Is it possible to’withdrawal of additional sanctions and all members’…Korea’s Myanmar dilemma

With the situation in Myanmar getting worse and worse, the government has struggled over the level of condemnation and additional sanctions against the military. It is an opportunity to actively participate in the movement to defend human rights and democracy led by the United States, but at the same time, it is necessary to consider the concern that local businesses and Koreans will suffer retaliation.to be.

The government is currently in Myanmar Simultaneous review of’extra sanctions’ and’withdrawal of all’ cardsI’m doing it. Earlier, Minister of Foreign Affairs Eui-yong Eui-yong said at a press conference on the 31st of last month that “we are considering additional sanctions if necessary,” and “we are preparing to withdraw a significant number of Koreans within 24 hours.” Previously, on the 12th of last month, the government announced its own sanctions on ▶ halting military exchanges with Myanmar ▶ banning the export of military supplies such as tear gas and ▶ reviewing development cooperation projects except for humanitarian projects.

One of the additional sanctions currently possible is against Myanmar. Suspension of official development assistance (ODA) businessto be. Earlier, the government announced that it would review the development cooperation project with Myanmar at the public-private level, but first of all, there is a way to cut off the government-led ODA project. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the 5th, the government’s ODA provided to Myanmar, combined with paid and free aid, amounted to about 90 million dollars in 2019 and 110 million dollars in 2020. As the Japanese government announced last month that it would suspend new ODA projects in Myanmar for the time being, it is also discussed how Korea and Japan will implement pressure measures against Myanmar in areas such as ODA projects.

Currently, Korea is the only Asian country that has announced its own sanctions against Myanmar, and is actively taking steps to review additional sanctions. Until now, when the international community, including the United States, criticized the human rights and democracy of China and North Korea, South Korea has maintained a cautious position in consideration of relations between South Korea, China, and North Korea.
In this situation, it seems that the decision to take it as the first opportunity to show that’Korea can also play its part for human rights and democracy’ was also attributable to showing a positive attitude toward the Myanmar crisis. Sook-jong Lee, professor of public administration at Sungkyunkwan University, said, “Korea has democracy as a national asset such as the legacy of the 5.18 Gwangju democratization movement in the past.” Most suitable”Said.

However, if the government imposes additional sanctions, there is a possibility that it will be a burden on diplomatic relations with Myanmar in the future or damage to Korean people and businesses in the region. In fact, they are reluctant to directly sanction Myanmar, except for some countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom.
Earlier last month, the United States announced that it would cease all trade, including the 2013 Basic Trade and Investment Agreement with Myanmar, and jointly imposed sanctions on companies run by the Myanmar military in cooperation with the United Kingdom. However, there are no effective sanctions or unified countermeasures at the international level. The UN Security Council condemned the killing of civilians by the Myanmar military on the 1st, but it was only a verbal warning due to opposition from China and Russia. Even in ASEAN, where Myanmar belongs, there is no unified response due to the different internal circumstances and interests of each member country. Some say the temporary suspension of ASEAN member status in Myanmar as a means to pressure the military, but it is unclear whether it will come true.

The withdrawal of all Koreans is also difficult in reality. On the 3rd, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a’recommendation for withdrawal’, which is the third stage of travel warning throughout Myanmar. Currently, there are 250 Korean companies in Myanmar and 3,000 Koreans remain. After the Myanmar military declared a state of emergency in February, a total of 411 Koreans returned to Korea for about two months until the 4th.
The government is supporting the movement of Korean residents by increasing temporary flights three times a week starting this month, and there are a total of 274 Koreans who have booked flights by the 27th. In addition, more than 100 people have expressed their intention to return to Korea through the Embassy of Myanmar and the Korean Association, and more than 400 Koreans are planning to return to their country in the future. Officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs met with reporters on the 5th and said, “I will not have a civil war right away, but the military will not be able to withdraw and the protesters will not lose their will, so the situation will continue quite a bit.”Said.

However, it is pointed out that no matter how deteriorating the situation, most of the Koreans who make a living locally will not be able to easily turn to Korea. Currently, of the 250 Korean companies that have entered Myanmar, nearly 100 are sewing factories, and the rest are 28 financial companies. These companies are concerned that once they withdraw from Myanmar they will not be able to return. Jang Joon-young, a professor at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, Southeast Asia Research Institute, said, “We should take the withdrawal measure when we are determined not to engage in any exchanges with Myanmar in the future.” It takes several times more time.”Pointed out.

Reporter Park Hyun-joo [email protected]