Korea and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) approach an "exciting era" of strategic partnership which includes ensuring regional peace and stability.

Ambassador Elizabeth Buensuceso, Eminent Person of the Philippines to the High-Level Task Force on ASEAN Community Vision 2045, said that the convening of regional leaders, scholars, and policy experts at the ASEAN–Korea Forum held on Friday, Dec. 5, marked the beginning of an exciting ASEAN–Korea relations driven by new strategic frameworks and the Philippines’ upcoming ASEAN Chairmanship.

She stressed that ASEAN is approaching a moment where “exciting areas of partnerships await ASEAN-Republic of Korea (ROK) enthusiasts in realizing strategic goals including working together to ensure a peaceful, stable, and secure region by strengthening the rule of law and promoting a culture of peace, dialogue, and cooperation.”

Buensuceso highlighted that the Republic of Korea has “repeatedly vowed respect for and adherence to ASEAN Centrality,” pointing to the Korea–ASEAN Solidarity Initiative (KASI) as “one very dramatic demonstration of this like-minded approach.”

The ambassador shared that KASI aligns with ASEAN’s regional outlook, wherein Korea “found synergies with the ASEAN Outlook on Indo-Pacific in implementing its four areas of focus namely maritime cooperation, realizing the SDGs 2030, connectivity, and economic cooperation.

Korea’s long-term engagement reflects not just policy alignment, but also growing trust, Buensuceso added.

“ASEAN is now Korea's third-largest trading partner, third-largest destination for foreign direct investment, and the number one destination for Korean travelers, indicating a growing familiarity and trust between our peoples,” Korean Ambassador Lee Sang Hwa said, noting that “our President reaffirmed ASEAN as a central pillar of Korea's foreign policy.”

Amid regional uncertainty, speakers agreed that deeper cooperation will be driven by emerging domains.

Buensuceso affirmed that Philippine leadership beginning on Jan. 1, 2026 will “champion an ASEAN that thrives on unity in diversity, an ASEAN that will respond with agility to even the most daunting of challenges, will be innovative in its approach to opportunities, and resolute in its commitment to lead ASEAN to become a consequential force for good in the regional and global community.”

She added that engagement with Korea will be a priority, as both sides “share kindred affiliation on a number of common aspirations and interests.”

Buensuceso believes that ASEAN and Korea “should intensify in their future cooperation the already dynamic interchange in the area of socio-cultural cooperation,” especially on “disaster management and humanitarian assistance,” climate change, public health, and “education, human resources development, youth and people-to-people exchange, culture, the arts, sports, and information and media.”

ASEAN and Korea are advancing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership under the pillars Contributor, Springboard and Partner.

Korea aims to reach $300 billion in annual trade with ASEAN supported by “qualitative growth.”

To support this, Korea intends to upgrade the ASEAN-Korea Free Trade Area (AKFTA), create an interface among e-customs systems, and bolster the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement.

Cooperation will expand into AI, health, smart cities, aerospace, power grid and nuclear energy.

Meanwhile, Ambassador Maria Theresa Dizon-De Vega, Undersecretary for Administration of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), emphasized that the Philippines will push this agenda with its upcoming ASEAN Chairmanship.

“The Philippines looks forward to advancing initiatives that strengthen strategic dialogue, broaden economic and technological collaboration, and further promote people-to-people ties—areas where ASEAN and Korean cooperation have always been active, whether this is in education, tourism, cultural exchange, or the creative industries, our communities continue to serve as the foundation of our shared regional concerns,” said De Vega, who also served as Ambassador of the Philippines to the Republic of Korea.

De Vega underscored the need to “sustain momentum in the digital transformation agenda, reinforce supply chain resilience, examine the role of artificial intelligence, cooperation in climate action and green growth, and the maritime sector.”

Pangasinan 3rd District Rep. Maria Rachel Arenas, Chairperson of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, also pointed to immediate priorities.

"As these pillars parallel the vision of Korea, the following may be considered as priority areas for strategic partnership: digital innovation and infrastructure, responsible and ethical use of artificial intelligence, maritime security, addressing transnational crimes, strengthening cybersecurity, enterprises and the creative industries," she said.

With the theme “Korea’s New Vision for ASEAN: CSP (Contributor, Springboard, Partner),” the event is organized by Geopolitics Insight in cooperation with the Korea University ASEAN Center (KUAC), the Stratbase Institute, and the University of the Philippines Korea Research Center (UP-KRC).