Seoul International Arctic Symposium

Opening Remarks
By H.E. Cho Tae-yul
Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs
Republic of Korea At the Seoul International Arctic Symposium

March 18, 2013
Koreana Hotel

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Dr. Hong Kum Lee, President of the Korea Polar Research Institute (KOPRI),
Honorable Ambassadors from Nordic Countries,
Distinguished speakers and participants,
Ladies and gentlemen,

It is indeed a great pleasure for me to say a few words, on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Korea, at the Seoul International Arctic Symposium.

I would like to express my gratitude to all the speakers and panelists for taking time out of their busy schedules to contribute to this important meeting. My special thanks also go to Dr. David Hik, President of the International Arctic Science Committee who is going to send a congratulatory video message, and to Dr. Priamikov who has travelled a long way to participate in this event.

Today, we are gathered here to discuss various issues facing humankind stemming from climate change in the Arctic and seek collective wisdom to address these issues as well as help facilitate international cooperation.

Climate Change and the Arctic

As we all know, the Arctic is now undergoing an enormous change in a scale that the region has never experienced before and that is even further growing as time passes by. We are deeply concerned about this ever-worsening environment in the region as it poses a huge challenge to humankind.

We fully recognize the fact that the issues related to the Arctic region are under the exclusive jurisdiction of the member states of the Arctic Council and should be addressed primarily through cooperation among them. However, a global problem such as climate change cannot be effectively addressed by efforts of a few nations alone. The international community including the non-member states of the Arctic Council should be invited to work together not only to better cope with this global challenge, but also to turn the challenge into opportunity.

As the Arctic is a region most vulnerable to climate change, it serves as a kind of a gauge that measures the impact of global climate change, often referred to as “weather kitchen”. The region also serves as a “research hub" crucial for establishing countermeasures against this global problem. The reason why Korea is interested in joining the Arctic Council as permanent observer is because it wishes to participate more actively in a variety of research activities initiated by the Council and make its own contribution sharing its experience and knowledge.


Korea and the Arctic Region

It is true that the opening of Northern Sea Route will bring economic benefits to Korea in the long run in the fields such as marine transport, industrial engineering, shipbuilding, and resource development.

However, most of the activities undertaken by Korea since 2002 when it joined the International Arctic Science Committee (IASC) are scientific research with a view to contributing to improving the welfare of humankind and enhancing public understanding on the Arctic region. And it will remain the focus of our future activities in the region as well. Korea is also fully committed to complying with international rules set forth in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Although most of the research activities in the Arctic region that have been undertaken by Korea yet remain at their early stages, they have drawn attention from the international community. Korea has accumulated outstanding research outcomes through studies by the best and brightest of its scientists. We will continue to play our due part in scientific research in the region on various topics including climate change and share its fruits with the rest of the world.

I hope that today’s event will help you better understand Korea’s past and current research activities in the region and the background against which Korea applied for a permanent observer status at the Arctic Council.

Closing

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea is very much honored to sponsor this international symposium that is taking place at the most opportune time.

We will certainly benefit from insights of the experts participating in this symposium, particularly those from the member states of the Arctic Council.

I wish you all the best in your intellectual exercise at the panel discussions that will follow today.

Thank you very much. /END/