| ○ When | Dec. 24-26, 2008 |
| ○ Where | Jejudo (island) |
| ○ Overview | |
Korean Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Yu In-chon, Chinese Cultural Minister Cai Wu, and Japanese Commissioner for the Cultural Affairs Agency Tamotsu Aoki adopted a joint declaration, rounding up their 3-day meeting. The joint declaration stated that Korea, Japan and China will cooperate to create common cultural values by enhancing mutual understanding of each culture. The three agreed to work together to preserve their cultural assets, enlarge related human resources network, expand exchange between young people through the Internet and intensify intellectual property rights protection, said the declaration. The Korea-China-Japan Cultural Ministerial Meeting was the second such event following the one held in China's Nantong City in September 2007. | |
2010년 4월 4일 일요일
Korea-China-Japan Cultural Ministerial Meeting
Changwon hosts Ramsar Convention 2008
| ○ When | Oct. 28 to Nov. 4, 2008 |
| ○ Where | Changwon, Gyeongsangnam-do |
| ○ Overview | |
Since wetlands cover a broad spectrum of nature, from rivers and peat-land to dams or artificial reservoirs, the Ramsar Convention is considered a gathering to discuss all environmental issues, and meetings are held every three years to discuss challenges, achievements and recommendations to protect the wetlands of the 158 member countries. At the meeting, the participants adopted a "Changwon Declaration" under the theme of "Healthy Wetland, Healthy People." They also adopted a resolution on the enhancement of biodiversity in rice fields as wetland systems. These two are expected to be crucial to raising the status of Korea internationally. | |
The Future of the Internet Economy - OECD IT Ministerial Meeting
| ○ When | June 17-18, 2008 |
| ○ Where | Seoul |
| ○ Overview | |
| Korea successfully hosted the OECD IT ministerial meeting on June 16-18, 2008 in Seoul. It marks the recognition of the fact that Korea has emerged as an IT superpower with high Internet penetration and advanced IT technology. It is the first time that such an OECD ministerial meeting is being held in Asia. It is pertinent to note that more than three quarters of all households in Korea have high-speed Internet, which is higher than any other country in the world. The meeting participants, including 34 ministerial officials, adopted the Seoul Declaration at the end of the meeting. To download the full text, click here For more information about the meeting, click here. | |
Busan APEC Summit
| ○ When | Nov. 18-19, 2005 |
| ○ Where | Busan Nurimaru APEC House, Gyeongsangnam-do |
| ○ Overview | |
The leaders adopted "Busan Declaration" at the end of the summit. For more information about the declaration, click here. | |
International cooperation
International cooperation
| ○ When | April 10-11, 2009 |
| ○ Where | Bangkok, Thailand |
| ○ Participants | |
| Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam | |
| ○ Overview | |
| President Lee Myung-bak visited Thailand from Apr. 10 to 11 to attend the 12th Korea-ASEAN summit, the 12th ASEAN+3 Summit, and the fourth East Asia Summit. At the 12th ASEAN+3 summit, he called for cooperation in implementing macroeconomic policies, putting a curb on trade protectionism, and achieving the Multilateralized Chiang Mai Initiative at an early date. At the East Asia Summit, he elicited regional cooperation to overcome the global financial crisis and to help other countries have a better understanding of the Korean government's "low carbon, green growth" vision. | |
| ○ When | April 2, 2009 |
| ○ Where | London, Great Britain |
| ○ Participants | Great Britain, Japan, Australia, the United States and China |
| ○ Overview | |
| During the second G20 summit of national leaders held in London on Apr. 2, President Lee Myung-bak had summit meetings with Great Britain, Japan, Australia, the United States and China. He discussed global collaboration for economic recovery and responsive measures toward the North Korean missile launch plan with heads of state. President Lee emphasized that the world economy should never go back to trade protectionism under any circumstances and should enlarge fiscal spending to recover from the current unprecedented financial crisis. | |
| ○ When | Dec. 13, 2008 |
| ○ Where | Fukuoka, Japan |
| ○ Participants | Leaders of Korea, China and Japan |
| ○ Overview | |
| | |
| ○ When | Nov. 22 to 23, 2008 |
| ○ Where | Lima, Peru |
| ○ Participants | |
| Leaders of the 21 member economies including Korea, China, the United States, Japan, Singapore, Thailand, Canada, Australia and Chile | |
| ○ Overview | |
| During the annual event, the leaders of the 21 member economies including Korea, China, the United States, Japan, Singapore, Thailand, Canada, Australia and Chile discussed how to address the global financial problem and discuss ways to deal with an economic slowdown in Asian countries. President Lee Myung-bak met his Peruvian counterpart, President Alan Garcia, on Nov. 21 before the APEC summit. The two leaders discussed closer bilateral cooperation in the fields of energy, defense industry, information technology, maritime science and infrastructure construction. | |
| ○ When | Nov. 15, 2008 |
| ○ Where | Washington, D.C, the United States |
| ○ Participants | |
