Permanent Mission of the Republic of Korea to the United Nations

International peace and security

International peace and security is one of the three pillars of the United Nations, alongside development and human rights. There are ongoing conflicts in many regions in the world, and the UN’s role in maintaining peace and security is ever more relevant and critical. Upon his inauguration, Secretary-General António Guterres declared 2017 a year of peace and set out conflict prevention as his key priority. Furthermore, in 2021, the Secretary-General proposed a New Agenda for Peace, in which he called for a comprehensive and holistic view of global security to effectively address increasingly complex challenges of the 21st century. Thus, the UN is expected to play a more active role in the international peace and security arena.

The Republic of Korea has actively participated in the UN’s peace and security activities to contribute to promoting international peace. Since becoming a member of the UN in 1991, the Republic of Korea has been a non-permanent member of the Security Council - the main organ entrusted with the task of maintaining international peace and security - twice within the brief 30-year period: 1996-1997 and 2013-2014. The Republic of Korea has also announced its candidacy for the 2024-2025 period. Furthermore, it has increased its efforts in the areas of peacekeeping. In particular, the Republic of Korea successfully hosted the ‘2021 Seoul UN Peacekeeping Ministerial*’ to provide a platform to discuss concrete measures to improve peacekeeping, such as levering technology and improving medical capacity of peacekeeping operations, and further advance Korea’s contribution to global peace and security.

* 2021 Seoul UN Peacekeeping Ministerial was the sixth iteration (following New York in 2014 and 2015; London, United Kingdom in 2016; Vancouver, Canada in 2017; and New York in 2019) of the largest and highest-level gathering in the UN peace and security pillar, where both defense and foreign affairs ministers of over 150 member states are invited.

The Republic of Korea is expanding its role in the UN’s efforts towards conflict prevention and peacebuilding. Having served as the Chair of the Peacebuilding Commission*’s Organizational Committee for the year 2017 and as the Vice-Chair of the Committee in 2016 and 2018 the Republic of Korea has been at the forefront in leading relevant efforts by engaging with various UN bodies and stakeholders and by playing a bridge-building role. The Republic of Korea is currently a member of the PBC for the 2023-2024 term, and is also increasing its contribution to the Peacebuilding Fund(PBF).

* Established in 2005 by the General Assembly and the Security Council, the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) has been mandated to play an advisory role for the relevant actors in post-conflict peacebuilding efforts. More recently in 2016, the PBC’s role increased and was strengthened through the adoption of the joint General Assembly/Security Council resolution on sustaining peace, mandating the UN to play a more active role not just in post-conflict situations, but also in all stages of conflict.

Furthermore, the Republic of Korea has been exerting its effort in combatting and preventing terrorism which is a serious threat to international peace and security. The ROK Government has actively participated in the UN’s counter-terrorism efforts including through implementing Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy which was adopted in 2006, as well as the relevant Security Council Resolutions. The ROK has also been stepping up its effort in countering and preventing violent extremism by addressing the underlying conditions conducive to terrorism including poverty and marginalization. The ROK Government adopted its “National Plan of Action for Preventing Violent Extremism” in 2018 following the recommendations of the UN Secretary-General, and has been continuing its counter-terrorism effort under a whole-of-society approach.

As a strong supporter of global counter-terrorism efforts, the Republic of Korea has provided voluntary contributions to the diverse counter-terrorism programs of the UN and takes a position that counter-terrorism measures need to be taken in accordance with international law, in particular international human rights and humanitarian law.

The Republic of Korea will continue to be an active participant of the UN’s international peace and security activities and contribute as a responsible middle power in line with our international status.