편집자 주     본지에서는 전세계 외국인 독자들을 대상으로 한국의 역사와 문화를 정확하게 소개하기 위해 김정기 변호사의 칼럼을 영문판으로 연재를 시작합니다.

한국의 역사와 문화에 관심있는 전 세계인들에게 도움이 되길 바랍니다.

한국어 독자들은 한국어로 번역된 화면이 보이므로 반드시 사이트 상단에서 원문보기로 설정하셔야 영문판으로 보실수 있습니다.

 

 

 

<김정기 변호사 걸어온 길>

 

[학력]
● 뉴욕주립대(Stony Brook) 정치학과 수석졸업 (BA--Summa Cum Laude)
● 마케트대(Marquette) 로스쿨 법학박사 (Doctor of Jurisprudence )
● 하버드대(Harvard) 케네디스쿨 최고위과정 (Senior Executive Program)
● 베이징대(Peking) 북한학 연구학자 (Research Scholar)

 

[주요 경력]
● 제8대 주상하이 대한민국 총영사(13등급 대사)
● 2010 상하이엑스포 대한민국관 정부대표
● 아시아태평양지방정부네트워크(CityNet) 사무국 대표
● 미국 밀워키지방법원 재판연구원
● 법무법인 대륙아주 중국 총괄 미국변호사
● 국민대 정치대학원 국제관계학 특임교수
● 경희대 테크노경영대학원 협상학 객원교수
● 동국대 경영전문대학원 석좌교수
● 난징대 국제경제연구소 객좌교수
● 베이징대 동방학연구원 연구교수
● 숭실사이버대 초대 총장

 

[저서]
● 대한민국과 세계 이야기(책미듬)
● 한국형 협상의 법칙(청년정신)
● 나는 1%의 가능성에 도전한다(조선일보)
● 밀리언셀러 '대학생을 위한 거로영어시리즈'[전10권]   (거로출판)
 

(Newskorea=Seoul) Digital News Team = <Korea Story 1  by Atty Jeong-kee Kim>

1. The Vision of Pax Koreana

  As Korea has entered the information and communication technology era since the 1990s, people are enjoying tremendous prosperity and wealth that have never been experienced before in history, and are living a much better life than in the past. Following the Second Industrial Revolution, the Western G7 countries, the leading players of the industrial era, have led the world economy, but it is expected that Korea, which is at the forefront of the information and communication technology era, will soon be able to achieve a status similar to that of the Western G7, ranking around the top 10 in the world. Going further, Korea will be able to reach G3 by surpassing Japan and Germany, which are strong in basic sciences, and materials, parts and equipment. Ultimately, Korea may have to engage in a hegemonic battle with the U.S. and China, making it only natural to dream of Pax Koreana—a world order centered around Korea, and a global peace orchestrated by Korea.

  Currently, the U.S. assumes a role similar to that of the UK during the First Industrial Revolution, and leads the information and communication technology era. It's important to note that just as Europe was beside the UK, the Asia-Pacific countries are around the U.S., with Korea being one of the central nations. Korea's position in the information and communication technology era is advancing rapidly, and it is believed that its future will be much brighter.

  The United States holds a dominant position in the era of information and communication technology. If Korea diverge from the U.S.-led global order, it will repeat the pain experienced 160 years ago under Korea's isolation policy. During the Second Industrial Revolution, Korea, then known as Joseon, was forced to open its doors by foreign powers, leading to the Byeong-in Yangyo and Shin-mi Yangyo incidents after the Pyongyang General Sherman incident. This ultimately culminated in the Ganghwado Treaty, an unequal agreement following Japan's Unyang-ho incident. The failure of our ancestors to make wise decisions in the 1860s led to more than 100 years of hardship, and it has only been in the past two decades that Korea has begun to prosper. It’s important to remember that the Western G7 countries solidified their power during the Second Industrial Revolution. At the time, Joseon was led by Prince Daewongun and China by Empress Dowager Cixi. Our history might have unfolded quite differently if, like Japan, we had embraced a proactive policy of openness rather than clinging to a China-centered world order.

  Despite Korea's small size, there are no limits to what we can dream. Consider the United Kingdom, which has risen to become one of the world's most advanced nations despite its modest size. Britain once commanded a vast maritime empire where the sun never set. Similarly, Japan, another relatively small nation, expanded its influence significantly during the imperial era, only to experience a dramatic contraction after World War II before rebounding as an economic powerhouse. Singapore, though very small, is now renowned for its exceptional international competitiveness. This demonstrates that with determination and effort from all its citizens, Korea can achieve its own vision of Pax Koreana. Historically, from the 15th century to the present, leading advanced nations such as Spain, Portugal, Netherlands, Britain, and the United States have each dominated their eras. Therefore, it is reasonable to think that the current Pax Americana era, where the United States holds global dominance, will not last indefinitely. This opens the possibility for us to seize the opportunity and strive towards realizing the ambitious goal of Pax Koreana.

  Korea is recognized as a global leader in information and communication technology sector during the Third Industrial Revolution. 
In the newly arrived Fourth Industrial Revolution, Korea must continue to strengthen its power without going against the flow of the world order. 
Furthermore, I believe that if Korea successfully reunifies the Korean Peninsula, it could aspire to establish Pax Koreana.

2. Korea's Role as a Bridge Nation in the G20 Era

  After the end of the Cold War between the United States and the former Soviet Union in the 20th century, the international community rapidly shifted from being centered on politics and security to focusing on the economy. Moreover, in today's world economy, not only can order not be formed under the leadership of any one country, but the interests between countries are sharply intertwined, so there is a strong need for cooperation and exchange, as well as for consensual balance and joint response to crises. Accordingly, a cooperative system was established and grouped between countries or regions centered on economic power.

