People, Prosperity, and Peace:

The ASEAN-ROK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in the Indo-Pacific

- VICTOR ANDRES C. MANHIT

During the formal launch of the Philippines as the 2026 Chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. presented the theme "Navigating our Future, Together." This focuses on three priorities: peace and security anchors, prosperity corridors, and people empowerment.

As ASEAN Chair, the Philippines now has the duty to advance continued regional efforts toward peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.

We look towards fortifying partnerships with countries that share the regional bloc’s values. And at the outset, it has been evident that the Republic of Korea (South Korea) is one such country. In fact, the partnership between ASEAN and South Korea was elevated to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) status last year.

We talked about this during the recently held ASEAN-Korea forum co-organized with the Stratbase Institute. During the forum, South Korean Ambassador to the Philippines Lee Sang-hwa said their President had reaffirmed ASEAN as a central pillar of Korea’s foreign policy.

The ASEAN is now Korea’s third-largest trading partner and third-largest destination for foreign direct investment.

It is evident that Korea’s Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with ASEAN has grown from the Korea-ASEAN Solidarity Initiative and to the New Southern Policy. These developments solidify Korea’s aim for stronger partnerships and mutual prosperity.

Prof. Jae Hyeok Shin, CEO of Geopolitics Insight and Director of the Korea University ASEAN Center, underscored that the CSP should function not merely as a symbolic upgrade but as a practical roadmap for joint growth and stability amid global disruption.