Diplomacy Journal David Kendall | The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) in a press release dated February 13, announced the Republic of Korea's "grave concern over the recent decisions by the Israeli Security Cabinet." Part of the issue was "Israeli authorities' control over the areas under the jurisdiction of the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank." MOFA added that the government "urges Israel to reverse its decisions immediately."
"The government has consistently supported the two-state solution for the resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian issue, and will continue to actively participate in the international community's efforts to achieve lasting peace in the Middle East," the statement concluded.
That commitment to a two-state solution helps explain Seoul's cautious approach to the U.S.-led Board of Peace. South Korea has still neither formally accepted nor rejected full membership in the Board, which was established in January 2026 ostensibly to oversee Gaza's reconstruction and postwar governance.
The inaugural Board of Peace event was held at the U.S. Institute of Peace in Washington, D.C., on February 19. South Korea attended as an observer, dispatching former Ambassador to Egypt Kim Yong-hyon, according to a February 20 Yonhap article in The Korea Times.
The event was livestreamed on the official White House website. U.S. President Donald Trump mentioned the "large group of leaders" who were in attendance and watching remotely without specifying a number. Later, President Trump called out some of the leaders and representatives gathered by name, including those from Albania, Romania, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Cambodia, Egypt, Hungary, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Vietnam, India, Pakistan, Qatar, Paraguay, and Kosovo.
"I believe it's the most consequential board—certainly in terms of power and prestige," President Trump said at the start. "Almost everyone has accepted and the ones who haven't will be. Some are playing a little cute … but they are all joining."
According to Axios, 14 countries have officially rejected the White House's invitation to join: Austria, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom. Canada's invitation was rescinded before it could reply, News Nation reported.
Of note, former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair spoke at the event, but—unlike most of the attendees seated at terraced tables on either side of the main stage—he had no plaque before him identifying the country he represented.
A January 22 Korea Herald article quoted an anonymous government official as saying "This is something that needs to be reviewed carefully, because a hasty decision could lead to mistakes." That article also cited apprehension over changes in the Board's charter: it "does not mention the Palestinian territory and instead defines the Board of Peace as 'an international organization that seeks to promote stability, restore dependable and lawful governance, and secure enduring peace in areas affected or threatened by conflict.'"
The February 20 Korea Times article quoted MOFA spokesperson Park Il as saying the government will "prudently review" the matter to "take everything into consideration."
President Trump said Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, the UAE, Morocco, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan and Kuwait
"have all contributed 7 billion dollars." White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, who emceed the event, later referenced "6.5 billion in pledges." It was unclear if they were referring to the same figure or an additional sum.
"Japan is going to host a fundraiser that will be attended by South Korea, the Philippines, Singapore and others," President Trump said. "I know China is going to be involved. I think Russia will be."
Foreign Policy reported that Trump's invitation to Russia is a key factor in many traditional U.S. allies rejecting membership in the Board. That article also cited President Trump's appointment of himself as the board's lifelong chair with unilateral veto power as additional sticking points.
After Tony Blair briefly outlined the Board's vision to rebuild Gaza "not as it was but as it should be" through investments in education and government institutions, Cypriot-Israeli billionaire real estate businessman Yakir Gabay spoke about the reconstruction plans—the removal of rubble, the destruction of tunnels, and the building of temporary and permanent housing. He said the Gazans will rebuild their own cities through projects to build modern hospitals, a seaport, an airport, agriculture and water facilities, and "telecom, tech and data centers ... all through competitive bidding." He pointed out that "the Gaza coastline is 46 miles long. It can be developed as a new Mediterranean Riviera with 200 hotels and potential islands. The value goes to the Gazans through the Gazan Sovereign Fund ... provided Hamas is fully disarmed."
