1. On April 3, Second Vice Foreign Minister Ahn Chong-ghee will attend the World Journalists Conference 2017 in Seoul, where he will deliver to 86 foreign journalists from 54 countries a lecture on situations on the Korean Peninsula and its surrounding region as well as the foreign policy of the Republic of Korea.

° The Vice Minister will also host a luncheon for the participating journalists, during which he will exchange views with them on the major elements of the ROK’s foreign policy, including with regard to the North Korean nuclear issue.

2. The event has been hosted by the Journalists Association of Korea (JAK) on an annual basis since 2013, with the upcoming round marking the fifth of its kind. High-level officials of the ROK Foreign Ministry attend this annual event to inform the participants of the ROK government’s position on main issues regarding foreign affairs and security in a bid to help journalists from across the world better understand the country’s foreign policy.

3. The World Journalists Conference 2017, which will take place from April 2 till 8, is expected to serve as an opportunity for the journalists from the US, China, Japan and many other countries to explore the role that they could play for peace on the Korean Peninsula and beyond amid growing threats to peace, including those from North Korea’s nuclear program and terrorism.

° During the event, the participants will hold in-depth discussions under the theme of “The Role of the Media for World Peace.” They will also make a tour of Seoul, Incheon, Gyeonggi-do (province), Gangwon-do and Busan to experience various aspects of Korean culture and visit venues of the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

4. The Foreign Ministry, considering the event a good opportunity to promote the ROK to opinion leaders of many countries, is rendering full support, including by having its overseas missions recommend journalists for participation in the conference.


* unofficial translation