주유엔 대한민국 대표부

As delivered                                              

Security Council Open Debate

“Maintenance of International Peace and Security: 

New orientation for Reformed Multilateralism”

14 December 2022

Ambassador Joonkook Hwang

Permanent Representative of the Republic of Korea 

Mr. President, my delegation thanks India for convening today’s open debate on this overarching topic. We also appreciate the briefings by the Secretary-General, and the President of the General Assembly.

Let me begin by congratulating the United Nations for enduring for over 77 years, recalling its short-lived predecessor, the League of Nations. Indeed, the UN has played a significant role in making the world a safer and a better place. 

However, faced with multidimensional challenges and even new threat multipliers such as the pandemic and climate change, people around the world are now looking to the UN to play a bigger role and deliver more effective responses. 

As the President of the Republic of Korea stated at the General Assembly last September, our priority is to promote peace and prosperity by defending universal values such as human rights, fundamental freedoms, and the rule of law. We believe that this should also underpin the new orientation for the UN and multilateralism.

Against this backdrop, I would like to cover the following four points. 

First, my delegation believes that the General Assembly embodies the very essence of multilateralism, with its convening power to gather all Member States on an equal footing, on issues across all sectors. We should redouble our efforts to revitalize the General Assembly, including by streamlining the agendas and discussions, and devising monitoring and review mechanism for GA resolutions. In this regard, my delegation suggests that the ad-hoc Working Group on the Revitalization of the General Assembly focuses more on the implementation aspects of GA resolutions, coming up with some pragmatic recommendations.

Second, reiterating our support for the ‘New Agenda for Peace’ proposed by the Secretary-General, the UN reform, organizational or financial, should keep pointing towards conflict prevention and peacebuilding. In this context, we welcome the ongoing UN-AU cooperation. 

Third, we envision the UN expanding its role into new areas, and taking the lead in a data-driven world. The Republic of Korea will actively engage in discussion on the ‘Global Digital Compact.’ Our focus includes supporting the digital transformation of developing countries; contributing to global capacity-building on data collection, utilization, and sharing; and filling the normative vacuum to ensure that use of digital technologies does not undermine human rights. 

Lastly, on Security Council reform, our position was made clear in my statement at the General Assembly a few weeks ago. Expanding ‘permanent’ membership with or without veto significantly hinders the UN’s adaptability to constantly-evolving international realities. Moreover, it will only be made possible at the expense of other countries’ opportunities to serve on the Council.

Mr. President,

As a result of 30 years of intensive discussion among Member States, it has been made clear by now that most of us do not oppose the increase of non-permanent, elected members. However, no meaningful action has been taken so far mainly due to some confusion about the basic concept and terms of permanent membership, as well as disagreements on who the new permanent members would be, assuming that such permanent members cannot be replaced forever.

My delegation doubts whether these questions surrounding permanent membership can be resolved in the coming years, given the acute national interests at stake for each country, or group of countries. Considering the urgency of SC reform, and being mindful that SC reform efforts should not create another division in the UN, we must strive to proceed with realistic perceptions and more reasonable approach.

In addition, the Security Council should make attempts to modernize its agenda. There are growing threats in new domains such as cyber and outer space. A certain UN member state even trains cyber warriors to launch cyber-attacks on other countries for the purpose of destroying infrastructure, stealing information, and even generating revenue to fund nuclear and WMD programs. 

Mr. President, 

A true reform of the UN must have an actual impact on the ground. With this in mind, the Republic of Korea will cooperate with other countries to make the UN more agile and effective, while firmly upholding the principles of the UN Charter. I Thank you, Mr. President.  /END.