We have an opportunity of a lifetime, says South Korea ambassador

South Korea transformed from a largely rural agricultural country to an urban industrial one within a relatively short time. What special factors enabled that?
There are no “special” factors when it comes to the issue of development; there are only the same simple factors of every day development, only that there has to be the commitment and dedication to implement them.
South Korea in fact was behind Uganda in many aspects during the early ‘60s. When Uganda was struggling through difficult political, security and financial times, we were pretty much going through a similar situation. We committed to not having our future generation suffer those same tragedies. Therefore, it was sheer will and determination that pulled us through.

Uganda is largely rural and agricultural. What lessons do you think it can take from South Korea’s experience to transform its agricultural sector and develop?
Uganda is truly a country gifted by nature. There are very few other countries, even in Sub Saharan Africa, which experience two annual rainy seasons and which possess the kind of rich fertile soils of Uganda. Uganda also has a very vibrant and energetic young population. Therefore, in terms of the natural endowments, you have everything necessary to launch the country into its golden age of development.
All it takes now is to exert a lot of diligence and hard work in order to make use of these natural resources. South Korea did not have an easy journey to success, but our people had the will to apply good leadership and maximum effort to overcome the difficulties after the Korean War.
In practical terms, I’d like to recommend that Ugandans focus on the mass production of food and on the efficient management of farmers associations. Farming offers Uganda its most competitive edge in the global market.
While making a profit from them, we have to use farmers associations and create a value-chain-management system. Once the farmers start to realise profits and save money in their own pockets, the real middle class in Uganda will start to grow. Korea intends to offer support for this mechanism of growth in Uganda.

What contribution would you assign to foreign aid in South Korea’s development journey?
Korea is the only one country in world history which has turned itself from an aid-recipient poor country into a donor country. For a very long time now, various people, organisations and countries have come to the assistance of the Ugandan people in many different ways.
They have given Ugandans foreign aid, loans, development plans, and so-called advanced systems of their own.... But now looking at before and after, what difference has their support made? If we see no meaningful change, we have to think about an alternative way... It is time to think about the Korean model of development.
In 1953 when the Korean War ceased due the signing of the Armistice Agreement, there was practically nothing left in Korea. No shelter, no food, no infrastructure, basically no hope for the ordinary Korean.
In the 1950s and 60s, Korea was considered among the poorest countries in the world. In those days, we received a substantial amount of foreign aid and loans, just like many other developing countries.
There is a saying “Give a man a fish, you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, you feed him a lifetime.” We Korean people mastered how to effectively make use of this foreign support in learning relevant modern skills and technical knowhow.
We firmly refused to receive any support which was meant only for buying food alone. With these acquired skills, we solved the hunger issue and constructed our country’s infrastructure with our own hands. It is my sincere hope that we can transfer these valuable lessons and skills to Ugandans.
What is the most crucial element, however, is the spirit of self-reliance. We call it the “Can-Do Spirit.” It’s our intention to share with Ugandans how this “Can-Do Spirit” was vital in enabling us to put foreign aid to wise use, which eventually helped to build up a strong middle class in our nation.

Uganda has contracted significant debt from different lenders in an effort to spur development. Do you consider this a wise approach? What specific lessons can Uganda learn from South Korea regarding foreign debt?
Debt is not necessarily a bad thing if it is acquired for the right sectors and if the repayments do not over burden both the current and future generations. South Korea’s debt model followed the principle of delayed gratification, thus ensuring a big investment in building for the future instead of satisfying present needs. In this way, the future generation can actually have the means to pay back the debt. Uganda’s debt ought to be sustainable in the future, which is the best way to manage debt.

South Korea industrialised at a time when there were already industrial countries that presented competition. Do you think Uganda can ride on this experience and industrialise?
Competition is a good thing, as long as it is not the destructive kind. Industrial competition ensured that South Korea became more innovative, more skilled and that it invested more in sectors where it had a competitive edge. Uganda has so many unique products which it can offer to the world as long the right amount of investment is directed there.

Uganda faces a serious problem of corruption and South Korea recently had its former president sentenced to a long jail term over corruption. How do you rate the anti-corruption initiatives within the two countries?
This was another learning moment for us in South Korea. The crucial thing is that our systems were allowed to work. Uganda has got to build institutions such that these institutions are strong enough to operate when they are needed. Corruption thrives in a condition where people can manipulate the system, but if the system transcends any single person or group of people, then corruption, even when it happens, can be properly dealt with.
Ugandans ought to adopt the attitude that the leaders are there to serve the people and not the other way round. Leaders ought to be down-to-earth people and not simply moving around in big expensive cars. Accountability is so much easier when the leaders are seen to be “one of us”.

