TTLA: The process of building a comprehensive ASEAN-Korea partnership (1989 - 2009)

  INFORMATION ABOUT THE DOCTORAL THESIS

1. Full name of the doctoral candidate:Le Thi Thu Giang  

2. Gender: Female

3. Date of birth: July 15, 1977

4. Place of birth: Thai Nguyen

5. Decision to recognize the doctoral student: No. 3676/QD-SDH, dated by the Director of Hanoi National University.

6. Changes in the training process: None

7. Thesis title:The process of building the ASEAN-Korea Comprehensive Partnership (1989-2009)

8. Major: Southeast Asian Studies Code: 62.31.50.10

9. Scientific supervisor:Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Quang Minh

10. Summary of new results of the thesis:

- Discovery 1:The thesis has shown that the transformations in the process of building the ASEAN-Korea Comprehensive Partnership (1989-2009) were clearly influenced by the changing international, regional, and domestic relations situation after the Cold War, and clearly reflected the changes in each side's perception of the partnership in the new developments of the world and regional situation.

- Discovery 2:The thesis shows that the South Korea-ASEAN relationship initially stemmed from the need to ensure security, but was most effective in the economic field. Before the Cold War, South Korea's relationship with ASEAN, while driven by security concerns, did not achieve practical results due to the significant influence of the United States. After the Cold War, alongside the need to ensure security and cope with regional and global changes, the need for economic cooperation emerged.

- Discovery 3:The thesis pointed out the changes in the foreign policies of ASEAN and South Korea during the period 1989-2009 aimed at integrating into the regional mainstream, but they still failed to assert their role and position within that mainstream due to being distracted by numerous domestic and international issues.

- Discovery 4:Through an analysis of the transformation in ASEAN-Korea relations and the advantages of each side in the regional international situation, the thesis has identified the characteristics and impacts of this relationship on each entity, on ASEAN-Korea relations, and on the regional international order in East Asia. The thesis also concludes that ASEAN-Korea relations could become a leading factor in balancing the volatile relationships among neighboring countries in East Asia if their unique geopolitical position and special advantages in the region are effectively utilized.

11. Practical applications:

- This dissertation has contributed to providing a scientific basis for research on ASEAN-Korea relations in later stages, as well as on the development of this relationship. At the same time, the dissertation also provides practical data for theoretical research on Asian international relations, especially on the role of middle powers in international relations, as well as research on the East Asian region.

- Based on an analysis and evaluation of the achievements and limitations, and the role of the ASEAN-Korea Comprehensive Partnership, to clarify the changes in the perception of each other between the two entities, the thesis contributes, to a certain extent, the necessary scientific arguments to help formulate policies in relations with Korea as a member of ASEAN, helping Vietnam to form ideas to promote ASEAN-Korea relations, Korea-Vietnam relations, as well as regional international relations in general.

12. Future research directions:

- Continue to study the developments in the ASEAN-Korea partnership.

- ASEAN-Korea relations in various fields and among the Association's members.

- Researching the foreign policies of ASEAN and South Korea within the context of the international and regional situation.

13. Published works related to the dissertation:

ButLe Thi Thu Giang (2012), “South Korean government policies on the issue of Korean peninsula unification”,Journal of Northeast Asian Studies,(10-140), ISSN: 0868 – 3646, p. 15 - 24.

ButLe Thi Thu Giang (2014), “Views and policies of the South Korean government on the issue of East Asian integration”,Journal of Northeast Asian Studies, (2-156), ISSN: 0868 – 3646, pp.9 – 20.

ButLe Thi Thu Giang (2015), “South Korea in relations with ASEAN: from dialogue partner to comprehensive partner (2991 - 2009)”,Electronic journal of the Korea Research Center, Northeast Asian Research Institute.http://cks.inas.gov.vn/index.php?newsid=515.

- Le Thi Thu Giang (2015), 아세안 – 한국 관계: 대화 파트너에서 전발적 동발자로 (1991 – 2009),The 11^thWordlwide Consortium of Korean Studies Centers Workshop: Integrating into future – the Spreading of Korean Studies in Developing Regions, Fudan University, Shanghai, pp. 178–208. (“ASEAN–Korea Relations: From Dialogue Partner to Comprehensive Partner (1991–2009)”, 11th Conference of the International Association of Korean Studies Centers: Future Integration – The Development of Korean Studies in Developing Countries, Fudan University, Shanghai, pp. 178-208.

