By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yul hosted a luncheon to welcome visiting ASEAN Secretary General Kao Kim Hourn on May 28 and exchanged views on: the 35th anniversary of ASEAN-ROK dialogue relations this year; the establishment of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP); the implementation of the Korea-ASEAN Solidarity Initiative (KASI); and ways to advance ASEAN-ROK practical cooperation. Cho noted that ASEAN and South Korea have been inseparable partners since the establishment of dialogue relations in 1989, and stressed that South Korea will contin
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yul met with visiting International Crisis Group on May 28 and exchanged views on the importance of the Global South, which encompasses developing countries in the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, and Asia, as well as cooperation measures, the international situation, and the situation on the Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia. As the strategic position of the Global South is strengthening under the geopolitical transformation, including the intensifying U.S.-China strategic competition, the war in Ukraine, and the crisis i
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yul, who visited Australia to attend the sixth ROK-Australia Foreign and Defense Ministers’ (2+2) Meeting, held a “Meeting with Businesspeople” with Korean entrepreneurs in Melbourne on April 30, and also had a “Dialogue with the Young Generation” for Korean students studying in Australia and participants of working holiday programs. During the meeting with businesspeople, Minister Cho said that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will spare no effort in providing necessary support to Korean businesses for expanding exports and o
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yul hosted luncheon for Mr. Hao Peng, Secretary of the Liaoning Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China who was visiting Korea on April 24. Over the luncheon, the two sides exchanged views on ways to enhance substantive cooperation between Korea and Liaoning Province, among other topics. Minister Cho welcomed Secretary Hao's visit to Korea as the first of its kind by a Chinese provincial secretary since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. He emphasized the crucial role of enhanced exchanges between provinces of K
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yul held his first meeting with Uzbekistan Minister of Foreign Affairs Bakhtiyor SAIDOV since taking office at the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs on March 20. The two sides discussed bilateral relations between the two countries. Foreign Minister Cho said that Uzbekistan and Korea have developed a special partnership, suggesting that they continue to cooperate closely in various fields. Foreign Minister Saidov said that Uzbekistan, a special strategic partner of Korea, greatly values its relations with the country and int
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yul met with Dr. Thomas Bagger, State Secretary of Germany’s Federal Foreign Office, on March 11. They exchanged views on matters of mutual interests, such as bilateral relations and the situation on the Korean Peninsula. Foreign Minister Cho and State Secretary Bagger agreed to work towards rearranging President Yoon Suk-yeol's state visit to Germany, which was inevitably postponed last month due to various domestic affairs, at an appropriate time. They also agreed to further bolster the ties between the two countries throug
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yul met with United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Executive Director Natalia Kanem on March 6 during the latter’s visit to Korea, where they discussed Korea-UNFPA cooperation. Foreign Minister Cho appreciated the enhanced partnership between Korea and the UNFPA, including through the first Korea-UNFPA Policy Consultation held last month. He went on to express his expectation that Korea, as a member of the UN Security Council for the 2024-2025 term, will strengthen cooperation with the UNFPA in areas such as the Humanitarian-D
By Diplomacy Journal Kim Ji-eun During his visit to the United States, Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yul had his first bilateral meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken since his inauguration at the U.S. Department of State on February 28, local time. In the meeting that came merely six days after the ROK-U.S.-Japan foreign ministers’ meeting on February 22, the two sides had a fruitful and in-depth discussion on the ROK-U.S. Alliance and ROK-U.S.-Japan cooperation; nuclear and other issues related to North Korea; information cooperation; and regional and global issues. Th
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yul attended the United Nations Security Council briefing marking the second anniversary of the war in Ukraine, held at the UN headquarters on February 23 (New York time), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced. Foreign Minister Cho reaffirmed the Korean government’s consistent position that the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of Ukraine should be respected, and stressed that Russia’s armed invasion of Ukraine is a clear violation of the UN Charter and international law. Additionally, Foreign Minister C
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon-young Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul met with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on February 23 (New York time), and exchanged views on Korea-United Nations cooperation, South Korea’s Security Council membership, North Korea, and key international issues. Minister Cho praised Secretary-General Guterres' leadership in resolving international issues such as the Gaza crisis in an era of unprecedented complex crises, and expressed his commitment to actively support the Secretary-General's efforts to promote sustainable development in the international community under
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yul held a meeting with Koo Cha-yol, Chairman of the Korea International Trade Association (KITA) on February 13, to discuss ways to enhance the responsiveness and vitality of Korean businesses in the face of a rapidly changing and uncertain global landscape. This is the fifth engagement with business associations since Minister Cho took office. Minister Cho participated in the New year event hosted by the innovative venture industry (January 19) and met with leaders of the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI, January 22), K
By Diplomacy Journal Kim Ji-eun Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yul had a telephone conversation with Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs, on February 6, the foreign ministry said. It was the first telephone conversation between the two ministers since Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul’s inauguration. Minister Wang expressed his wish to build close working relations with Minister Cho to closely cooperate for the development of Korea-China relations, and invited Minister Cho to visit China. Minister Cho e
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee | Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yul had a telephone conversation with Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong on Jan. 25 to exchange greetings, Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Affairs Soosuk Lim said in a press briefing. Over the phone, the two Foreign Ministers discussed Korea-Australia relations, cooperation on the defense industry, and regional and global issues, among others. They noted with appreciation that their two countries have built a strong and close partnership based on their “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.” Meanwhi