Global voice: People take part in a protest calling for the ouster of Yoon outside the National Assembly in Seoul. The country’s mature democracy and vibrant market economy are on par with those of advanced economies. — AFP
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 Group of Nine (G9).
Together with Australia, South Korea could try to become a new member of the rich countries’ club, currently limited to the G7 (the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy and Japan).
By joining the club, South 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 South 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 South 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, the United Arab Emirates, 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.
South Korea’s former Foreign Minister Park Jin elaborated that logic in a press meeting last month. South Korea’s membership “will significantly expand the vision and philosophy of the G7,” Park said.
“It not only helps South 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 South Korea the Global Pivotal State that plays a more active role in international affairs.
Park said the next G7 Summit in Canada in June 2025 will be a turning point for its possible expansion
As the most powerful member of the G7, the United States no doubt has the biggest say in admitting any new members. In that regard, incoming President Trump is not totally against the G7’s expansion.
While in office, he in fact proposed to turn the G7 to the G10, including South Korea, Australia and India. He even floated the idea of the G11, including Russia.
Now that Russia and India are out of question due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and India’s increasingly authoritarian Hindu nationalism under Prime Minister Modi, analysts said South Korea and Australia are the only viable candidates.
In many aspects, South Korea fully qualifies as a new G9 member. It is one of only seven countries in the world that have a population of more than 50 million people and a per capita income of more than US$30,000.
Its per capita income is now larger than that of Japan. South Korea’s trade volume is bigger than those of Italy and Canada. In terms of population size, it is also greater than Canada.
South Korea’s mature democracy, coupled with a vibrant market economy, is on par with those of the current seven members. Additionally, it boasts a highly attractive pop culture that captivates many young fans around the world.
Analysts believe the fast-changing geopolitical landscape of the world urgently requires the G7’s expansion.
The world is increasingly divided into the democratic and authoritarian blocs, exemplified by the US-China confrontation.
As noted, BRICS is gaining more support from the non-West world of the Global South. In addition to five new members, dozens of other authoritarian countries, such as Turkiye and Belarus, wish to join BRICS, challenging the US-led global world order.
Currently, the G7 accounts for only 10% of world population, compared with 45% for BRICS. In terms of gross domestic product, the G7 makes up 30% of the world’s total, smaller than 35% for BRICS.
While the G7’s economies grow by an average of 1.7% a year, that number is 4.4% for the BRICS.
Amid a waning G7 influence in the world, there have been some efforts to rectify that. The G20 was born out of that need. But the G20 has also faltered recently due to a divide within the organisation between democratic and autocratic members.
The G20 is not the only international organisation deadlocked due to the surging ideological chasm in the world.
The United Nations (UN) is also suffering from inertia as its Security Council is sharply divided between the three Western permanent members (the United States, the United Kingdom and France) and the two non-Western members (Russia and China).
Given the necessity for the G7’s expansion that can fill the void left by the sluggish UN and the G20, South Korea needs to lobby actively for a G9 membership. The biggest hurdle in that attempt could be Japan. As the only Asian member of the G7, Japan naturally opposes any new Asian members that can dilute its influence. — The Korea Herald/ANN
Lee Byung-Jong is a former Seoul correspondent for Newsweek, The Associated Press and Bloomberg News. The views expressed here are the writer’s own.
