Victor Cha, senior vice president for Asia and Korea president of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), made the case and emphasized the need for G7 leaders to implement "serious" reforms to improve the group's capabilities, effectiveness and legitimacy. , Yonhap. the news agency reported.
His call came as President Yoon Suk Yeol's government has sought South Korea's role as a "pivotal global state" to further contribute to addressing a growing list of global issues in line with the country's increased global stature.
"The G7 must transform from an old club of financiers chatting about monetary policy to a coalition of like-minded, action-oriented partners inspired to sustain the rules-based international order by addressing issues ranging from Ukraine to digital security. "Cha said. in an op-ed he contributed to Yonhap news agency on Saturday.
"To do this, G7 leaders must consider serious reforms that improve the group's capabilities, effectiveness and legitimacy. Expanding membership to include Korea would be an important step in the right direction," he added.
His op-ed came after the G7 leaders, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Britain and the United States.
Yoon was not invited there as the host country, which has exclusive authority on the guest list, focusing on migration, among other major issues. He attended the G7 summit in Hiroshima, Japan, last year.
"But it is clear that South Korea should not only be invited to the G7 but also become a permanent member," he said.
Cha corroborated his argument in favor of South Korea's entry into the G7 forum, cataloging a series of examples that highlight South Korea's growing capacity and role on the global stage.
In particular, he cited a recent CSIS report showing that Seoul can contribute to the G7's expanded agenda of global issues, including economic security, digital competitiveness, climate change, food security, nonproliferation and Ukraine.
"South Korea is ranked above Italy and just below Japan in total performance," she said, citing the report.
"In digital competitiveness, Korea ranks higher than all G7 members except the United States and the United Kingdom. And in Ukraine, South Korea was one of the largest providers of humanitarian assistance last year."
Cha also said South Korea offers a combination of "reliability" and "effectiveness," which G7 leaders value as the hallmark of their group.
He then noted that South Korea's status meets the G7 "standard."
"South Korea is an advanced industrialized democracy, a member of the OECD, and is the first former aid recipient to become a member of the OECD donor club," she said, referring to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development.
Cha also said South Korea would add "diversity" to the G7 forum in "numerous ways."
"Including more views from Asia is critical for the future of the G7 if it is to be a leader in global affairs," she said.
"The entire vast region of Asia is currently represented by a single country: Japan."
She noted that Japan is the "outspoken" opponent of South Korea joining the G7.
"The reasons for this opposition are not clear," she said.
"This arises not only from a desire to occupy Asia's only seat, but also from a sense of entitlement as, historically, the only great power in the region."
His call came as President Yoon Suk Yeol's government has sought South Korea's role as a "pivotal global state" to further contribute to addressing a growing list of global issues in line with the country's increased global stature.
"The G7 must transform from an old club of financiers chatting about monetary policy to a coalition of like-minded, action-oriented partners inspired to sustain the rules-based international order by addressing issues ranging from Ukraine to digital security. "Cha said. in an op-ed he contributed to Yonhap news agency on Saturday.
"To do this, G7 leaders must consider serious reforms that improve the group's capabilities, effectiveness and legitimacy. Expanding membership to include Korea would be an important step in the right direction," he added.
His op-ed came after the G7 leaders, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Britain and the United States.
Yoon was not invited there as the host country, which has exclusive authority on the guest list, focusing on migration, among other major issues. He attended the G7 summit in Hiroshima, Japan, last year.
"But it is clear that South Korea should not only be invited to the G7 but also become a permanent member," he said.
Cha corroborated his argument in favor of South Korea's entry into the G7 forum, cataloging a series of examples that highlight South Korea's growing capacity and role on the global stage.
In particular, he cited a recent CSIS report showing that Seoul can contribute to the G7's expanded agenda of global issues, including economic security, digital competitiveness, climate change, food security, nonproliferation and Ukraine.
"South Korea is ranked above Italy and just below Japan in total performance," she said, citing the report.
"In digital competitiveness, Korea ranks higher than all G7 members except the United States and the United Kingdom. And in Ukraine, South Korea was one of the largest providers of humanitarian assistance last year."
Cha also said South Korea offers a combination of "reliability" and "effectiveness," which G7 leaders value as the hallmark of their group.
He then noted that South Korea's status meets the G7 "standard."
"South Korea is an advanced industrialized democracy, a member of the OECD, and is the first former aid recipient to become a member of the OECD donor club," she said, referring to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development.
Cha also said South Korea would add "diversity" to the G7 forum in "numerous ways."
"Including more views from Asia is critical for the future of the G7 if it is to be a leader in global affairs," she said.
"The entire vast region of Asia is currently represented by a single country: Japan."
She noted that Japan is the "outspoken" opponent of South Korea joining the G7.
"The reasons for this opposition are not clear," she said.
"This arises not only from a desire to occupy Asia's only seat, but also from a sense of entitlement as, historically, the only great power in the region."