| leaders of G20 summit countries (Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Korea, South Africa, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States and the European Union) | |
| ○ Overview | |
| Invited by U.S. President George W. Bush, Korean President Lee Myung-bak welcomed the opening of the Group of 20 summit and actively participated in the summit talks and called for an overhaul of worldwide financial systems and their regulatory regimes, as well as a greater role for developing countries in overcoming the global crisis and stress the importance of upholding the principle of free market economics and against protectionism, a position also shared by the U.S. leader. President Lee stressed the significance of Korea??s role in the global community in regard to the country??s participation in the Group of 20 financial summit meeting. Along with the United Kingdom and Brazil, Korea has taken on the task of coming up with the content and method of implementing the 47 short and mid-term objectives by March 2009. | |
| ○ When | Oct. 24-25, 2008 |
| ○ Where | Beijing, China |
| ○ Participants | |
| 45 ASEM member countries (Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Bulgaria, Cambodia, China, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Laos, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mongolia, Myanmar, the Netherlands, Pakistan, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, United Kingdom, Vietnam, the ASEAN Secretariat and the European Commission) | |
| ○ Overview | |
| The meeting was considered the first large-scale gathering of heads of state since the last meeting held in Helsinki, Finland two years ago. President Lee Myung-bak held a series of summit talks with leaders of ASEM member countries, including Japan, France, China, Vietnam, Poland and Denmark on a variety of issues ranging from the financial sector to North Korean issues. | |
| ○ When | July 7-9 2008 |
| ○ Where | Toyako, Japan |
| ○ Participants | |
| leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, China, Mexico, India, Brazil, president of the European Commission | |
| ○ Overview | |
| The Group of Eight (G8) refers to the member states or to the annual summit meeting of the heads of the eight industrialized countries: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States; in addition, the European Union is represented within the G8. In the annual G8 summit held in Toyako, the group expanded to include China, Mexico, India, Brazil and other major economies like Australia, Korea and Spain. On the sidelines of the summit, President Lee held a series of bilateral summit talks with United States President George W. Bush, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and the leaders of India and Mexico. The primary agenda of this year's expanded G8 summit included climate change, oil prices and energy security. At the summit, President Lee introduced the Korean government's campaign to use climate change as an opportunity to foster a low carbon emission society and new economic growth momentum, while stressing the urgency for the world to cope with climate change. Lee stressed the urgent need for international cooperation to cope with climate change. He expressed support for the long-term goal of cutting global greenhouse gas emissions by half by the year 2050. | |
Korean Government's Official Position on Dokdo
Korean Government's Official Position on Dokdo
The Government of the Republic of Korea is adamant in its position that Dokdo is Korean territory. This fact is irrefutable geographically, historically and according to international law.
Dokdo, the easternmost islands of Korea, are 87.4 kilometers southeast of Ulleungdo in the East Sea. According to Sejong sillok jiriji (Geographical Appendix to the Veritable Records of King Sejong, 1432), Usando (Dokdo) and Mureungdo (Ulleungdo) are visible from each other on a clear day. It is natural that the residents in Ulleungdo have long recognized Dokdo as islands belonging to Ulleungdo. |
The Silla Kingdom (57 BCE-935 CE) annexed Usanguk, comprising Ulleungdo and Dokdo, in year 512, since when the name Dokdo started appearing in official documents. Sejong sillok jiriji (1432), for example, referred to Ulleungdo and Dokdo as Mureungdo and Usando, respectively. Goryeosa (History of Goryeo, 1451), Sinjeung dongguk yeoji seungnam (Revised Edition of the Augmented Survey of the Geography of Korea, 1530), Dongguk munheon bigo (Reference Compilation of Documents of Korea, 1770), Man-gi yoram (Book of Ten Thousand Techniques of Governance, 1808) and many others show that Usando was an old name for Dokdo. They also prove that Usando referred to Dokdo for at least several centuries until the early 20th century.
During the King Sukjong era (1674-1720), Joseon's fisherman An Yong-bok was captured by the Japanese fisherman. Diplomatic negotiations to deal with the abduction had been prompted between Joseon and Japan and the issue of ownership over Ulleungdo and Dokdo was concluded with the Tokugawa Shogunate issuing a directive in 1696, prohibiting all Japanese from making passage to Ulleungdo. |
During the Meiji period (1868-1912), the Daijokan (Grand Council of State) received a note of inquiry from Japan's Ministry of Home Affairs about the compilation of land registers for the Shimane Prefecture. The Daijokan issued in 1877 a directive and stated "Regarding Takeshima (Ulleungdo) and another island (Dokdo), Japan has nothing to do with them."
