Philstar.com
November 23, 2025 | 3:28pm
MANILA, Philippines — The University of the Philippines’ Asian Center and the Embassy of the Republic of Korea (ROK) to the Philippines recently organized the ROK-ASEAN Connectivity Forum held at Ascott BGC in Taguig City.
The forum, attended by distinguished members from academic, business and diplomatic corps, highlighted the numerous areas of connectivity that the Republic of Korea and ASEAN member states can explore and strengthen. These areas include manufacturing and industry, education and people-to-people exchange, and cooperation in promoting non-traditional security. Areas such as green infrastructure, sustainable economic cooperation, and digital government were also among those highlighted.
With the theme, “Advancing Regional Cooperation under the Philippines’ 2026 ASEAN Chairmanship”, the forum kickstarted with the session on the three key priorities of the Philippines as it spearheads the association next year — peace and security anchors, prosperity corridors, and people empowerment.
In his opening remarks, Republic of Korea Ambassador to the Philippines Lee Sang-hwa said that these key areas are well-aligned with ROK’s experience.
“Connectivity has long driven our own development, linking people, ideas and economies,” Ambassador Lee said.
DFA Deputy Assistant Secretary Leah Victoria Carada echoed the sentiments, saying that “Connectivity is a driver of economic growth and a key to improving the quality of life of our peoples.”
In tackling peace and security anchors, the Philippines and ROK will play a vital role in balancing attention toward traditional (e.g. maritime security) and non-traditional (human) security issues (e.g. food security) in the region.
Also central to ROK-ASEAN collaboration is maritime connectivity, tackling both environmental and geopolitical tensions. As a maritime region, the ASEAN, through its relations with the ROK, must take this opportune moment to address issues in spatial, economic, and geopolitical tensions in the region. In response to the growing climate crisis, marine ecosystems must be conserved and communities must be developed through sustainable and inclusive innovations. On the other hand, opportunities such as expanding trade incentives to East Asian neighbors and the development of the South China Sea Code of Conduct may be leveraged by the ASEAN to achieve geopolitical stability, securing maritime connectivity in the region.
The finalization of the “binding” Code of Conduct on the South China Sea might be the greatest achievement of the Philippines as the chair but this must be pursued through ASEAN’s collective action. ROK affirmed its trust and confidence in the Philippines’ capacity to set norms of peace and conflict resolution, principled democracy and human rights, for instance, arbitrating cross-border conflicts and human trafficking in the region.
The maintenance of rules-based order in Southeast Asia preconditions development. As ROK shares goals of sustainable development, equitable growth, and inclusivity in and with ASEAN, it commits itself to boosting the region’s capabilities and resources through increasing investments in specific sectors, namely advanced technology and innovation, integrated supply chains, smart farming, precision manufacturing and digital infrastructure. The drive for innovation and competitiveness can be harnessed if ASEAN states optimize intra-regional trade and rules-based partnership.
The forum also highlighted the immediacy of addressing the challenges and impacts brought about by climate change. The Philippines, for being the most vulnerable nation for being prone to catastrophic cyclones and earthquakes, has to leverage on its shared aspiration with the ASEAN and ROK to pursue climate resilience and improve risk reduction and disaster management. One proposal was to build on the ROK’s strong commitment to green growth and its strengths in green technology and innovations. These can potentially be tapped to further create climate-resilient cities and communities in the ASEAN region.
The sustainability of economic cooperation between the ROK and ASEAN was also identified. The possibility of Korean companies leaving the region due to rising workers’ wages was cited. To avoid this, one suggestion was to increase the productivity of the locals in the manufacturing industry. Doing so would be advantageous in further enhancing the competitiveness of the companies themselves.
Another provocative — and feasible and important — suggested initiative was the organization of the first-ever ROK-ASEAN dialogue on artificial intelligence governance during the Philippines’ chairmanship of ASEAN in 2026. If that happens, it could be a milestone achievement for the Philippines and ASEAN as a whole, given the wide-ranging application and implications of AI in today’s world.
Against the backdrop of many ASEAN states’ still-nascent digital infrastructure and the ROK’s relatively advanced AI technology business and industrial environment, such an AI governance summit will be timely and relevant.
Ambassador Lee added that the forum is a meaningful milestone in ROK-Philippines and ROK-ASEAN relations.
“Since elevating ROK-Philippine ties through a strategic partnership last year, our cooperation has continued to gain momentum,” he said. “Moving forward, ROK will continue extending financial, technical, and policy assistance for ASEAN connectivity through investments in physical and digital infrastructure, MSME empowerment, and human capital development. After all, connectivity is not only about infrastructure; it is about trust, opportunity, and shared destiny. The ASEAN–ROK partnership must remain centered on people: students, innovators, workers and entrepreneurs who will shape our region’s future.”