At what level are the initiatives to resolve the impasse between South Korea and North Korea?
As you may be aware, this last week presented the opportunity of a lifetime with the inter-Korean summit. Our two leaders have taken a very bold and courageous step in trying to ensure peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.
President Moon Jae-in is committed to the goal of ensuring that lasting peace is achieved with our brothers and sisters from North Korea. So I would say that we have come a long way to get to this stage, but there is still a long way to go. The same commitment that brought us this far will carry us along the way to our eventual destination.

The two leaders of Korea last week held a historical summit. Can you please give us an idea of how the talks went and whether we can expect a permanent resolution soon?
The 2018 Inter-Korean Summit was held at the Peace House, Panmunjeom on April 27. President Moon Jae-in and Chairman Kim Jong-un had two rounds of talks in the morning and afternoon. In the afternoon, President Moon and Chairman Kim attended a symbolic tree-planting ceremony, walked together across the Footbridge and had the summit banquet joined by the first ladies.
The two leaders declared the opening of “a new era of peace on the Korean Peninsula” and adopted the Panmunjeom Declaration.
President Moon and Chairman Kim discussed comprehensive and groundbreaking advancement in inter-Korean relations; alleviation of military tensions and adherence to the Non-Aggression Agreement; and achievement of complete denuclearisation and establishment of a peace regime on the Korean Peninsula. Chairman Kim agreed to shut down a northern nuclear test site in May this year while making the process public, as well as to shift the North’s time zone to align with that of South Korea.
I strongly believe that this summit has established the foundation for the sustainable development of inter-Korean relations. The two leaders successfully established principles to faithfully implement all agreements between the two Koreas and they came up with measures to guarantee implementation, thereby ensuring that improvement in inter-Korean relations remains irreversible.
They also agreed to pursue inter-Korean exchange and cooperation in order to advance mutual understanding and promote shared interests. They agreed to hold a reunion of the separated families on the occasion of the National Liberation Day on August 15 this year.
The summit also established a turning point to end the “cold war” and secure lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula, opening up a new era of peace on the Korean Peninsula.
The two leaders have agreed to build a permanent peace regime, establishing the foundation to end the longstanding system of hostility and confrontation that continued for 65 years and realise peaceful co-existence and shared prosperity.
And at the same time, they agreed on practical measures to prevent accidental military clashes between the two Koreas, contributing to the easing of military tensions and the establishment of a peaceful environment. Through these agreements, they have established a crucial opportunity to fundamentally change the international order surrounding the Korean Peninsula.
The international community has to note that the foundation for a virtuous cycle of the development of inter-Korean relations and denuclearisation has been established.
The two leaders have specifically and explicitly confirmed the pursuit of complete denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula and a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula, and announced to invite international experts and press to disclose the dismantlement process of the northern nuclear test site, leading to anticipation for North Korea’s active and cooperative attitude in future verification processes.
While firmly keeping to the goal of denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula, they also discussed practical measures that take into account past experiences in denuclearisation negotiations and the position of both the US and North Korea.
It is very much meaningful to have held the inter-Korean Summit during President Moon’s first year in office and they have agreed to hold the next inter-Korean summit in Pyongyang this fall, thereby securing momentum for the effectiveness and implementation of the agreements.
The most important thing at this juncture is that we Korean people and the Moon Jae-in government possess the strong will and the wisdom to overcome all the difficulties, to persuade North Korea, the United States and China that peace is doable. Since we have the strong will, the international community can expect a permanent resolution in the near future. We already made a great reap forward!
In the long run, the peace and prosperity of the Korean Peninsula will have a positive impact on Africa, including Uganda as well! Up until now, too many resources of the international community were committed to managing the conflict and confrontation on the peninsula.
Once the denuclearisation and peace treaty come true in Korea, the other conflict areas, including Somalia, will have more assets committed there and more interest from the international community.
And consequently Uganda and East Africa will have better chances to develop their economies. I think that is why we Koreans and Ugandans together have to pray for the achievement of denuclearisation and the peace treaty of Korea.

There have been perceptions that South Korea is a client state of the United States in as far as its foreign policy is concerned and as a result, South Korea has been a very shy player on the international stage. Is there any truth in this?
South Korea and the US are very close partners. Our friendship with America is what can be described as brotherly love.
We look out for each other in the same way that brothers would. And where our foreign policy interests interact, we are happy to work with our American allies.
Actually the US took a similar journey in overcoming the effects of the American Civil War as we did with the Korean War. Shared historical contexts help to bring us closer together.

The Pacific Ocean is becoming a contested area for an old power (the US) and an emerging power (China). What role can South Korea play to cool down the tensions?
South Korea does not interfere in the internal matters of other sovereign states. We have a brotherly relationship with both China and the US. Obviously these are complex issues which cannot be resolved in very few short steps. Our experience with inter-state conflict is that the only way to resolve it is to continually engage. Wherever we can facilitate this kind of engagement, and where we can offer anything from our own experience, we are happy to do so.