Minister Kang Kyung-wha Attending the Munich Security Conference: "Democracy, Rule of Law, and Human Rights Are Universal Human Values, Not Just Western Values"

First Korean Foreign Minister to Speak as MSC Panelist
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[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Kang Kyung-wha, Minister of Foreign Affairs of South Korea, attending the Munich Security Conference (MSC) held in Munich, Germany, emphasized that values such as democracy, the rule of law, and human rights, which form the foundation of multilateralism, are no longer Western values but universal values for all humanity.

On the 14th (local time), Minister Kang attended the opening ceremony of the 56th Munich Security Conference held in Munich, Germany, and subsequently spoke at the plenary session on the crisis of multilateralism. She participated alongside Heiko Maas, German Foreign Minister, and Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Indian Foreign Minister. This is the first time a South Korean foreign minister has participated as a panelist at the MSC.

The Munich Security Conference, established in 1963, is the world's largest annual international security forum, often regarded as the Davos Forum of the security sector. This year’s conference was attended by over 350 participants, including heads of state, foreign ministers, defense ministers, and members of parliament from major countries.

In her main session remarks, Minister Kang emphasized that values such as democracy, the rule of law, and human rights, which have been the foundation of multilateralism, are no longer Western values but universal human values, and expressed South Korea’s role and commitment to strengthening multilateralism.

She particularly mentioned that the Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia, where regional cooperation mechanisms are absent, are places that most need the spirit of multilateralism, and stressed that although progress in the Korean Peninsula peace process has been slow, efforts to continue it will be made.

She also introduced the South Korean government’s efforts to practically guarantee peace and security on the Korean Peninsula through multilateral initiatives such as designating the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site and establishing the DMZ as an international peace zone.

Furthermore, marking the 75th anniversary of the United Nations (UN), she evaluated efforts to spread and strengthen the spirit of global citizenship among the younger generation worldwide through dialogue with young people around the world, citing the Academy Award win of the film “Parasite” as a cultural example with universal appeal.

Foreign ministers from Germany, India, and others who spoke also emphasized that the role of multilateralism will become increasingly important and that all countries must make more active efforts. Voices criticizing the United States were also heard. German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier criticized nationalism in his opening speech, pointing out that the United States, Russia, and China are fostering distrust and insecurity worldwide and engaging in a new nuclear arms race. He referred to former U.S. President Donald Trump’s slogan “Make America Great Again,” stating, “The U.S. government, our closest ally, rejects the idea of the international community.”

Heiko Maas, German Foreign Minister, mentioned that with the United States unwilling to play the role of the world’s policeman, European countries need to maintain and strengthen the multilateral order and take a more active role in transatlantic security cooperation and stabilizing the Middle East and North Africa regions.

Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Indian Foreign Minister, pointed out that the international order is transitioning to a multipolar system as economic and political power rebalances from the West to Asia and other regions, reducing the West’s role, and in this context, the role of multilateralism will become more important.

In response, Senator Lindsey Graham explained that the U.S. government is not undermining the multilateral order but seeks to reform multilateral institutions in the interest of a fairer distribution of responsibilities.

A Foreign Ministry official stated, “This is the first time our foreign minister has been invited as a panelist to the plenary session at the Munich Security Conference, which seems to reflect expectations regarding South Korea’s role in strengthening multilateralism,” adding, “Minister Kang’s participation in this conference is evaluated as a good opportunity to convey South Korea’s commitment to strengthening the rules-based order as a responsible middle power to the international community.”