ASEAN and the Republic of Korea established a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) in October 2024, marking a turning point toward a more future-oriented and strategic relationship. ASEAN has emphasized that the CSP must go beyond existing frameworks to foster cooperation that is truly meaningful, substantive, and mutually beneficial. The ASEAN–ROK Plan of Action (2026–2030), to be unveiled at the upcoming summit later this year, will serve as a roadmap for translating the CSP into concrete action.
To ensure the effective advancement of the ASEAN–ROK CSP, it is important to understand how ASEAN perceives Korea as a dialogue partner. Against this backdrop, this paper draws strategic insights to guide Korea’s approach to ASEAN, based on key findings from an online survey of ASEAN-based experts. The survey, jointly conducted with the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Indonesia, targeted foreign policy experts from ASEAN member states.