Time to Join the G9

December 6, 2024

SEOUL – Amid the earth-shattering geopolitical changes of today, what should be South Korea’s new foreign policy objective in the coming new year? I would like to propose a membership of the G9 (Group of Nine). Together with Australia, Korea could try to become a new member of the rich countries’ club, currently limited to the G7 (the US, Canada, the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Japan). By joining the club, Korea can transform itself from a rule-follower to a rule-setter of global governance.

That possibility is not high, but not impossible either. Many pundits in international relations have recently proposed that idea as Korea’s position in the world ascends continuously. In a column early this year, Ronald Klain, President Biden’s former chief of staff, argued that the G7 has to be expanded into the G9, including Korea and Australia, as a counter-weight to the ever-growing BRICS. The five-member alliance of the emerging economies (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) recently accepted five new members (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Iran, Egypt and Ethiopia) to become a powerful political bloc largely composed of authoritarian countries. Klain believes the G9 of democratic countries can successfully curb the authoritarian slanting of the world.

Korea’s former Foreign Minister Park Jin elaborated that logic in a press meeting last month. Korea’s membership “will significantly expand the vision and philosophy of the G7,” Park said. “It not only helps Korea, but also promotes the democracy, free market, human rights and rule of law upheld by the G7.” He added “G7 Plus” has been a key project of the Yoon Suk Yeol administration as part of its efforts to make Korea the Global Pivotal State that plays a more