This study aims at finding out (international) cooperation in the fields of culture, economics, and environment for promoting Korea-Cuba relations. Expected delaying of normalization of diplomatic relation between S. Korea and Cuba which it is not clear how soon this would happen, our research question focused on what strategic choices could be helpful to promote future relations for both countries.
Of course, it could be consider a giving up strategy as one-side method in negotiation of normalization of diplomatic relation between S. Korea and Cuba. However, even if S. Korea could not obtain overwhelmingly large benefits with getting in a situation, unilateral concessions would not be considered in a good way for international negotiation. If S. Korea also recognize the limited situation with win-set changes, such as by using strategies that would set a deadline for when given that it has limited, or no choice, this kind of pushing strategy is to work as a disadvantage for better negotiation. Beyond giving up or pushing strategy, therefore S. Korea must consider the changing market situation in Cuba such as a closely related with a possibility of America’s embargo release for Cuba in near future and a possibility of changing political circum stances, etc. and rather than being in a hurry to step on a course for strengthening ties, S. Korea must take actions in a way of more realistic methods with a long-term process for making normalization of diplomatic relations for both countries.
The other method is to creating special conditions by changing circumstances and inducing Cuban concession with some ways as below: First, as a little bit easy and a possible option, ‘Move Cuban Political Leaders’. We understand that Cuban political leaders have played a great role as important decision-making entity, especially in the context of diplomatic policy-making structure established more strongly and for a long time in particular after Cuban Revolution in 1959. By providing them strong incentives and leading them to keep away from N. Korea, it will lead to normalize diplomatic relations with S. Korea. However, in fact this strategy is not easy to realize as well, because Cuban diplomatic policies have been sustained for a long time on a basis of upholding loyalty and a cause for their foreign policies, especially with N. Korea as well.
Second, ‘Move N. Korea’. As Cubans make sense to talk about, “it depends on improvement the relationship between S. Korea and N. Korea” when asked about the most serious obstacle for normalization of diplomatic relation between S. Korea and Cuba and many point out by saying that recovering of relations with the communist N. Korea for S. Korea is the most important thing. However and in reality, there still remain a serious question about how would S. Korea be able to take a signal from N. Korea that it does not matter for the normalization and move into peace relation for both ones.
Third, ‘Move the USA’. currently the USA accomplished lots of a diplomatic achievements, such as diplomatic normalization with Cuba, reaching a great settlement on nuclear negotiations with Iran, etc. and from this same position and participation, the USA will play a leading role by participating a peace-building process and will contribute to rebuilding denuclearization zone in Korean Peninsula, as same as S. Korea and Cuban issue. Finally, ‘move the other neighbor country who has a good relationship with S. Korea and Cuba in Latin American region’. Of course, the third country who has friendly ties with both countries in Latin America could play as a leverage and persuade Cuba to join diplomatic negotiation. However, this strategy is also hard if we understand the complicated diplomatic geopolitics in Latin American region, in particular in the conditions of the dominant of left governments and other economic relationship as well.
Even this research identified there exists alternatives and methods mentioned above such as changing strategy and inducing the changing of circumstances, it is still hard to make a diplomatic normalization within a short period between S. Korea and Cuba. However, one principle which this research strongly suggest is that, regardless of when diplomatic relation achieved by using various strategies, it must be designed to improve relations with strategy and cooperation methods. Instead of considering when and result(e.g. normalization), this research focused more process and searched a various way of cooperation method, emphasizing on promoting human interchange and expanding people’s contacts, strengthening economic ties between S. Korea and Cuba, and finally two countries have a great potential for cooperation in a field of environment, or climate change issue.
Up to now, K-wave is booming and increasing friendly Korean image in Cuba and is another potential power, such as Korean companies who want to take advantage of Cuban opportunity through creating new business in Cuban market, or it helps an other catalyst to improve international development cooperation in the field of environment and sustainable development, climate change issue, all of these approaches will help to make a good relation naturally in near future even it will take a little bit long term each other.
Based on this awareness, cultural cooperation is possible with the following policy suggestions. We understand in many senses Korean culture and contents for entry into the existing Cuban market seems too early stage yet, because we can not know exactly what is the real consumer market and sometimes it is difficult to identify in-depth and various levels as well. However, already we have experienced and accumulated lots of materials and created useful methods for entering into the other Latin American cultural markets where are currently growing in the private sector. This kind of bench-marketing from other country in Latin America will be helpful to develop a new market approach for S. Korea into Cuba.
