Abstract
This chapter discusses the acceptance of human security by the “ODA community” in South Korea. The authors examine official documents, academic publications, and interviews with stakeholders, to see whether the term “human security” was explicitly or implicitly used. The result shows that even though the South Korean government does not use the term very often, it has embraced the three freedoms, protection, and empowerment in its official development assistance (ODA) policies. While it is not clear whether the idea of human security has been fully implemented in ODA activities, it is noteworthy that the term has been explicitly used by the South Korean government. The chapter concludes by mentioning the possible utility of the concept with regard to future situations around North Korea.
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Notes
- 1.
South Korea’s ODA does not include its assistance to North Korea, since South Korea’s constitution includes North Korea as part of a larger Korea, and not as a separate country. OECD/DAC defines ODA as international development cooperation between nation-states. Thus, South Korea’s assistance for North Korea cannot be counted toward its ODA. Hence this chapter does not deal with South Korea’s assistance to North Korean refugees or other types of humanitarian support for North Korea.
- 2.
Implicit use refers to when the meaning of human security is embraced without explicit use of the term.
- 3.
Political parties have changed their names, and a more progressive government has taken office in 2017. Please note that the party’s name and political position—incumbent versus opposition party—is based on the empirical research in 2014.
- 4.
Eun Mee Kim, 2014, asked the Minister for clarification of his use of the term human security in his speech, and he confirmed his knowledge of the term and meaning.
- 5.
President-elect Myung-bak Lee, 2014, telephone communication with the Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon of the UN.
- 6.
Lee Myung-bak, 2008, Focus on Environment and Human Rights as Part of Human Security.
- 7.
The Saenuri Party’s Supreme Council member Hee-tae Park, 2014, comments made at the luncheon with the ambassadors from combatant nations of the Korean War commemorating United Nations Day.
- 8.
Although Moon lost the 2012 election, he was elected President in May 2017.
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Interviews
Government Source #1. 2014. Expert Advisor from the Prime Minister’s Office. Interviewed by the author (mailed questionnaire), July 9.
Government Source #2. 2014. Deputy Director of the Ministry of Strategy and Finance (MOSF). Interviewed by the author (mailed questionnaire), July 11.
Academia Source #1. 2014. Professor at Ewha Womans University. Interviewed by the author in Seoul, July 10.
Academia Source #2. 2014. Professor at Kyung Hee University. Interviewed by the author in Seoul, July 7.
Civil Society Organization Source #1. 2014. Director of Advocacy team at World Vision Korea. Interviewed by the author in Seoul, July 7.
International Organization Source #1. 2014. Head of the UNWFP Korea Office. Interviewed by the author in Seoul, July 7.
International Organization Source #2. 2014. Head of IOM Korea. Interviewed by the author in Seoul, July 4.
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Kim, E.M., Bae, S.Y., Shin, J.H. (2019). Human Security in Practice: The Case of South Korea. In: Mine, Y., Gómez, O.A., Muto, A. (eds) Human Security Norms in East Asia. Security, Development and Human Rights in East Asia. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-97247-3_10
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-97247-3_10
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