Han Seong-sook, the Prime Minister of South Korea, emphasized on September 8 that "if peace is shaken, the foundation for growth is also shaken," stating that "peace and coexistence are not ideals but realistic choices for the people and national interests."
During her keynote address at the '2026 Seoul Security Dialogue' held at the Grand Lotte in Jung-gu, Seoul, she remarked, "Wars and conflicts in one region disrupt energy and supply chains, influence corporate production and investment, and ultimately affect jobs, prices, and the livelihoods of the people."
She highlighted the need for the international community to manage conflicts and seek common interests, noting that security issues extend beyond military concerns to have direct impacts on the economy and daily life.
Han also outlined the government's security policy, which aims to strengthen self-defense and deterrence while promoting practical diplomacy centered on national interests.
"The 'indispensable Republic of Korea' that the government envisions is not a country that advances alone," she explained. "It is a nation that, while equipped with self-defense capabilities and deterrence, seeks common interests based on practical diplomacy and pursues peaceful coexistence and shared prosperity through trust and dialogue."
She further emphasized the commitment to utilize South Korea's world-class advanced manufacturing capabilities, defense industry competitiveness, democratic experience, and the power of K-culture to create a safer and more prosperous world. She pledged to fulfill responsibilities in peacekeeping, humanitarian assistance, disaster response, and post-conflict reconstruction.
Han also shared her vision of linking peace on the Korean Peninsula to regional and international stability. "The peace we will create on the Korean Peninsula will not be confined to the peninsula itself," she stated, adding that it will serve as a foundation for stability in Northeast Asia and contribute to global peace and shared prosperity.
The Seoul Security Dialogue is a high-level multilateral security forum established by the Ministry of National Defense in 2012 to discuss peace on the Korean Peninsula and regional security cooperation. It was elevated to a ministerial-level meeting in 2023, with approximately 1,000 participants from 67 countries and international organizations, including defense ministers from four countries and deputy defense ministers from six countries.
This year's theme is 'Towards New Coexistence in an Era of Chaos.' Discussions will continue until September 9 on building a stable international order, changes in alliances and partnerships, the defense industry ecosystem and global supply chain resilience, peace on the Korean Peninsula, new technologies and future defense, and post-war recovery and reconstruction.
Han concluded by stating, "This is a forum for countries with different interests and strategies to discuss how to create greater common benefits. South Korea will take the lead in this endeavor and demonstrate responsible actions that link coexistence to common interests."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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