[INTERVIEW] Diplomacy is a whole new ballgame, say three women envoys

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[INTERVIEW] Diplomacy is a whole new ballgame, say three women envoys

From left, Cambodian Ambassador to Korea Chring Botumrangsay; Philippines Ambassasdor to Korea Maria Theresa Dizon-De Vega; and Chung Eui-hae, director general of the Asean and Southeast Asian Affairs Bureau of the Foreign Ministry, sit down for an interview with the Foreign Ministry's public diplomacy channel, the Koreaz, at the Korea Furniture Museum in central Seoul on Friday. [MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS]

From left, Cambodian Ambassador to Korea Chring Botumrangsay; Philippines Ambassasdor to Korea Maria Theresa Dizon-De Vega; and Chung Eui-hae, director general of the Asean and Southeast Asian Affairs Bureau of the Foreign Ministry, sit down for an interview with the Foreign Ministry's public diplomacy channel, the Koreaz, at the Korea Furniture Museum in central Seoul on Friday. [MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS]

Diplomacy is embracing non-traditional issues such as climate change and public health, presenting new challenges and opportunities for the profession, said three Asian women diplomats in Seoul on Friday.
 
“Our work has evolved in such a way that we're now dealing with issues that that we never thought diplomats would have to deal with, including climate change and poverty elimination,” said Chung Eui-hae, director general of the Asean and Southeast Asian Affairs Bureau of the Foreign Ministry.  
 
Chung joined fellow diplomats from the Philippines and Cambodia at an event sponsored by the Foreign Ministry and its public diplomacy channel, the Koreaz, at the Korea Furniture Museum in central Seoul.
 
“It’s been a very empowering, fulfilling three decades of my life, of both personal and professional growth,” said Maria Theresa Dizon-De Vega, ambassador of the Philippines to Korea. “It has allowed me to break certain rules and break certain stereotypes, and to show that I'm capable of doing things that people may not have thought I was capable of.”
 
Although being a diplomat often suggests an affinity for foreign cultures and heritages, the trio spoke of having an interest in each other's cultures from their youths.
 
“I’ve been a big fan of K-pop music from back in my university days, I remember rushing to Korean town to get CDs [of new releases],” said Chring Botumrangsay, ambassador of Cambodia to Korea, recalling stars of the early 2000s such as Seven, Rain and Shinhwa.  
 
“Because I grew up in Southeast Asia, I spent a lot of years in Singapore, Myanmar and one of my postings was in Timor-Leste,” said Chung, adding that she often cooks Southeast Asian dishes at home like adobo chicken from the Philippines or rendang, an Indonesian beef dish.  
 
“Asean to me is like a second family,” she said.
 
The following are edited excerpts of the conversation among the three about how their shared values and cultures aided their diplomatic work in the region. 
 
The 25th Asean-Korea Foreign Ministers’ Meeting was held recently in Phnom Penh. Please tell us about the meeting.
Chring Botumrangsay: In addition to the foreign ministerial meeting, we have had about 19 sideline meetings and 15 bilateral meetings, as well as nearly 30 joint statements. These covered a lot of ground, with the most important topics raised including regional peace, trade environments, and food security. What we agreed on had to be carefully calibrated, especially in light of the pandemic.  
 
Chung Eui-hae: It was also the first meeting to be held face-to-face since the outbreak of the pandemic. So it was a tremendous opportunity for us to discuss with our Asean colleagues how far we have come in terms of deepening our relations and to look toward the future to take our relations even further.
 
A new president was sworn into office in June in the Philippines, and this marked the first Asean-Korea Foreign Ministers’ Meeting for the Philippines since. What message did the Philippines convey at the meeting?
Maria Theresa Dizon-De Vega: Our priority areas remain maritime and public health, especially in the wake of the challenges of the pandemic. We push for continuing support for battling climate change effects in the region, particularly with the work of the Asean Biodiversity Centre headquartered in the Philippines. We remain supportive of the nuclear weapons-free zone in Southeast Asia, as well as on cooperative work for marine protection, including managing and controlling ocean debris and pollution.  
 
In addition to the Asean-Korea Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, Korea also engages with the region regularly via the Asean plus Three, the East Asia Summit (EAS) and Asean Regional Forum (ARF). How would you summarize Korea’s objectives in its engagement with the region?
Chung: All these fora work in conjunction to ensure that Southeast Asia and the adjoining regions remain peaceful, free and prosperous. A lot has been happening in the region, some good, some others not so good. But what is important is that we actively utilize these fora to ensure that we keep talking to each other, that any dispute is resolved peacefully, and that we reaffirm the value of dialogue in resolving any issues that affect the region's security. Asean has also been an integral partner for Korea in terms of [countering] supply chain disruptions, including the recent urea shortage. It's really a two-way street between Asean and Korea on many issues.
 
