2023 G7 Summit held in Hiroshima, Japan
[The World Map. Photo Credit to Pixabay]
On May 20, 2023, the G7 Summit 2023 opened up in Hiroshima, Japan.
The G7 (Group of 7) Summit is hosted for the 7 most industrially advanced democratic countries in the world; however, this time, it was different.
This year, over 15 countries participated in the expanded session, including South Korea, along with the G7 countries:USA, UK, France, Germany, Canada, Italy, Japan.
President Zelensky of Ukraine also participated in the expanded session and spoke about the need of help to his people in the war against Russia.
However, China and Russia were not allowed to participate, even though the main topic of the summit was regarding those two countries.
As for Korea, President Yoon Seok Yeol participated as the representative, and other representatives such as Joe Biden of the USA participated as well.
On May 19 until May 21, in GrandPrince Hotel, Hiroshima, the 18 representatives of 16 countries plus the EU, gathered to discuss the current state of global affairs and the future of the global society.
The main topics of discussion were the Ukrainian war, Nuclear technology, Economical resilience and Security, Clean Energy, and Resilient Global Food Security.
Among these topics, the most important was the Reconstruction of the demolished Ukraine, and many representatives, including President Yoon, participated in this agreement.
In this discussion, Korea agreed to send construction vehicles from companies.
Additionally, Korea will be sending Landmine elimination machines for the clean-up of landmines embedded by the Russians.
Korea also held discussions about world trade with other countries.
President Yoon had meetings with Japan, and a summit with Japan and the USA.
In the meeting with Prime Minister Gishida Humio of Japan, President Yoon visited the memorial monument for co-attendance for the Korean victims of the nuclear bomb.
Also, in the summit with Japan and the USA, due to a 2 minute long summit with Korea and Japan, Joe Biden, President of the USA, promised to invite them to Washington D.C. for a formal summit.
According to the White House, the 3 countries had a conversation about reacting to nuclear threats from North Korea, and shared each countries’ own strategy for Indian-Pacific diplomacy.
Joe Biden, President of the USA, complimented the representatives of Korea and Japan for their bravery in trying to recover their relationship.
In addition to this, with the effect that Korea brought to G7, some countries are even considering adding Korea to the G7.
Called G10, it's a group that contains the original G7 members plus Australia, India, and South Korea, which are selected as the most democratic countries after the G7.
Although some countries like the UK and Japan disagreed, the USA and Joe Biden believed that Korea “has changed”, and it is appropriate to transfer Korea into G7.
However, according to Ben Judah, an Atlantic Council Senior Researcher, “Korea won’t be able to participate in G7 for the following few years. However, if Korea maintains a good and important relationship with G7 countries, others might open up to welcome Korea.”
Nonetheless, thanks to President Yoon’s active participation, we got a promise with G7 about economics and World Trade.
And as President Yoon sees it, Korea will have to develop into a central country in order to develop reciprocally.
- Min Hyuk Yoo / Grade 8
- Dongtan Mokdong Middle School