For the first time since the end of the 1950-53 Korean War, South Korea, under the helm of President Moon Jae-in, has effectively been embedded in the regional scheme of things --political/security, economic and social/cultural. The country's previous four presidents -- Kim Dae-jung, Roh Moo-hyun, Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye -- tried to do the same but sadly they repeatedly failed. Every time these leaders wanted to focus on Southeast Asia and South Asia, something happened in the Northeast, the Korean Peninsula in particular, that immediately distracted them. They became mesmerised and forgot the region. There was no consistency whatsoever.
This time around, Mr Moon is trying something different. Instead of reheating the soup again, he is positioning South Korea in the ongoing region-building efforts in the Indo-Pacific, trying to shape it as never before. He has been travelling widely in the region and beyond -- already pledging to visit all Asean countries during his first two years in office.
Kavi Chongkittavorn is a veteran journalist on regional affairs.
