Reelected as UN Non-Permanent Security Council Member After 11 Years... Yoon: "Victory of Global Diplomacy" (Comprehensive)

180 Countries Out of 192 Participate in Voting
Support for Yoon Government's Diplomacy Including Global Hub Nation Initiative and Indo-Pacific Strategy
Expecting ROK-US-Japan Cooperation on North Korea Nuclear Issue and Ukraine War

President Yoon Suk-yeol on the 7th described South Korea's election as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the first time in 11 years as a "victory in global diplomacy." The Presidential Office and the government view that the Yoon administration's diplomatic direction, including the vision of becoming a global pivotal state based on freedom, human rights, and the rule of law, as well as the Indo-Pacific strategy, has gained worldwide support. They plan to strengthen activities contributing to global peace and security as a non-permanent member starting next year.

President Yoon said that morning, "Out of 192 UN member states, 180 countries voted in favor of our election as a non-permanent member," according to a written briefing by Presidential Office spokesperson Lee Do-woon. With this, South Korea will serve as a non-permanent member of the UNSC for the third time, following 1996 and 2013.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Security Council is the primary body responsible for maintaining international peace and security. It closely consults and seeks solutions on serious issues threatening international peace and security, including armed conflicts worldwide. If necessary, it is the only UN body that can make decisions binding under international law on UN member states. It consists of five permanent members known as the 'P5' (the United States, the United Kingdom, France, China, and Russia) and ten non-permanent members. The term for non-permanent members is two years. To be elected as a non-permanent member, a candidate must receive the support of at least two-thirds of the voting member states. In Africa, Algeria and Sierra Leone were elected unopposed, and in Latin America, Guyana was also elected unopposed. In Eastern Europe, Slovenia, supported by the West, competed against Belarus, an ally of Russia, with Slovenia winning the seat on the Security Council.

The Presidential Office evaluates that the Yoon administration’s global diplomatic strategy, emphasizing contributions to the international community during its first year, has resonated on the world stage. South Korea announced four key focus areas as election pledges: ▲contributions to peacekeeping operations (PKO) and peacebuilding ▲contributions to women, peace, and security ▲contributions to cybersecurity ▲contributions to overcoming climate change. A senior official from the Presidential Office stated, "South Korea has proudly entered the Security Council as a country that once received aid amid post-war devastation but now provides aid, discussing world peace and the free world order." The official added, "The unprecedented voting rate that broke through tensions around the Korean Peninsula reflects high expectations for the Yoon administration’s diplomacy." The official particularly emphasized, "President Yoon’s diplomacy, which has built solidarity with countries sharing universal values of freedom and human rights and has pursued responsible diplomacy as a global pivotal state, has gained international sympathy."

There are also views that South Korea can strengthen trilateral cooperation among South Korea, the United States, and Japan in the Security Council, with Japan starting its two-year term as a non-permanent member this year and the United States as a permanent member. South Korea has secured a position within the Security Council to raise its voice on North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats and human rights abuses, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and China’s military threats. This is the first time since 1997 that South Korea, the United States, and Japan are serving simultaneously as Security Council members. On the same day, Yoon Sang-bum, senior spokesperson for the People Power Party, said in a statement, "Since the UN Security Council is the only UN body with legally binding authority over member states, this election as a council member will enable South Korea to take a leading role in responding to North Korea’s repeated provocations and threats." He also urged, "Given ongoing issues caused by habitual vetoes from China and Russia, we must call for responsible roles from both countries and ensure that this council membership translates into diplomatic achievements through fostering favorable international public opinion."