However, concerned about cooperation method and direction related with Cuban case, it must be more careful. Because of having a colonial history for a long time and economic blockade from the USA currently, sometimes Cuban cultural market has a great resistance against oppressive manner from other foreign culture. If we understand this national sentiment, S. Korea must adapt and access through just pure meanings of cultural exchange by mutual understanding and harmonizing it with in cultural contents (e.g. non-ideological materials), rather than showing off economic and technical superiority of S. Korea.
This kind of policy priority should be considered as an important guideline and adopted into real cultural cooperation activities each other. If we also understand the current popularity of the Korean culture and contents which is rising around the mania groups rather than the public in Cuba, cooperation must focus on appealing power and should have a high focus on selected targeting small groups and anticipating its spill-over to the public in near future. For example and based on the consumer survey, S. Korea should consider the popular ‘telenovela(television serial drama)’ as target type drama which match the tastes of Cuban consumers.
If we understand the main consumers for K-Pop is groups of teens and twenties and then they must be the first target for Korean television dramas, movies, etc. It is also necessary to introduce and access in conjunction diverse cultural contents, such as plays, musical, dance, and folk performances as well.
In addition, it is necessary international cooperation for building more broadcasting infrastructure in Cuba. and free showcase, fan autograph meeting will be good cooperation methods in enhanceing and expanding contact opportunity each other. In the case of Cuban consumers who enjoy Korean culture and if we consider the existing various and relatively diverse groups such as younger audience in K-Pop and other audience in movie market, and women and older people in dramas, so called 'line-up' is established at the moment. In the conditions of understanding this consumer variety in Cuba, from now the ‘line-up’ must be enhanced for every member of the household through creating an integrating genre that family member can enjoy all together. In other words, emphasizing the ‘family’ is the need to absorb all ages.
In the case of broadcast video contents, S. Korea-Cuba should participate in co-production process. if Korea has the varios skills and technologies in aspects of hardware(world-class level) for making broadcast video contents, Cuba has various culture, natural environment and artistic sensibility. It should combines and produce a high level of work. In order to enable the cultural exchange between S. Korea and Cuba, not only broadcast cultural content, it should be included literary and cultural festival, sports, education and there is a need to improve the exchange of medical fields as well. For example, authorities in both countries make a great effort to develop educational programs in the field of Korean cultural education and exchange, or invite Cuban experts who know Korean culture.
In economic terms, it is necessary to consider the following points. If we think the current USA- Cuba normalization and then in the case of release of economic blockade against Cuba in near future, Cuban economic growth is a matter of time. Korean economic cooperation toward Cuba in the short term and before establishing diplomatic relations, Korea should focus on expanding export items and volumes with Cuba as main goal. Expected sectors are construction equipment, IT communication, agricultural machinery for development of agriculture and natural resources. According to the analysis of KOTRA, automobiles and parts, hotel and home appliances, information and consumer communication devices, pharmaceuticals and medical equipment, mining equipment and processing machinery, etc. will be included.
However, after achievement of diplomatic normalization between S. Korea and Cuba, it will go further beyond only expanding economic trade . After normalization and in the short and medium term, economic cooperation with Cuba will be required granting of credit. From initiative and as a complement to minimize the risk of granting of credit, it will make more trade opportunities each other, including being guaranteed a stable sales for trading companies and exchange a bilateral investment, guaranteed by guarantee agreements for a stable economic activities each other.
Furthermore, after reviewing foreign investment and industrial development policies which are emphasized by Cuban authorities currently since 2008, this research finds out that Cuban government wants more foreign investments in the fields of energy, tourism industry and others(infrastructural parts), such as power generation, telecommunications, industrial complex, ports development, oil exploration, etc. For these, S. Korea can cooperate with Inter-American Development Bank(IDB) and other international financials by enhanceing multilateral cooperation channels.
The possibilitis or potentials of environment cooperation for both countries started from reviewing many national environmental strategies and sustainable development policies in Cuba. However, Cuba has lots of problem for sustainable development, such as the state budget deficit, labor shortages, poor environment management, capacity for sustainable development is quite low. In addition, in the process of economic open, reform currently it is now asking a new governance and become urgent for Cuban sustainable development model. Besides the various impacts of climate change : typhoon(hurricane), drought(increased water stress in Cuban), water management system, air and water pollution and biodiversity destruction, rising sea level threats(in the coastal lowland areas) are another matters of unsustaibable way of development and urgent issues for requiring international cooperation. S. Korea-Cuba environmental cooperation in the sustainable development dimension is required, especially in the parts of renewable energy development and greenhouse gas reduction sectors by providing economic incentives(adaptation and mitigation balancing) will reduce climate change impacts, natural disaster risk, etc. In this case GCF funding and technology transfer will be useful mechanism.