1. On April 15, Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se hosted a luncheon for some 110 journalists from 75 countries who are on a visit to the Republic of Korea to attend the 2013 World Journalists Conference organized by the Journalists Association of Korea. At the luncheon, he delivered a 20-minute speech titled “Trustpolitik and Expanding the Horizon of Korea’s Foreign Policy,” and elaborated on the Park Geun-hye government’s vision and foreign policy as well as the Trust-building Process on the Korean Peninsula, and the Peace and Cooperation in Northeast Asia. (* Full text of the speech)


° In the speech, Minister Yun stressed that North Korea should refrain from any further provocations and make a right choice. He added that the country should break the vicious cycle of its provocation followed by fragile compromise by changing its attitude. He also highlighted the need for the ROK to work closely with the international community to induce such change.

° Minister Yun also asked the participating journalists to actively support the ROK government’s efforts to establish peace on the Korean Peninsula and in the Northeast Asia and to build a happier and prosperous global village.

2. The 2013 World Journalists Conference -- themed “Communication and Future of Global Journalism”-- marked the first of its kind hosted by the Journalists Association of Korea. From April 15 through 21, the participants will visit cities of Seoul, Suwon, Daejeon, Suncheon and Changwon to make a tour of local cultural and industrial sites. On April 20, they will also visit the inter-Korean demilitarized zone (DMZ).

° The Conference marks the first large-scale international event since the launch of the new ROK government which senior journalists from across the world attended. Considering this event a good opportunity to enhance understanding on the new government’s policies and the current situation on the Korean Peninsula, the Foreign Ministry rendered support in inviting foreign journalists through its overseas diplomatic missions.

3. The Foreign Ministry, in an effort to implement its policy tasks under the new government, is in the course of setting country-specific goals and strategies for public diplomacy and conducting various relevant activities in a country-specific manner. Against this backdrop, the 2013 World Journalists Conference is expected to contribute to building a closer network with foreign journalists. It will also help overseas diplomatic missions better conduct country-tailored public diplomacy in their host countries. 


                            Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Relations of MOFA

* unofficial translation