- Le Thi Thu Giang (2015), “The process of building a comprehensive ASEAN-Korea partnership in the East Asian political landscape (1989 - 1991)”,Traditional and Modern Eastern Philosophy, ISBN: 978-604-77-1830-6, World Publishing House, pp. 171–188.

INFORMATION ON DOCTORAL THESIS

1. Full name: Le Thi Thu Giang 2. Sex: Female

3. Date of Birth: July 15, 1977 4. Place of Birth: Thai Nguyen

5. Admission decision number: Decision No. 3676/QD-SDH, by the President of Vietnam National University - Hanoi.

6. Changes in academic process: No

7. Thesis title: The process of building ASEAN - ROK comprehensive cooperation partnership (1989 - 2009)

8. Major: Southeast Asian Studies Code: 62.31.50.10

9. Supervisor: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Quang Minh

10. Summary of the new findings of the thesis:

- Finding 1:The thesis points out the changes in the process of building a comprehensive cooperation partnership between ASEAN - South Korea (1989 - 2009) that has been directly influenced from the changes in international relations, regional and local context after the Cold War and reflected the changes in the perception of each side on the partners in the new developments in the world and regions.

But Finding 2:The thesis has also examined that Korean relations - ASEAN originally derived from the need to ensure security, especially in economic sectors. Before the Cold War, the relations between Korean-ASEAN came from the need to ensure security, however, the practical results have not been effectively achieved due to the influence from the domination of the US. After the Cold War, besides the need to ensure security and deal with these changes in the regional and the world context, the needs for economic cooperation appearred.

- Finding 3:The thesis points out the changes in ASEAN and Korean foreign policy during the period 1989 - 2009 in order to merge into the flow of the region, However, they have not yet confirmed the role and position in that flow due to being distracted by national and international issues.

- Finding 4:By analyzing the changes in the ASEAN - Korean relations as well as the advantages of each side in regional and international context, the thesis points out the characteristics and the impact of this relationship for each subject, for ASEAN - South Korea and the order of international relations in East Asia. The thesis also has confirmed that the ASEAN - South Korean relations may become a leading factor in balancing the relationships that are volatile between neighboring countries in East Asia in case of taking an unique geopolitical advantages in the region

11. Practical applicability, if any:

- The thesis has contributed to provide the scientific basis for the study of relations between ASEAN - South Korea in the later stages as well as the development process of this relationship. At the same time, the thesis also provides practical evidence for the theoretical study of international relations in Asia, especially the role of the power middle in international relations and East Asian studies.

- Based on analyzing and reviewing the achievements, limitations and the role of the comprehensive cooperation partnerships between ASEAN – Korea, we clarify the changes in the perception on the relationship the two entities. At a certain level, the thesis contributes the necessary scientific foundation to help the formulation of policy in relations to South Korea as a member of ASEAN and help Vietnam shape the ideas to promote ASEAN-Korean relations, Korea - Vietnam relations as well as international relations in general.

12. Further research directions, if any:

- Continue to study the transition in partnership relations between ASEAN - South Korea.

- Relations between ASEAN - South Korea on the field and between the members of the Association.

- Look at the foreign policy of ASEAN and Korea in international and regional context.

13. Thesis –related publications:

ButLe Thi Thu Giang (2012), “The policy of the Korean government to issue of Korean peninsula unification”,Journal of Northeast Asian studies, No. 10 (140), ISSN: 0868-3646, pp.15 - 24.

ButLe Thi Thu Giang (2014), “The views and policies of the Korean government to the East Asian linkage issues”,Journal of Northeast Asian studies, (2-156), ISSN: 0868-3646, pp.9 - 20.

ButLe Thi Thu Giang (2015),"Korea in relation to ASEAN: from dialogue partners to comprehensive cooperation partnership(2991 - 2009)”,Electronic Journal of Research Center Korea, Institute Northeast Asian studies,http://cks.inas.gov.vn/index.php?newsid=515.

- Le Thi Thu Giang (2015), 아세안 – 한국 관계: 대화 파트너에서 전발적 동발자로 (1991 – 2009),The 11^thWordlwide Consortium of Korean Studies Centers Workshop: Integrating into future – the Spreading of Korean Studies in Developing Regions, Fudan University, Sanghai, pp. 178 – 208.

- Le Thi Thu Giang (2015), “The process of building an ASEAN - ROK comprehensive cooperation partnership in East Asia politics (1989 - 1991)”,OrientalTradition and Contemporary, ISBN: 978-604-77-1830-6, World Publishing House, pp. 171-188.