Which areas are in need of further cooperation for the continued development of the Asean-Korea relations?
Botumrangsay: People-to-people exchanges need to continue because they allow us to look at each other through our shared cultural history and understand each other. I also think we need to develop our cooperation on trade and investment security. As Chung mentioned, there's a huge potential for our cooperation on trade. On that note, the RCEP [Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership] that has been ratified by most of the members already is a step in the right direction.
 
The Asean-Korea Summit meeting will be held in November this year. What can we expect from it?
Chung: This will be a very exciting time for the Korean government at the highest level to re-signal its enduring commitment to our Asean friends and to the region in building a prosperous and peaceful area. Most probably the Korean president will be attending as did every president before him.  
 
Korean cultural content has become so famous in the Asean countries. Is there a K-drama or a K-pop song you enjoy the most?
Dizon De-Vega: That is a very difficult question to answer as I’ve been following Korean content since the 1990s. Most recently, “Extraordinary Attorney Woo” (2022) is definitely a favorite, because I'm also a lawyer, and it has very interesting insights into the Korean legal system, with a female lawyer character at the center of the story. “Misaeng: Incomplete Life” (2014) is another drama I love because of its insights into Korean office culture, which I find fascinating. And for some historical dramas, the first ever Korean drama I saw was “Jewel in the Palace” (2003). It was a big hit in the Philippines, everyone would rush home to watch it after work.
 
Botumrangsay: I’ve been a big fan of K-pop music from back in my university days, I remember rushing to Korean town to get CDs [of new releases] of Seven, Rain and Shinhwa. I also enjoy watching Korean dramas, though a lot of them tend to have storylines that go to extremes, so I make sure to have a tissue box ready or [get ready to] laugh my heart out. My favorites from my university days include “Stairway to Heaven” (2003) and “Sweet 18” (2004).  
 
Do you think your early exposure to K-pop and K-drama prepared you for your posting in Seoul?
Botumrangsay: In some ways, yes. Because I found that it helps to have that exposure to characteristics of Korean society. My experiences with Korean culture through its dramas and music helped me adapt quicker than I would have expected to my posting in Seoul.
 
Dizon De-Vega: It’s also part of our work, to know the cultural components [and] what makes a country like Korea unique. I also think a lot of people in Southeast Asia are interested in Korean music and dramas because they share some of the values put forward by them. There is a sense of familiarity that can be understood not only within the Korean context but within the larger Asian context. There is a connection that audiences in this part of the world feels.
 
When talking about cultural exchanges, we can’t leave out tourism. The most popular travel destinations for Koreans are Asean countries. Do you have any recommended sites to visit?
Dizon De-Vega: We've been fully open to tourists since April, so our Korean friends can look forward to going to the Philippines and revisiting the places that they missed and discover new places. I call the Philippines a destination for those looking for a gentler, serene and mindful travel. Our sites will allow people to relax, to take stock and forget their troubles. Flights to Manila, Clark, Cebu, Boracay are accessible once again, so we’d like to welcome our Korean friends back. Korea was the top tourist sourcing country for the Philippines before the pandemic and we are working to reach that again.  
 
Botumrangsay: The pandemic really changed the way that we think. Before, there was this nonstop go-go feeling, but with the pandemic, people started to invest their time into de-stressing. Travel in Cambodia will be just that. In Cambodia we have this culture of being very friendly, very accommodating. Angkor Wat and its many temples continue to be our number one cultural heritage destination for tourists. I hope many more Koreans will take the opportunity to visit Cambodia and explore its natural beauties and wonders.
 
Could you tell us about your lives as female diplomats?
Botumrangsay: For me, I found it to be a continuously interesting and challenging experience. Every day. I've always found something new to learn, and some challenges to face. Every day, I would focus on one thing that I can improve and whether my work was helping other people.  
 
Dizon De-Vega: In those three decades of my career as a diplomat, I got married, had a child, and it's been a juggling act, but it has also provided me with a platform to be of service to my country, to my people, and to the larger global community. There is a small decorative cushion I carry to my postings, which was given to me by one of my mentors, a senior woman diplomat. It says on the cushion, “Relax, there's a woman on the job.” So that is my mantra, and I hope that other future women diplomats will also take that on.  
 
Chung: My life as a female diplomat has been extremely challenging and enriching. Juggling a personal life as a diplomat can be challenging but it brings so many new opportunities for you to grow as a person. At this stage in my career, I'm very grateful that the ministry is getting better at supporting women and enlightening men. I think it’s very important that we make men our partners on our journeys. I'm ready to play a bigger role so that men or women coming after me will have an easier time to really discover who they are as persons and hopefully bring that into the work life.
 
[PHILIPPINES EMBASSY IN KOREA]

[PHILIPPINES EMBASSY IN KOREA]


BY ESTHER CHUNG [chung.juhee@joongang.co.kr]
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