Economic opportunities bring Korean, ASEAN youths closer

The Korea Times

The Korea Times

National

Tue, September 26, 2023 | 08:09

Foreign Affairs

Economic opportunities bring Korean, ASEAN youths closer

Posted : 2023-05-01 15:07

Updated : 2023-05-02 12:34

Panelists take part in discussions during the Roundtable on the Results of the Survey on Mutual Perceptions of ASEAN and Korean Youths hosted by the ASEAN-Korea Centre at the Korea Press Center in central Seoul, Friday. Yonhap

By Kwon Mee-yoo

Amid the rising importance of the role of youth in building sustainable partnerships between Korea and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the ASEAN-Korea Centre (AKC) emphasized the importance of attaining balanced mutual perceptions from both sides.

The AKC released the results of a survey it had conducted on the mutual perceptions of ASEAN and Korean youths and held a roundtable to discuss the results, last Friday.

AKC Secretary General Kim Hae-yong said the roundtable wrapped up the two-year study to enhance mutual understanding between Korea and the ASEAN member states.

The center conducted two surveys in 2021 and 2022 to assess mutual perceptions among ASEAN and Korean youth and suggest improvements. The 2021 survey was quantitative, while the 2022 survey was qualitative and involved focus group interviews with 147 young people from both regions, gathering insights on perceptions of ASEAN and Korea, exchanges and cooperative relations.

"The Cambridge Dictionary defines perception as a belief or opinion based on how things seem. It can be shaped by how people interpret the information and thus become a powerful force that affects their reliability and trust. In this context, youth perceptions are the yardsticks to gauge the progress to be made between ASEAN and Korea, because they are the future shapers to strengthen mutual partnerships," Kim said during the roundtable held at the Korea Press Center.

"The overall findings signal the need to further intensify efforts for promoting better understanding and awareness despite optimism toward the bilateral relations. The survey also found asymmetry between ASEAN and Korean youth in their understanding of each other."

One of the key findings was that there is unbalanced access to information about each other. ASEAN youth have more opportunities to obtain information about Korea through various channels such as social media, the Internet and OTT, while Korean youths' opportunities are more limited.

"In this regard, the survey brings out the increasing opportunities for economic cooperation and geopolitically neutral interests as the reasons for forming such youth perception," Kim said. "Attaining balanced and equal perceptions may not be achieved in the short term. Instead, it's a long step with huge efforts and patience and, more importantly, it's a step that cannot be done by only one side but it should be done together."

Indonesian Ambassador to Korea Gandi Sulistiyanto brought the issue of Indonesians not being granted visa-free entry into Korea as an example of an imbalanced perception.

"That is why we need further discussion about the negative perception of Indonesia, because Indonesia does not get visa-free entry to Korea. I promise to myself that this is one of my targets during my tenure," he said.

"Indonesia chairmanship of ASEAN also highlights the youth engagement and role in ASEAN. The youth in ASEAN are the driving force of sustainable development as they comprise approximately a third of the combined population of ASEAN. Through the ASEAN work plan of youth, ASEAN aims to enhance youth capacity and education."

During the first session, moderated by Siti Maisarah Haji Mjid of the AKC Information and Data Unit, panelists discussed the key findings of the survey, while the second session featured policy recommendations for equal partnership between Korea and ASEAN. Speakers from ASEAN and Korea shared their views and ideas on the research findings and proposed policy recommendations during the roundtable.

meeyoo@koreatimes.co.kr