In 1900, under the reign of King Kojong, the Great Han Empire of Korea issued Imperial Edict No. 41, placing then-Seokdo (Dokdo) under the jurisdiction of Uldo-gun (Ulleungdo). In 1906, Sim Heung-taek, Uldo-gun County Chief, was notified that the eastern islands of Korea had been incorporated into Japan by a survey team from Japan's Shimane Prefecture. Sim right after submitted a report to the Governor of the Gangwon-do (province) in ways to counter the ridiculous and self-contradictory act.
In 1906, the Uijeongbu (The Great Han Empire's State Council) issued Directive No. 3, arguing that Japan's incorporating of Dokdo is groundless. It instructed a reexamination of the incorporation.
In the midst of Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905), which had been triggered by Japan's imperialistic invasion scheme since the 1890s, Japan incorporated Dokdo into the Shimane Prefecture by issuing the Shimane Prefecture Public Notice No. 40. The incorporation constituted a violation of international law and cannot be justified under any circumstances because it is a clear infringement on the indisputable sovereignty of Korea over the islands from ancient times to the Great Han Empire.
Korea was annexed to Japan in 1910 and the colonial rule ended in 1945 with Japan's defeat in World War II. In 1943, the U.S., Britain and China issued the Cairo Declaration, vowing hat Japan would "...be expelled from all other territories which she has taken by violence and greed." In 1945 when Korea regained its independence, Dokdo was returned to Korea. Dokdo's exclusion from Japan's territory was reaffirmed in the San Francisco Treaty signed in 1951. In the years following Korea's liberation and to this day, Dokdo has been under the effective control and jurisdiction of Korea.
Korean Government's position is steady that Dokdo has inherently been Korean territory. It does not regard the Dokdo issue as a matter to be dealt with through diplomatic negotiations or judicial settlement. It will deal firmly and resolutely with any claims denying Korean sovereignty over the islands.
Korea's sovereignty over Dokdo
Korea's sovereignty over Dokdo
Dokdo should never be subject to diplomatic negotiations or territorial disputes because it is Korean territory by facts and history. Korea wants to cooperate with Japan to rectify their misunderstanding of historical facts and bring lasting peace and prosperity to Northeast Asia.
Dokdo should never be subject to diplomatic negotiations or territorial disputes because it is Korean territory by facts and history. Korea wants to cooperate with Japan to rectify their misunderstanding of historical facts and bring lasting peace and prosperity to Northeast Asia.History is not something that can be arbitrarily stitched together from disparate parts. Dokdo was the first piece absorbed by Japan when it invaded the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). For Japan to insist on possession of Dokdo is no different from denying Korea's history of liberation from Japanese rule. Japan's claim over Dokdo implies that it has never abandoned territorial ambitions even after its illegal occupation of the Korean Peninsula ended in 1945.
Green Korea
Green Korea
Global environmental issues, such as climate change and deforestation, have emerged as new challenges to people throughout the world. In the face of such challenges, President Lee Myung-bak announced in 2008 "Low Carbon, Green Growth" as Korea's new vision for national development. Korea aims to become a low-carbon society through green growth achieved via green technologies and green industries which enhance eco-efficiency while minimizing adverse environmental impacts. The Republic of Korea will also constructively contribute to global efforts to combat climate change.
Global environmental issues, such as climate change and deforestation, have emerged as new challenges to people throughout the world. In the face of such challenges, President Lee Myung-bak announced in 2008 "Low Carbon, Green Growth" as Korea's new vision for national development. Korea aims to become a low-carbon society through green growth achieved via green technologies and green industries which enhance eco-efficiency while minimizing adverse environmental impacts. The Republic of Korea will also constructively contribute to global efforts to combat climate change.
Korea in the G20: A new era of leadership
Korea in the G20: A new era of leadership
Korea will host a Group of 20 summit in November 2010 according to a decision reached at the third G20 meeting held in Pittsburgh, President Lee Myung-bak said at a joint press conference in Pittsburgh on Sep. 25 (local time).
"The decision to have Korea host the November 2010 meeting was reached by the G20 leaders unanimously, thanks to Korean people’s keen desire for it," Lee said at the conference, which was jointly held with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
Canada will host the fourth meeting in June 2010, and Korea will host the fifth. The previous three rounds were held in Washington, D.C. (Nov. 2008), London (Apr. 2009), and Pittsburgh, in that order.
Meanwhile, Sakong Il, a special adviser to the President, who has led the efforts for Korea to host a G20 meeting, said that Seoul’s hosting was a historic achievement. By hosting the meeting of the world’s most powerful economies, Korea will start playing a crucial role in the international economic spheres, he said.
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