Special Op-Ed by Singapore's Prime Minister Mr Lawrence Wong for Chosun Ilbo

The following is an unofficial translation:

[Special Op-Ed] In an Uncertain Era, Strengthening the ROK–Singapore Partnership — As Baekjijang-do matdeul-deut

“The Miracle on the Han River” ROK and Singapore, Which Rose from Fishing Villages to Become Financial Hubs — Two Nations That Wrote Their Own Miracles

Delighted to Make My First Official Visit to ROK for APEC… Let Us Shape the Future Together as Strategic Partners

Prime Minister of Singapore Lawrence Wong

Prime Minister of Singapore Lawrence Wong / MDDI

The year 2025 marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Singapore and the ROK. I visited the ROK with pleasure at the invitation of President Lee Jae-myung. I am very pleased that my first official visit as Prime Minister coincided with this important milestone in our bilateral relationship.

When Singapore and the ROK established diplomatic ties in 1975, the two countries were facing similar circumstances. The Cold War was reshaping Asia. Both countries moved through an uncertain global climate and risked being caught in the currents of dynamic geopolitical change. At the same time, we grappled with difficult domestic challenges and lacked natural resources of our own.

Illustrated by Rhee Choul-won

However, the two countries confronted these obstacles head-on, and did not accept the constraints as destiny. The “Miracle on the Han River” transformed the ROK into an economic and technological powerhouse. Singapore likewise developed from a small trading port into a hub for commerce and finance in Asia.

The experiences shared by the two countries continue to bind them today. The world has once again entered a period of great uncertainty, and our two countries must once more adapt and find new ways to thrive. The great power rivalry has intensified. Protectionist pressures are rising, and the rules-based multilateral order is fraying. For open, trade-dependent economies like Singapore and the ROK, these challenges are not abstract. They affect on our people’s livelihoods and our long-term security. 

Singapore and the ROK are well-placed to navigate these stormy seas. Over the years, we have built excellent and robust ties. Our economies are deeply connected. We are among each other’s top ten trading partners. Bilateral trade has grown steadily in recent years. Singapore is the ROK’s fourth-largest investor, while Korean companies have made significant and growing investments in Singapore. Our cultural and people-to-people ties have flourished. Many Singaporeans are fans of Korean music, dramas, cuisine and fashion. Korean visitors and businesses have become familiar sights in Singapore. Such exchanges foster understanding and affinity in ways no treaty or agreement can replicate.

We are also working closely as part of regional and international bodies to form an open and inclusive regional architecture, with ASEAN at the centre. Last year, we upgraded ASEAN-ROK ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. We are pressing ahead with trade liberalisation through the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), and we are cooperating in pioneering frameworks like the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement (DEPA) to shape the rules of the fast-changing digital economy.

President Lee Jae Myung welcomes Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong (left) at the 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit held at the Hwabaek International Convention Center (HICO) in Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do, on the 31st of last month. / Courtesy of the Presidential Office

Building on this strong foundation, President Lee and I elevated our bilateral relations to a Strategic Partnership when we met in Seoul during my visit to the ROK. There is a Korean proverb: “Baekjichangdo matdeulmeon natda” [note: this translates to: it is easier to lift even a piece of blank sheet of paper when done together].  This is the approach we will take in our Strategic Partnership to tackle the challenges ahead.

First, the Strategic Partnership charts a roadmap for cooperation in forward-looking areas, including the digital and green economies, Artificial Intelligence (AI), as well as sustainability and climate change. We will complement each other and pioneer breakthroughs and solutions, and open up new opportunities for our people and businesses." Second, we will work closely to tackle common challenges – strengthening supply chain resilience, preparing our societies for ageing demographics, and adapting to rapid technological changes. We will consult each other regularly, and learn from each other’s experience in skills development, innovation and role design, so as to keep our businesses and labour competitive. Third, we will continue contributing to regional stability and global cooperation. A stable, peaceful and denuclearised Korean Peninsula is in our collective interest. Singapore stands ready to support efforts by all parties to encourage dialogue, reduce tensions, and work towards a lasting peace.

We will also continue working side by side in forums like APEC, the WTO and other platforms that uphold an open and rules-based global trading order, to enhance international cooperation and steward our global commons with long-term responsibility.

As the country coordinator for ASEAN-ROK economic relations, Singapore will continue to facilitate the upgrading of the ASEAN-Korea Free Trade Area. We will also support the ROK’s participation in ASEAN in emerging areas like digitalisation and the green transition.

For 50 years, Singapore and the ROK have shown what open and forward-looking countries can achieve when we work with purpose and confidence. The Strategic Partnership we have embarked on together is not just diplomatic rhetoric. It is a commitment to shape our future together.

With the shared commitment of our governments, the energy of our businesses, and the creativity of our peoples, I am confident that Singapore-ROK relations will continue to grow stronger in the decades ahead.

Courtesy of Singapore Economic Development Board

This is an unofficial translation. The original article can be viewed here.