Congratulatory Remarks
by H.E. Cho Tae-yul
Vice Foreign Minister of the Republic of Korea
At the 24th Session of the Harvard World Model United Nations
March 16, 2015

Dr. Kim In-chul, President of Hanguk University of Foreign Studies,
Dr. Park Jin, President of Harvard Club of Korea,
Ambassador Choi Jong-hyun,
Distinguished young Participants,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am delighted to be here today with so many outstanding young people from around the world -- leaders of our future. Let me begin by welcoming all of you who have traveled a long way to Seoul to participate in this special event with the passion for contributing to international peace and prosperity. I thank the organizers of the 24th Session of the Harvard WorldMUN for inviting me to this wonderful event.

(Foundation of the United Nations)

As you all know, this year is a historical year marking the 70th anniversary of the foundation of the United Nations. Seven decades ago, the international community came together to establish the United Nations, driven by the commitment to save succeeding generations -- like you and me -- from the scourge of wars and to leave behind a future of hope.

Although falling short of expectations, significant progress has been made in translating this vision of the UN founders into reality. Despite the countless crises during the last seven decades, World War III has yet to break out. Rather than resorting to armed provocations in the face of serious challenges to international peace and security, in most cases, major global powers have chosen the path towards securing peace through dialogue, including at the UN Security Council.

Ever since the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, international norms have been created across the whole spectrum of human rights. Most recently, the International Criminal Court (ICC) was set up to put an end to the practice of impunity, while ensuring accountability, towards human rights violations. Reflecting the strong commitment and aspirations of the international community to eradicate poverty once and for all, the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) were established fifteen years ago. And this year, the international community is set to agree on another set of sustainable development goals to guide the development community for the next fifteen years.

(Today’s Global Challenges)

Today, however, the international community faces new and multifaceted challenges. While civil wars and conflicts continue to rage in many parts of the world, notably in Syria, Libya and South Sudan, more than 50 million people are forcibly displaced -- the largest-ever number since the end of the Second World War. In Iraq and neighboring countries, terrorism is rampant with its roots in violent extremism. Cyber threats, climate change and the Ebola virus, all of which are immune to borders, are threatening the very foundation of human life.

It is against this backdrop that in his acceptance speech of the Harvard Foundation’s Humanitarian of the Year award, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said, “The world today faces threats to peaceful coexistence and to our physical existence on our own and only planet.” And this year, to sound the alarm on climate change and nuclear proliferation, a group of scientists moved the Doomsday Clock -- the symbolic clock representing countdown to possible global catastrophe – from 11:55 pm to 11:57 pm, two minutes closer to doomsday.

This is the reason why there now emerges a renewed commitment by both developed and developing countries to come together, with the 70-year old United Nations at the center, to resolve the complex, borderless challenges that pose grave threat to humanity.

(Story of Korea and Future Task)

For Koreans, it carries special meaning to see their country host the prestigious Harvard World Model United Nations today. It is because the history of the Republic of Korea is the very history of the United Nations. Had there been no help from the UN from the time of its foundation, to the Korean War, and in the post-war reconstruction process, the Republic of Korea as it stands today would not be existent. The Republic of Korea, an economically vibrant and prosperous as well as politically free and democratic country, is a child that the UN has nurtured.

It would be an understatement, however, to say that this journey has been an easy one. We had to undergo painful processes of reform and adjustment, while overcoming countless challenges and hurdles. Today, we still face a range of challenges that can only be resolved when we address them hand in hand with the international community. More than anything else, the shadow of a divided Korean Peninsula is lurking behind Korea’s success story.

In fact, just an hour away from here, you will find North Korea, which continues to threaten the international community with its nuclear weapons program. North Korea has continued its military provocations culminating in its third nuclear test in early 2013. Last year alone, North Korea fired over 280 rockets and missiles. The Commission of Inquiry (COI), established by the UN Human Rights Council in 2013, concluded that the human rights violations in North Korea constituted ‘crimes against humanity’. And in December last year, the UN Security Council adopted the situation in North Korea into its formal agenda and decided to remain seized of the issue.

Earlier this month, at the Conference on Disarmament and the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, I urged North Korea to make a strategic decision to give up its nuclear ambition and immediately take steps to improve the human rights situation in the country so that its people can carry on a normal, dignified life.

This is a stark reality still prevailing on the Korean Peninsula. The Republic of Korea, however, has been able to transform itself from an aid recipient to a full-fledged donor country in a span of only half a century. The memories of poverty are still vivid in my mind. Born in 1955 shortly after the Korean War, I have witnessed my country rise above the ashes of the war and agony of absolute poverty and achieve both industrialization and democratization.

With this unique development experience, Korea now aspires to contribute to global happiness playing a more visible and value-adding role as a bridge between developed and developing world. We are committed to increasing our overseas development assistance (ODA) and sharing our development experiences with fellow developing countries especially in the areas of our comparative strength and advantage such as education and the Saemaul movement, the locomotive for modernizing our rural community at the initial stage of our economic development. We also hope to share not only our success stories, but also failure stories including the side effects stemming from rapid economic development so that developing countries will not follow Korea in its footsteps even in the areas of its strategic or policy mistakes and errors.

To this end, taking advantage of its status as a trusted middle power, Korea is committed to playing three key roles: first, the role of facilitator in narrowing the gap between developed and developing countries; second, the role of supporter in helping developing countries overcome constraints and bottlenecks lying in their quest for economic prosperity; and third, the role of initiator in shaping new agenda for promoting global public goods and creating international norms.

Korea is now on the verge of joining the ranks of developed countries having overcome the constraints of a developing country. Therefore, Korea is better poised to have a balanced perspective on global issues and the ways to resolve them. This is probably the reason why we often feel that the international community is more attentive to our words and actions compared to the past, which I believe is evidence of their trust towards Korea. Based on this trust, Korea will continue to play a more proactive role in international efforts to make the better world in the years ahead.

(Conclusion)

My young friends,

You are a reservoir of talent and enthusiastic agents of change. History illustrates that, no matter how daunting the challenges may seem, the idealism, the drive and the passion of the young people give us hope.

Time and again, we have seen dynamic young people challenging the status quo. Malala Yousafzai, the Nobel Peace Prize Laureate from Pakistan, who was shot by the Taliban for advocating girls’ right to education, once said, “I don’t want to be remembered as the girl who was shot. I want to be remembered as the girl who stood up.” “Nothing changed in my life except this: weakness, fear and hopelessness died. Strength, power and courage was born.”

Likewise, your strength, power and courage will light the way forward. In the coming days, I hope that every one of you will passionately engage in the debates and seek creative solutions to today’s diverse global challenges by tapping into your incredible talent and creativity.

I am confident that your collective wisdom and creativity will pave the way towards a more peaceful and thriving global village. Thank you. /END/