Lebanese lawmaker learns from Korea's development

The Korea Times

The Korea Times

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Sat, September 23, 2023 | 12:21

Foreign Affairs

Lebanese lawmaker learns from Korea's development

Posted : 2023-05-10 12:02

Updated : 2023-05-10 16:48

Lebanese lawmaker Jihad Pakradouni, right, takes a look around an exhibition during his visit to the demilitarized zone (DMZ) in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, April 28. Courtesy of Korea Foundation

By Kwon Mee-yoo

Jihad Pakradouni, a member of the Lebanese Parliament, visited Korea last month at the invitation of the Korea Foundation to enhance ties with Korea's National Assembly and other related organizations, having identified Korea as a potential model for change in Lebanon.

"We have a lot to learn from Korea in terms of legislation, especially regarding subjects such as environment, labor, women empowerment and technology," Pakradouni told The Korea Times during an interview in Seoul, April 27.

During his seven-day visit to Korea, Pakradouni visited Korea's National Assembly, Seoul Metropolitan Council, Korea-Arab Society, Korea National Diplomatic Academy and Hankuk University of Foreign Studies. He also had a meeting with Rep. Kim Sang-hee, chairperson of the Korea-Lebanon Parliamentary Friendship Committee.

The Lebanese lawmaker also had a chance to visit the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between the two Koreas as part of his trip.

"It reminded me of what we witnessed during the civil war in Lebanon. We had exactly the same demilitarization zones and demarcation lines. I sincerely hope that this division will end and the country will be reunited soon," he said.

The lawmaker noted Korea has made significant progress since the end of the war, continuously improving and moving forward every year.

"It's a big achievement and you are on the right track, whereas we are on the other side, going backwards and backwards every day," he said.

Lebanese lawmaker Jihad Pakradouni takes a look around the Hyundai Motorstudio, April 28. Courtesy of Korea Foundation

Pakradouni hails from a political family, with his father Karim being a seasoned politician who held the position of minister of state in 2004. Despite his political lineage, Pakradouni initially found success as a businessperson in Egypt and Lebanon before entering the political arena and running for parliamentary election for the first time last year.

"There was a big, big blast in Lebanon and (because of this) I decided to go into politics," he said, referring to the 2020 Beirut explosion.

"When you're a businessman, you're doing things for you. Lawmakers are doing things for others. The current economic crisis in Lebanon is rooted in political corruption. Politicians of Lebanon are not working for the people but for their own pockets for many years and that led to the economic situation and even contributed to the tragic explosion due to negligence ... I believe it's time for change and I am one of the people who want things to move on."

He also touched upon the refugee issue in Lebanon, which has been significantly impacted by the ongoing conflict in neighboring Syria.

"We share a border with Syria and have taken approximately 2 million refugees in Lebanon over the past decade. Lebanon's population is 5 million, so (the refugees) are already half the population," Pakradouni said. He added that if the refugees continue to stay in Lebanon, they may eventually outnumber the Lebanese population, leading to similar challenges and problems the country experienced with Palestinian refugees. The country is still uncertain about how to handle this complexity and its mounting pressure effectively.

The lawmaker said he is impressed with what he has seen in Korea, even though he does not understand all the details. He expressed a desire for increased collaboration between the two nations on innovative technology.

"You see the evolution because of hard work, discipline and vision. You may have political problems, but this has not stopped you from moving forward," he said.

"I believe that Korea has shown through the past decades its ability to be one of the world-leading countries in terms of innovative technologies. I think that we should work on bringing to Lebanon not only the big companies but also open the local market to middle-size companies. I believe it would be a very good opportunity for both countries."

meeyoo@koreatimes.co.kr