The Honorable 박상은, Chairman of the Board of the Institute of Korean Studies,

Professor 신명순 of Yonsei University,

Professor Andrew Cooper of University of Waterloo,

Professor John Lie of UC Berkeley,

Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Let me first express my congratulations on the 45th anniversary of the founding of the Institute of Korean Studies. The Institute was launched to spur systematic study of Korean values by adopting a pioneering approach in the promotion of Korean studies all around the world. Over the years, it has stayed true to its roots, providing a springboard for eminent scholars on which to share their insights on the key issues of our time.

My appreciation goes to the Institute for organizing this meaningful conference and allowing me the opportunity to speak here today.

Let us for a moment switch our minds back to the year 1968 when this Institute was established. At the height of the Cold War, tentative signs of fresh hope were in the air, especially evident in the "Prague Spring". In Asia, however, darkness still reigned. The Vietnam War was still the rage. Tensions on the Korean Peninsula were escalating as North Korea flirted with danger, plotting the Blue House raid and seizing the USS Pueblo. In the midst of it all, Korea was no more than a subordinate factor swayed by the vortex of the reality around it.

It is a small miracle that Korea has today developed into the 8th largest trading country possessing financial might and abundant soft power. Its remarkable transition offers a symbol of hope to people all around the world who are still suffering from poverty and civil war.

Korea’s foreign policy has also matured in the face of an unrelenting series of storms. There were indeed times when the fate of the nation seemed to be hanging by a thread. However, we survived. And blossomed. It is a tribute to the resilience of the Korean people and the helping hands from our friends abroad that we are where we are today.

Korea’s diplomatic horizons have expanded spectacularly. We have established friendly relations with almost 190 countries, encompassing the entire world that even includes the Arctics.

As a member of the UN Security Council for the 2013-2014 term, Korea has a greater voice in addressing urgent global issues. We have also hosted a string of global gatherings, most recently the Seoul Conference on Cyberspace. However, as the scope of our diplomacy has expanded, the challenges we face have become more intense both in nature and in number.

Distinguished Guests,

"We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope", said Martin Luther King, Jr. Indeed, the history of this nation is interspersed with stories of great courage in the face of adversity. The historian Norman Davies' apt depiction of Poland as 'God's playground' carries similar resonance for Korea when one surveys its geopolitical environment and its subsequent history of hardship.

 
Last century had been a particularly harsh time for Koreans. Permanent suffering seemed to be etched in our fate with the tragedy of civil war and national division, turbulent relations with our neighbors, and dire poverty resulting from colonization and war. It was through a careful study of our modern history that President 박근혜 came up with the insight that sustainable peace can only be achieved by cultivating the hope of "trust."

Following her inauguration in February, President Park set out her vision of "Trustpolitik". This vision is based on a realistic recognition of our historical experience and the realities surrounding the Korean Peninsula. It is a vision that the hardship and grief we have experienced should not be repeated on the Korean Peninsula and beyond.

Concrete action is obviously needed to translate this vision into reality. ‘Trust-building Process on the Korean Peninsula,’ ‘Northeast Asia Peace and Cooperation Initiative,’ and ‘Middle Power Diplomacy’ are just a few of the signature projects that the new government is pursuing to this end. Such initiatives seek to lay the groundwork for peace and security on the Korean Peninsula and likewise in Northeast Asia. This will no doubt contribute to the prosperity of the entire global community as well.

Distinguished Guests,

Trust-building requires time and patience. Trustpolitik is a long term vision which will not be deterred by minor setbacks along the way.

On the Korean Peninsula, we will continue to push ahead with the trust-building process to build lasting peace based on ‘peace-keeping’ through strong deterrence. We will also diversify our diplomatic capabilities in ‘peace-making’ by enhancing strategic relations with neighboring countries.

We will aim to harness an environment conducive to resolving the North Korean nuclear issue and ultimately creating the basis for reunification.

As for the Northeast Asia Peace and Cooperation Initiative, we will seek to unearth a habit of cooperation starting from small but significant interactions in the fields of mutual interest. Eventually, such habits of cooperation can be nurtured into a culture that breaks the vicious cycle of distrust and alleviates confrontation. In addition, we will continue to work towards securing even wider diplomatic support for this initiative amongst key stakeholders.

We will also continue to play our role in various multilateral mechanisms with a view to forming international norms as a key middle-power country.

Distinguished Guests,

The respected Korean historian 신채호 once reflected: "A people who have lost their territory may rise again, but a people who have lost their history cannot." These words emphasize the importance of gaining a deeper insight into the present and future by reflecting on the past. In that sense, the theme of today’s conference is very much appropriate. A diligent study of the past will give us the wisdom and the nous which will put us in a good stead to tackle the challenges ahead.

I look forward to a lively discussion today on how Korea can take even greater strides forward to increase its contribution on the global stage for the shared prosperity of the humankind.

I would like to bring my remarks to a close by wishing today's conference a resounding success. I also look forward to a thriving future for the Institute of Korean Studies.

Once again, I would like to thank all the staff at the Institute for all their hard work in organizing this conference.

Thank you.