동남아시아에서 인도·태평양까지 - 동남아시아 지역 명칭 변천으로 본 ‘네이밍’의 국제 정치 - = From Southeast Asia to the Indo-Pacific: International Politics of Naming Through Change of Names Denoting Southeast Asia

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

In international politics, when choosing the name of a specific region and establishing policies regarding it, there is often a tendency to use names that convey the intended purpose and shape people’s perception of the region. Southeast Asia, which holds significant importance in the international political arena, has undergone multiple name changes over time, reflecting shifts in the global landscape. In the era when Western powers exerted influence over the region, the maritime area was referred to as “Malaysie,” while the mainland region was called “Indochina,” denoting its location between India and China. Chinese merchants and overseas Chinese migrants referred to the region as “Nanyang,” meaning the southern sea. Imperial Japan also claimed hegemony over the region by referring to it as “Nanyo.”
During the later stages of World War II, British strategists, aiming to establish long-term influence, created the military framework of the “Southeast Asia Command” in Ceylon, giving rise to the official term “Southeast Asia” for the first time. In the context of the Cold War, ASEAN was established by five countries to counter the spread of communist influence. As ASEAN expanded and became a regional integration body with the participation of all ten countries in the region, the term “Southeast Asia,” which had a strong geographical connotation, was largely replaced by ASEAN. With the emergence of the Asia-Pacific era and the establishment of APEC, ASEAN and China also became important stakeholders. However, the growing power projection of China led to the emergence of the US-led Indo-Pacific Strategy to contain it, and ASEAN is currently striving to maintain its central role in this new reality.
The Republic of Korea has also undergone several policy name changes regarding ASEAN. The Kim Dae-jung government pursued activities under the “East Asia Vision Group” and “East Asia Research Group.” The Lee Myung-bak government introduced the “New Asia Initiative,” and the Moon Jae-in government presented the “New Southern Policy.” The Yoon Seok Yeol government announced the “Strategy for a Free, Peaceful, and Prosperous Indo-Pacific Region” and the “Korea-ASEAN Solidarity Initiative (KASI)” tailored to the ASEAN region. Recognizing the challenges faced by ASEAN experts in understanding the differences between these changing policy names, it is necessary to enhance and clarify the specifics of the newly upgraded policies of KASI. Furthermore, there is a need to maintain names that effectively encapsulate the respective policies for an extended period.