An update from Korean Representative to the UN, Ambassador Oh Joon

Ambassador Oh Joon, the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Korea to the United Nations, graced the KDI School 6^th April to share some key issues regarding the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The forum was well attended as students were keen to get the first-hand account on the progress of the Sustainable Development Goal negotiations.

Ambassador Oh began by noting the current progress of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) which end this year. He highlighted the successes of the goals by addressing some global development problems as well as the challenges, especially in certain regions. He discussed the impetus behind the MDGs and shared some stories about how they were approved and implemented. The students particularly appreciated on receiving the insider’s view on the work of United Nations. This has also served as a great background for comparing and contrast between MDGs and SDGs. 

The main discussion revolved around the Post-2015 Development Agenda, specifically the proposed SDGs. Based on the MDGs and the Rio+20 outcome documents, the proposed list currently has 17 goals, which is more than the twice of the MDGs. This includes new goals which stem from the lessons learned from MDG implementation, such as reducing inequality and promoting sustainable economic growth. Other MDGs such as those on environmental sustainability are elaborated into a number of different SDGs, while others, such as those related to health, are consolidated into a single SDG.

Ambassador Oh emphasized that the key aspects of SDGs are increased participation and the roles of the private sector. He said that even though the process of SDG was not easy, it had benefited from the consultative process through even representation of different groups. The feedback from various people such as leaders, technical experts, civil organizations and the general public were also invaluable to the process.

Ambassador Oh concluded the session with an outline of priorities of Korea taking a lead on gender equality, education, inclusive growth and global partnerships. These are the areas that are crucial to the development. Active support would also be given to the policies that promote the rule of law, combat climate change, protect biodiversity and culture, as well as solve issues on energy. He noted that Korea has a lot to share in terms of development experience through initiatives like the Saemaul Undong. As such, Korea can serve as a bridge between developing and developed countries, providing balance on the areas of contention.

Ambassador Oh was impressed by the questions posed by the students after his presentation, noting that the questions were at the level he expected from the development professionals. He graciously answered additional questions which shed further light upon the importance of the SDGs, and also answered concerns on the coverage and depth of the SDGs. He shared his thoughts about what the whole picture of the final SDGs, the planned technical evaluation of the goals to determine its technical merits, and the next global development movement.

The special lecture by Ambassador Oh is a stellar example of the KDI School’s commitment to supplement classroom learning with real and practical knowledge. It was a great opportunity for the KDIS students to gain deeper insight on the workings of international development for leading to a better understanding of the issues that are driving global progress. 

By Marjorie San Pedro (2014 MDP, Philippines)