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 in the Middle East, Minister Cho called for ICG to monitor ongoing conflicts around the world and make recommendations to key policymakers. He said that Korea will cooperate with ICG, which has expertise in Africa, to establish regional diplomatic strategies.

Cho also explained that South Korea is expanding its role and contributions in line with its status as a global pivotal country, and plans to develop a win-win partnership with the Global South, especially through the Korea-Africa Summit scheduled to be held on June 4-5, by actively leveraging South Korea's strengths and capabilities based on its experience in industrialization and democratization in a short period of time.

While deeply agreeing that the Global South countries are essential to resolving international issues amidst a tectonic shift in the geopolitical environment, Ero emphasized the need to work toward practical solutions to international issues such as poverty, security challenges, and international debt relief faced by many countries in the Global South.

In addition, Ero praised Korea for achieving economic prosperity and political democracy based on universal values of freedom, human rights, and the rule of law, and said that they will work together to enhance Korea's status and role in the international arena, including cooperation in the Global South.

Cho and Ero also exchanged views on recent developments on key diplomatic issues, including the outcome of the South Korea-Japan-China summit, bilateral relations, trilateral relations, and U.S.-China relations.