Happy Birthday, “ASEAN”!

August 8, 2024

SEOUL – Today marks the 57th anniversary of the founding of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), celebrated as ASEAN Day.

In the aftermath of World War II, the international political landscape became increasingly unpredictable with the tensions of the Cold War, a phenomenon that did not pass by the Southeast Asian region. In response, five countries – Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand – issued the ASEAN Declaration on August 8, 1967, leading to the formation of ASEAN.

The organization’s stated goals were to promote regional peace and economic development. Subsequently, Brunei Darussalam, Vietnam, Lao PDR, Myanmar, and Cambodia joined the organization, expanding it to the current 10 ASEAN member states.

Although Korea is not a member of ASEAN, ASEAN – often referred to as Southeast Asia – is familiar to Koreans in many ways. ASEAN foods such as nasi goreng and rice noodles are widely enjoyed by Koreans. In the entertainment industry, Lisa of BLACKPINK and Minnie of (G)I-DLE, both from ASEAN countries, are notable figures. Professional volleyball player Megawati Pertiwi and billiards player Sruong Pheavy are among the most prominent athletes in the Korean sports scene.

Southeast Asia is the most popular tourist destination for Koreans. The number of ASEAN tourists visiting Korea is also on the rise, with about 660,000 nationals residing in Korea and about 100,000 students studying in Korea. In fact, ASEAN and Korea share a similar traditional culture and mindset, largely shaped by their shared rice culture and agricultural traditions. In addition, both regions share a history of colonialism. The Philippines and Thailand sent approximately 14,000 troops during the