Establishment of the AEC(ASEAN Economic Community) and its implication for South Korea
What will be the ASEAN like in the time of the AEC? It may be too early to forecast the AEC in 10~20 years when the AEC just pulled up its anchor. Even short-term outlook is not an easy thing to challenge as emerging markets with high volatility consist of most parts of the region.
This could explain why negative voices concerning the future of the AEC started to be echoed. The question is whether the AEC can evolve itself something beyond a regional agreement body. Doubts are cast upon the significant disparity of the social and cultural environment among the member countries.
In addition, neither a single currency nor a central decision-making tower as those in the EU can’t be found. There exists considerable economic gap in the region as well.
For example, Singapore is acclaimed to be in the rich Northern Hemisphere while Cambodia only records per capita GDP of about 1,000 USD. In this sense, it is no wonder that a tough itinerary is anticipated on the way to the substantial integration of the AEC.
Establishment of the AEC(ASEAN Economic Community) and its implication for South Korea
Along with the ASEAN Political-Security Community and the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community, the concept of the AEC was born from the ASEAN 2025 adopted by the leaders of the ASEAN.
According to the AEC blueprint 2025, part of the ASEAN 2025, the AEC rests on four pillars; a single market and production base; a competitive economic region; equitable economic development; and integration with the global economy.
The AEC has been expected to draw huge attention from the international society ever since it came into the world. It isn’t too much to say that agendas of the AEC blueprint 2025 such as elimination of tariffs, facilitation of skilled labor mobility, liberalization of investment and promotion of connectivity have been greatly valued to the global community.
In fact, meaningful progress was already achieved since more than 70% of the intra-regional trade has been conducted free from any types of tariff.
Establishment of the AEC(ASEAN Economic Community) and its implication for South Korea
The ASEAN(Association of Southeast Asian Nations), the 7th largest economy in the world, seems quite noisy in the wake of the new year, 2017.
Assassination at the airport of the capital city of Malaysia triggered huge fury from all over the world as the North Korean regime is suspected of the mastermind of the incident. While Myanmar is under international criticism for the massacre of its minority group, Indonesia sees social conflict with controversy of the majority religious party's alleged attempt to exercise influence on the political sector.
10 ASEAN members are faced with their own weighty political or diplomatic issues as mentioned. However, all countries may share their uniformed look at the 'AEC(ASEAN Economic Community)'.
It is because the AEC came to the 2nd year of its ambitious inauguration 47 years after the establishment of the ASEAN in 1968.
Japan’s move to protect geographical brands in China and its implication to Korea
After completion, my research will be published in the form of a Korean book and an English article in the journal of Korean Academy of Commodity Science & Technology in about 3 months. Whenever chances are given either at home or abroad, I will be willingly presenting my book and article to the academic field and governmental sector.
As a former journalist, I wouldn’t sit idle to promote my publications to the media as well. As emphasized above, geographical brands haven’t been the talk of the town in the Korean academic field. Scholars have failed to spare enough time in delving into the importance of the protection of geographical brands overseas.
Against this background, my wish is that my subject will play a role of a stepping stone for full-fledged exploration on this issue in the mid-long term. If government officials get practical ideas from my project and put them into actions, it will be my excellent pride. This research involves three countries in Northeast Asia.
This frontier quest will prove itself to be useful contents to all related parties in the region if relationship among Korea, Japan and China sees rooms for improvement, as a result. If so, it goes without saying that my reputation as an expert on issues of intellectual property rights will be shining.
As such, I will have more chances to study on this field and even probably draw attention internationally. On this token, an exclusive and high-quality research will be of great help not only to myself but also to the growth of my organization, Korean Academy of Commodity Science & Technology.
Japan’s move to protect geographical brands in China and its implication to Korea
It is manufacturing and entertainment industry which has generated most disputes over the intellectual property rights between Korea and China. Except a few cases surrounding the use of geographical brands for Korean rice and hot pepper sauce in America, geographical brands haven’t developed themselves into big issues so far in Korea.
So studies and researches also have been focused on cases of private sectors, corporate activities in particular. However, keeping the ever-growing influence of China and recent ‘Korean Wave’ frenzy in China, it is little doubt that geographical brands will become hot-potato like issues soon.
Needless to say, voices of requesting protection of Korean geographical brands in China will be drawing greater attention as well. In this regard, Japanese government’s recent initiatives have meaningful implication to Korea. Japan’s efforts to apply for trademarks abroad and to present guidelines at home are what Korean government should learn for its sake.
In other words, this project will address a message that Korean government need to benchmark the researched cases and to come up with necessary measures to prevent potential troubles with China with no delay.
