been numerous contributions between the two countries. Through the Sino-Korean relationship during the Cold War, Korea was able to conduct stable diplomatic activities. China also received substantial practical assistance from Korea as a partner in its reform and opening up. It was a time when the spirit of Deng Xiaoping was greatly influential.
--As China became politically, economically, and militarily strong, neighboring countries began to be wary, and as the United States focused on deterring China's rise, the international situation began to fluctuate. As Korea is caught in the middle, the difficulties are increasing. What kind of policy should Korea implement toward the U.S. and China?
While one might say that Korea is in the middle, considering the increased national power and international status, it could serve as an opportunity to pursue a more autonomous and proactive foreign policy. The current international order is still marked by uncertainty and complexity. I believe that Korea should avoid a simplistic, outdated choice between the United States and China and instead adopt a flexible and pragmatic diplomacy that aligns with national interests. Leveraging our economic strength and cultural influence, we can create a foreign policy befitting our national power.
--The feelings for each other are getting worse among Koreans and Chinese. In particular, young people's assessment of the other country is quite negative, so what do you think the cause is and how do you think we should solve it?
Relations between countries and public sentiments towards each other cannot always be positive. However, recent mutual animosity among the citizens of both countries is a cause for concern, especially as interpersonal exchanges have been disrupted post-COVID-19, leading to an unfortunate situation where negative perceptions persist. The causes of this animosity can be attributed to political and diplomatic phenomena, as well as a lack of understanding between the two nations. Transforming mutual animosity into friendly sentiments requires substantial efforts, but it is crucial for both nations to explore and develop shared values for cooperation from a future-oriented perspective. I would like to emphasize three key points for this purpose.
Firstly, cultural cooperation is essential. Future cultural collaboration should go beyond simple cultural exchanges and leverage the cultural homogeneity shared by both nations. It involves co-creating a culture that embodies the values of Asia by utilizing each other's strengths. It is about jointly creating a culture that is not "mine" or "yours" but "ours." The phenomenon of Hallyu (Korean Wave) can serve as a catalyst for this collaboration. China, too, should actively participate in the development of an open and diverse fusion culture through increased cultural openness.
Secondly, promoting communication, exchange, and collaboration among the youth is crucial. Recent signs of animosity among the youth are concerning, rooted in national pride and patriotism. Efforts should be made to channel this sentiment into positive energy by fostering a sense of Asian pride that transcends national borders. Enhancing cooperation beyond Sino-Korean relations to encompass trilateral cooperation with Japan is necessary. Reflecting on the spirit of the East Asian Peace Theory advocated by Ahn Jung-geun over a hundred years ago is crucial. Additionally, given the digital era, communication and exchanges among young people occur predominantly on online platforms. Currently, these is disconnected between Korea and China platforms, resulting in amplified negative biases. Both countries should consider implementing new platforms using emerging technologies such as the metaverse to bridge this gap. Lastly, joint collaboration on universal values and issues can help both countries discover the future value of their cooperation.
--Our people seem to have anger and a kind of fear over the decision to deploy THAAD in 2016 and China's retaliatory measures following the deployment. China also has its own sense of betrayal of Korea's decision. China is also keeping the Korean Wave in check, saying it pollutes the ideas of its young people. How do you think these problems should be solved?
National security policies always involve conflicting interests. As close neighbors, South Korea and China are bound to have various policy conflicts, both major and minor. I believe that understanding and communication become even more crucial in such situations. Building channels and mechanisms for constant communication and fostering correct understanding of each other based on the spirit of "Hwaiyboo-dong" and the spirit of trust are essential across government, private sector, academia, and various sectors. While the bilateral relationship between the two countries has witnessed remarkable quantitative growth in the 30 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties, there is now a need for qualitative growth. Particularly, building a foundation of private sector friendship is crucial to ensure that policy changes have a lesser impact on public sentiment. In this sense, cultural exchange and cooperation play an even more significant role. China needs to actively participate in the role of being a key player in the creation of Asian culture, not only in Hallyu but also in cultural openness and collaboration. South Korea, on the other hand, needs to make more proactive efforts to understand contemporary Chinese culture. Our center has had experiences operating a permanent exhibition dedicated to Chinese films in the past few years, but such efforts need to increase. I would like to emphasize once again the importance of promoting private sector friendship through cultural cooperation.
--The so-called kimchi debate and hanbok process seem to take place in Korea without the development process or the truth being accurately known or shared. What is your opinion on this?
I believe that culture is not something to be possessed but something to be shared and developed together. Debates over cultural ownership are unnecessary and counterproductive. Instead of advocating for exclusive and closed cultural ownership, I think we should embrace open and inclusive cultural cooperation. However, individual intellectual property rights must be protected. Protecting the intellectual property rights of cultural content, such as copyrights, will serve as the starting point for bilateral cultural cooperation. Building on this foundation, we can expand cooperation through joint exploration of copyright, collaborative production, and distribution. I believe that collaborative efforts between Korea and China could even lead to the creation of a global OTT platform like Netflix.
--Please tell us about the desirable role of media in Korea-China relations.
There seems to be a slight difference in the location of traditional media in both countries. Although there may be slight differences in the positions of traditional media in both countries, the proposition that media should faithfully fulfill its inherent role of conveying accurate and rich information and knowledge remains the same. I do not find it desirable for the media to induce value judgments; instead, it should provide more accurate information and knowledge, allowing readers to make their own judgments. In this sense, I hope that the media can deliver more balanced information and broader, richer knowledge to the citizens of both countries. New media currently faces two major issues. The most significant problem is that the new media platforms used by both countries are separate, leading to a complete disconnect in communication and exchange. In this separate world, misinformation is reinforced through confirmation bias algorithms. It may be challenging to address this issue on existing platforms, so new attempts using metaverse technology may be worth exploring.
--Since last year, you have served as the chairman of the subcommittee on social and cultural affairs of the Korea-China Relations Future Development Committee. Can you briefly introduce the discussions of the Future Development Committee?
Over the past year, through numerous meetings and discussions between South Korea and China, we have adopted a joint report and will submit it to both governments on the anniversary of diplomatic relations. Evaluating the achievements of the last 30 years, we have pointed out current issues and provided many concrete policy recommendations for future cooperation. Once again, emphasizing the importance of fostering friendly public sentiment and building trust, we have gathered opinions from South Korea and China to strengthen cooperation comprehensively, including cultural collaboration, collaboration among the youth, media cooperation, and think tank collaboration.
--Many discussions were exchanged and conclusions were drawn at the Future Development Committee, but I think the important thing is implementation. How can we guarantee execution?
The willingness and confidence in cooperation between the two countries seem to be the issue. While addressing the urgency of the current challenges, it ultimately reflects the crucial need for a positive belief in and assurance of the beneficial outcomes of bilateral cooperation. To achieve this, there must be a continuous effort to create and showcase beliefs and examples that demonstrate the shared positive and tangible benefits of cooperation in the future. For instance, if successful cases emerge from youth collaboration, such as innovative industry partnerships and joint investments, they will serve as ongoing evidence of the practical value of cooperation. In this context, the report focuses on pragmatic and actionable content rather than theoretical perspectives, striving to lay the foundation for sustained and robust collaboration in the future.
--The previous government actively promoted Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Korea, but it has repeatedly gone nowhere due to COVID-19. When will President Xi Jinping's visit to Korea take place? And what are the prerequisites for visiting Korea? Is it right for President Yoon Suk Yeol not to go to China before President Xi's visit to Korea?
It is known that both countries are actively considering it. President Xi Jinping's visit is expected to play a significant role in the recovery of bilateral relations.
2022-08-24 09:56