Delwar Hossain
The study has demonstrated that Bangladesh-South Korea relations have evolved from recognition and a limited economic engagement to a comprehensive partnership in the present era. The growing partnership is widely visible in the areas of economy, diplomatic understanding, remittance, culture, education, and strategic domains. As the contours of regional and global economy are changing amid increased level of interdependence, paced by the forces of globalization and information technology, both the countries are deepening and widening their bilateral relations. Notably, in the changed geopolitical and security landscapes in the world, in general and Asia, in particular, Bangladesh and South Korea face common challenges that inspire the two countries to work together for mutual interests and cooperation. The study shows that the major thrust of the bilateral relations is economic cooperation where South Korea has pioneered international engagements in Bangladesh specially in the area of developing export processing zone (EPZ) and foreign direct investment (FDI). The historic decision of Youngne and Desh Garments to establish ready-made garments (RMG) sectors in Bangladesh as the maiden initiative in the late 1970s transformed Bangladesh as the dominant player in global RMG sector.
Set about in 1972, the bilateral relations have been remarkable in recent years. Based on mutual respect and shared norms of global peace, harmony and development, the two countries have successfully unlocked the horizon of intensified mode of interactions. From economy to politics and society to culture, they have consolidated their bilateral relations. Bangladesh has regarded South Korea as a ‘special friend’ and a ‘core partner’ for the immeasurable contributions of South Korea in areas of economy, society, culture, health and infrastructure. Moreover, Bangladesh has expected to get a sizeable investment from South Korea to realize its detailed infrastructure projects. Bangladesh is now expecting at least $21 billion South Korean investment in big infrastructure and other projects, including the country’s maiden subway and the Dhaka Circular Railway, under public-private partnership (PPP).323
Similarly, South Korea considers Bangladesh as a major development partner in South Asia for its huge prospects in economy, market as well as human resources. South Korea is enthusiastic to reach the relations to the new height and diversify its modes and scopes of engagements. During his visit to in 2019, South Korean Prime Minister Lee Nak-yeon expressed his interests to further the relations in coming days. To his words, “As it has been over the last half a century, Korea will continue to be by the side of Bangladesh in the next half a century, for the welcoming in of a future of even fuller promise”.324
323 Jahidul Islam & Mehedi Al Amin, “Bangladesh expects $21b Korean investment in infrastructure,” The Business Standard, April 03, 2021, https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/infrastructure/bangladesh-expects-21b-korean-investment-infrastructure-226114, Accessed on December 18, 2021.
324 “Korea will be the most trusted friends to Bangladesh, together ushering in a shining future,” The Daily Sun, March 25, 2021, https://www.daily-sun.com/post/543417/Korea-will-be-the-most-trusted-friends-to-Bangladesh-together-ushering-in-a-shining-future, Accessed on December 18, 2021.
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Over the past five decades, both countries have traveled a long way. South Korea has been one of the top partners of trade and investment, providers of ODA and facilitators in areas of health, education and infrastructure. There is a genuine scope to widen the bilateral ties based on diversification of economic relations, particularly trade. It becomes an imperative when we look at the comparative assessment of bilateral relations of both the countries with their neighbors and regional countries. The current mode of the relations seems inadequate when the regional countries are thriving on diversifying their relations, transcending the national and regional boundaries.
Bangladesh and South Korea could have done more when there are suitable terms and favorable environment between them. Notably, there are no such issues of common concerns and worries that harm the bilateral relations in essence. In this regard, it is expected that the relations must embrace new dynamics with renewed vigor. Moreover, it is high time for both the countries to forward the relations to the next level, particularly when Bangladesh has thrust on developmental aspirations along with the high demand of FDI and ODA and South Korea has keen interests to be a reliable partner of Bangladesh to make an example of a natural friend. In a nutshell, Bangladesh wants what South Korea has and South Korea desires what Bangladesh has. Thus, the confluence of attributes and interests can transform the relations into a great one.
Challenges, prospects and suggestions
The bilateral relations between the two countries are about to turn on 50 years in 2022. During these years there are remarkable progresses to note. But there are also some challenges which may create impediments to improve relations. The challenges can be noted here. First, on political domain, frequent political engagements between the two are a challenge. Arranging regular visits of political leaderships, diplomatic envoys has been a notable challenge. For instance, high level visits of political leaders are not so frequent. Second, facilitating constant diplomatic conclaves and measures is also a challenge to improve bilateral diplomatic relations.
