2nd KOREA-AFRICA FORUM SEMINAR

A statement delivered at the 2nd Korea-Africa Forum Seminar on November 15, 2007, discussing the historical ties between South Africa and the Republic of Korea, the developmental challenges facing Africa, and the potential for Africa to learn from Korea's rapid economic transition from a war-ravaged nation to a developed economy.

• South Africa and the Republic of Korea share historic ties dating back to the Korean War (1950-53), during which South Africa's Air-force 2nd Squadron, known as the "Flying Cheetahs", served as part of the UN Allied Forces.
• Africa possesses significant natural resources, including rare minerals and a growing share of global crude oil output, and represents approximately 30 per cent of UN membership across 53 countries.
• Africa faces severe developmental obstacles, including a GDP per capita estimated at US$ 520 up until 2000, with 40 per cent of the population living on less than S$ 1 a day. The continent's global trade share is only 2 per cent, and 40 per cent of trade imports are used to pay debts and interest on foreign loans.
• Critical infrastructure gaps exist across Africa, specifically in telecommunications, electricity, roads, and railways, including a lack of networks connecting Cairo, Egypt, to Cape Town, South Africa, and from Dakar in the west to the Horn of Africa in the east.
• The Republic of Korea transitioned from a developing to a developed country within 50 years, joining the OECD in 1996. Its GDP per capita in the 1950s was US$ 74, and in the 1960s it was US$ 80, which was lower than that of Ghana.
• Under President Park Chung-Hee (1961-1978), Korea achieved industrialization through a market-orientated authoritarian regime that prioritized high economic growth over redistribution and social justice, utilizing self-mobilization programmes and the "New Village Movement" (Saemoul Undong) to improve rural life.
• Korean diplomacy in Africa is centered on three primary objectives: promoting mutual global prosperity, accessing Africa's energy and resources as an emerging market, and supporting a more balanced international order as Africa's influence grows.

APA

Human, N. K. (2007). 2nd KOREA-AFRICA FORUM SEMINAR. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/safp_kaf_korea_dfa_speech_20071115.pdf

Chicago

Human, Nina Karen. 2nd KOREA-AFRICA FORUM SEMINAR. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2007. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/safp_kaf_korea_dfa_speech_20071115.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Human |first1=Nina Karen |title=2nd KOREA-AFRICA FORUM SEMINAR |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=15 November 2007 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/safp_kaf_korea_dfa_speech_20071115.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{human20072nd, author = {Human, Nina Karen}, title = {{2nd KOREA-AFRICA FORUM SEMINAR}}, publisher = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2007}, month = nov, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/safp_kaf_korea_dfa_speech_20071115.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }