Statement by H.E. Mr. Cho Taeyul
Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea
The General Debate of the Sixth Bali Democracy Forum
November 7, 2013
Bali                       


Minister Marty,
Excellencies,
Distinguished Delegates,

I am delighted to be here at the 6th Bali Democracy Forum. I would like to begin by expressing my gratitude to the Indonesian Government for all their hard work in organizing this Forum, an annual event which has been successfully hosted by Indonesia since 2008.

Under the outstanding leadership of President Yudhoyono, the Bali Democracy Forum has established itself as an excellent venue for constructive dialogue among countries in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond in pursuit of the noble cause of democracy.

Distinguished Delegates,

In a non-democratic society, what we often witness is that a certain group or institution monopolizes power and influence in the political, economic, social and cultural spheres. Democracy, on the other hand, enables various stakeholders with different interests, values, beliefs and ways of life to participate in a process of collective decision-making, leading to a more pluralistic society. During this process, it is only natural that frictions or conflicts arise.

In particular, with the recent trends of digitalization and globalization, there has been an unprecedented increase in the number of stakeholders that are influencing the decision-making processes of states. The means for these various actors to participate in the political process and express their views is also increasing, which in turn has a great impact on the development of democracy. In this regard, the theme of this Forum, Consolidating Democracy in a Pluralistic Society, is very much relevant and reflects the common interests of the countries represented here.

Distinguished Delegates,

The Republic of Korea is often cited as a success story of achieving both full-fledged democracy and economic development in a short period of time. The process, however, was by no means easy. We had to go through a painful process of reforms and adjustments overcoming a great number of challenges, obstacles and bottlenecks. At times, the steps toward democratization were held back because of the priority placed on economic development. And the process of political democratization following rapid economic growth resulted in the rise of various social conflicts -- such as conflicts between conservatives and liberals, conflicts between employers and workers, conflicts between generations, and conflicts between social classes. Some of the lessons learned during that process are what I would like to share with you today.

To make a long story short, for consolidating democracy in a pluralistic society, it is important to ensure inclusive growth backed by the institutionalization of democracy. An effective mechanism to resolve a variety of socio-economic and political conflicts is also necessary. Let me elaborate on each one of these three elements.

First, the institutionalization of democracy is important because it is essential to bridging the different and mutually-conflicting demands and interests of diverse actors. Institutionalized democracy, including free and fair elections, open and responsive governments, active political parties, and a strong civil society and media, prevents particular groups from monopolizing or abusing their power. It also provides more institutional opportunities for each group to voice its legitimate concerns and demands. In this way, true social cohesion can be achieved.

Second, legal and institutional frameworks should be steadily upgraded to achieve economic and social justice and ensure inclusive growth embracing marginalized and vulnerable groups.  Creating an environment in which individuals and private companies can compete in a level playing field is also necessary but not sufficient. Democratization cannot actually be achieved in a society in which there are huge economic inequalities, and social conflicts cannot be resolved in the absence of economic justice.

In the case of Korea, it was indeed a daunting task to balance these conflicting demands and interests.  As Korea came of age in terms of the democratic institutionalization, the government found it increasingly difficult to push for democratic and economic reforms and build a national consensus behind such a move. General DeGaulle, former President of France, once said, “It is difficult to run a country with 200 kinds of cheese.” It was equally difficult to run Korea, a country with 300 kinds of kimchi.

This leads to the third element I mentioned earlier, that is, the importance of an effective conflicts-resolving mechanism. In order to resolve sources of conflict and to protect the rights of minorities or vulnerable groups such as women, sexual minorities, the disabled and the aged, a grand social contract should be formulated through continuous consultations with stakeholders and public debate. A political and social culture to facilitate these processes, such as providing opportunities for people to engage in lively debates on social issues, is an essential basis for moving toward this goal.

Korea has pursued political and economic democratization through such means as strengthening the rule of law, empowering civil society, promoting civil education and operating a tripartite commission of labor, management and government. Even today, our journey continues. Under the new leadership of President Park Geun-hye, the first female president in Northeast Asia, the Korean Government is vigorously pursuing a policy of fostering social cohesion by shifting its focus from state to people. This people-centered policy is seeking a new paradigm for the virtuous cycle in which the benefits of development are shared by each and every member of society. This policy is also aimed at building a culture of trust between the government and people as well as among the people themselves. It is all the more important due to the surge in the number of immigrants and multicultural families in today’s Korea.
 
Distinguished Delegates,

Each nation has its own unique socio-political culture and faces different situations. And an approach which proved successful in one country may not necessarily be the answer for others. However, we can learn from each other as we head towards pluralistic societies.

Garuda, a mythical bird which is a symbol of Indonesia, clutched a scroll on which is written, “Unity in Diversity”. It symbolizes Indonesia’s truly pluralistic society, where diverse religions, languages, and ethnic groups coexist peacefully.

Greater plurality in a society may at first glance be seen as a kind of centrifugal force resulting in chaos and conflicts. However, as the process of institutionalizing democracy and promoting inclusive growth moves forward, a grand social cohesion can and will prevail. As UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon said, “Democratization is not a spectator sport. And it is more akin to a marathon than a sprint. It is a long struggle that must be waged by individual citizens, myriad communities, and entire nations.” The continuous interests, determination, and vigilance of the people are a key to enabling a country to overcome potential conflicts and challenges that can arise with the advent of a pluralistic society.
 
Drawing upon its experience in the past, Korea is committed to contributing to the efforts to promote and consolidate democracy throughout the region and beyond.

Thank you. /end/