Measure of foreign office consultation was initiated to assess processes of diplomatic relation and develop it. But unfortunately, it has not been executed regularly.
Third, on economic front, both countries haven’t able to turn deeper economic engagements, though the relations have reached to celebrate golden jubilee of establishing bilateral relations.
Even, South Korea has become successful to develop excellent economic engagement with India, the immediate neighbour of Bangladesh, but not with Bangladesh at the expected level. Fourth, developing further improvements on strategic-geopolitical relations is another challenge, though there are enormous prospects in this regard for both countries when South Korea is embarking on New Southern Policy (NSP) and Bangladesh’s geopolitical and strategic significance is growing in recent years.325
While there are few challenges, one can see huge prospects of the bilateral relations between the two countries in the changed context of regional and global politics. This research has identified prospects as mentioned below.
▪ Politically, due to the stable political order and homogenous democratic culture of two countries, there are opportunities of increased political engagements in bilateral and
325 Kathryn Botto, “South Korea Beyond Northeast Asia: How Seoul Is Deepening Ties with India and ASEAN,”
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Working Paper, October 2021, pp. 1-9.
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multilateral forums between the two countries. Both countries can grab the opportunity of developing the current state of relations when shared political beliefs, common colonial legacy as well as foreign policy values can be breeding ground of expanding the political relations. Supporting each other’s initiatives and policies on a befitting manner would be a prospective ground of bilateral relations.
▪ Diplomatically, both countries have leverages in this regard to reach out bilateral diplomatic relations to next level. The consonance of diplomatic objectives of promoting global peace and development and abiding by the rules and principles of United Nations’ vision of human rights and peaceful international order will be of great benefits in this regard. Regular high level diplomatic meetings and visits, joint diplomatic engagements, mutual recognition and supports to each other’s policies and initiatives in bilateral and multilateral forums can be the horizon of improved relations.
▪ In economic arena, though there have done notable progresses, both countries have to work more in this regard. Due to the rising economic growth, vast demography, huge market, aspiring developmental vision of Bangladesh on the one hand and proven economic partnerships role of South Korea in regard to FDI, foreign aid on the other hand will be a potential ground of furthering bilateral economic relations.
▪ In strategic and geopolitical domains, Bangladesh-South Korean engagements may produce strong partnership. When South Korea is embarking on New Southern Policy and forwarding its strategic vision of being a regional player in Indo-Pacific region and Bangladesh’s growing significance in geopolitical area accelerated by evolving dynamics in the Bay of Bengal and Indian Ocean region, both countries can exploit the opportunities for mutual benefits. Notably, new strategic dynamics in the region put forward by US’s Pacific strategy, China’s Belt and Road Initiative, Japan’s idea of Free and Open Indo-Pacific will create a new framework of cooperation for both countries.
▪ In terms of human development and non-traditional security aspects, there is profound potentials to extend the relations to new height. As Bangladesh is enjoying demographic dividends and devising its plans to invest in human capital development as well as working in meeting the global standard of climate change directives and human rights development, South Korea can be the best one in this regard to extend cooperative hands.
Lenin observes, “There are decades where nothing happens; and there are weeks where decades happen”.326 One may argue that decades have passed where both the nations haven’t progressed to the aspired level, but there are prospects which can be realized with proper plans and developments within a short span of time. As both countries have thrusts on cooperation, the relations will go further with new dimensions in the next fifty years. It just needs proper planning and utilization of opportunities both countries enjoy. Though there are some challenges in the relations, there are even more possibilities. In this connection, the study suggests some measures for further strengthening of Bangladesh-South Korea relations.
▪ As the bilateral relationship has limited scope and is less diversified, looking beyond the traditional mode of cooperation can an effective approach. Both countries may emphasize increasing their areas of cooperation i.e. diversification of the nature and scope of the relations.
326Scott L. Friedman, “There are decades where nothing happens; and there are weeks where decades happen’’ – Vladimir Ilyich Lenin,” Journal of Hepatology, Vol. 60, Issue 3, P. 471.