  A significant turning point can be traced to the formation of the G7. After Israel's victories in three Middle Eastern wars thanks to the unilateral support of the United States, the Arab bloc responded by creating an oil cartel and initiating an oil embargo. This prompted Western nations to stockpile oil, which caused a rise in oil prices in a short period of time and sparked a global oil crisis in 1974. In the process of overcoming the completely unexpected oil crisis, the United States realized that it would be difficult to overcome the crisis on its own, and formed the G5 with Britain, France, Germany, and Japan, which led the world economy after Workd War II, and established a joint response system. Italy and Canada joined this system in 1975-1976, and the G7 was formed. 'G' stands for group. 

  Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, which marked the end of the Cold War and a shift toward an economy-focused global order, the 1997 Asian financial crisis underscored the importance of stability in international financial markets. This crisis highlighted the need for a consultative forum between developed and emerging economies, leading to the establishment of the G20 at the 1999 IMF Annual Meeting. During this meeting, G7 finance ministers discussed the inclusion of emerging economic powers such as Brazil, Russia, India, and China (BRICS), as well as regional strategic partners including South Africa (Africa), Mexico (Central America), Saudi Arabia (Middle East), Australia (Oceania), Indonesia (Southeast Asia), Argentina (South America), Turkey (non-Arab Middle East), Korea (Northeast Asia), and the EU presidency, to form the G20.

  As soon as the G20 was formed, it quickly held its first finance ministers' meeting in Berlin, Germany, in December 1999 to solidify the stability of the global financial market and economic cooperation. However, when faced with the global economic crisis triggered by Wall Street in the United States in 2008, the limitations of the existing finance ministers' consultative body were felt and the system was upgraded to the G20 summit system. The G20 summit gained enormous influence as a new concept for world order from an economic perspective. The first G20 summit was held in Washington, USA, in November 2008, and subsequent summits followed in London, UK, in April 2009; Pittsburgh, USA, in September 2009; and Toronto, Canada, in June 2010. These summits not only addressed global economic stability and order but also covered political and human rights issues. However, they encountered further challenges along the way.

  There were significant ideological differences between the developed countries of the G7 and the emerging economic powerhouses of the BRICS, as well as regional hub nations. These disparities, coupled with competition for future economic influence, created large gaps that proved to be both obstacles and challenges. Therefore, there was a need for a country that could act as a bridge to moderate these differences and lead to compromise and consensus. Recognizing this challenge, Korea actively declared its intent to perform this bridge role at several G20 summits. The G20 leaders agreed, and as a result, Seoul hosted the G20 summit in November 2010.

  Despite being a divided nation, Korea's inclusion in the G20, the world's foremost summit and economic group, is a testament to its substantial economic power. Korea is well-established among the top ten global export economies, with a GDP to match. Alongside economic giants like the USA, Germany, France, and Japan, Korea demonstrates world-class competitiveness in industries such as semiconductors, electronics, smartphones, and batteries, as well as traditional manufacturing sectors like steel, automobiles, shipbuilding, and petrochemicals. Indeed, Korea's industrial strength surpasses that of Italy, which ranks seventh globally, when considering metrics beyond GDP. Nevertheless, Korea's political standing still lags significantly behind other G20 nations. Although Korea joined the UN in 1991 and became part of the OECD's developed group in 1996, its diplomatic influence has not yet fully matched its economic strength. Furthermore, being a divided nation adds a disadvantageous dimension to its international relations.

  At this juncture, following Korea’s role as a bridge nation in previous G20 summits and with the upcoming 2024 Rio de Janeiro summit on the horizon, Korea is positioned to engage more confidently in bilateral diplomacy with major Western developed nations, including the United States. This shift represents a significant enhancement in Korea’s political and diplomatic stature on the global stage.

  When assessing the international standing of G20 nations, they can be categorized as follows: the G7 countries lead, followed by the BRICS nations, regional hub countries, and then the EU presiding nation. Korea’s role as a bridging nation places it approximately in the middle, around the 12th position globally. To solidify and sustain this status as the 12th most influential nation diplomatically and politically, Korea will need to invest considerable political and diplomatic effort over the next decade.

  Despite its relatively short history, the G20 summit has played a crucial role in shaping the global economic order. It is expected to evolve into the most influential institution addressing a wide range of international issues, including politics, military, and cultural matters. As a significant G20 member, Korea’s economic strength and bridging role are sources of pride. Achieving such prominence represents a transformative opportunity for national advancement. It is now essential for both leaders and citizens to unite with a common purpose to further enhance and solidify Korea’s esteemed position.

☆ Author:  Atty Jeong-kee Kim ☆

[Education]
- Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Summa Cum Laude, State University of New York at Stony Brook
- Juris Doctor, Marquette University Law School
- Senior Executive Program, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University
- Research Scholar in North Korean Studies, Peking University

[Experience]
- Consul General of the Republic of Korea in Shanghai
- Commissioner General for the Korean Pavilion at the 2010 Shanghai Expo
- CEO of the Asia-Pacific Local Government Network for Economic and Social Development (CityNet)
- Law Clerk, Milwaukee Circuit Court, USA
- Senior Attorney-at-Law, Dr & Aju LLC
- Distinguished Professor, Graduate School of Political Science, Kookmin University
- Chair Professor, Graduate School of Business, Dongguk University
- Distinguished Visiting Professor, World Economy Research Institute, Nanjing University
- Research Professor, Institute of Oriental Studies, Peking University 
- First President of Soongsil Cyber University

[Publications]
- Georo English Studies Series for College Students [10 volumes] (Georo Publishing)
- I Challenge the Possibility of One Percent (Chosun Ilbo)
- The Art of Negotiation (Cheongnyonneongsin Publishing)
- Korea and the World (Chekmidum Publishing)