- Reorganization of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' headquarters, including the establishment of the OFFICE OF STRATEGY AND INTELLIGENCE -

1. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) (Minister Cho Tae-yul) reorganized its headquarters on May 28 (Tuesday) to more effectively realize the government's vision of a “Global Pivotal State” and to more strategically cope with complex challenges in a rapidly changing international environment.

2. As part of efforts to enhance the government efficiency, MOFA reshuffled its existing structure in a way that places a greater focus on areas that call for more attention. The gist of the reshuffle is as follows:

° First, the OFFICE OF KOREAN PENINSULA PEACE AND SECURITY AFFAIRS has been reorganized and expanded to the OFFICE OF STRATEGY AND INTELLIGENCE with four bureaus -- the STRATEGY AND POLICY PLANNING BUREAU, the DIPLOMATIC INTELLIGENCE BUREAU, the KOREAN PENINSULA POLICY BUREAU and the INTERNATIONAL SECURITY BUREAU. The reform will facilitate the implementation of foreign policy with a more agile and sophisticated perspective, in response to the global polycrisis and changes in the geopolitical environment.

- In particular, the DIPLOMATIC INTELLIGENCE BUREAU, one of the four bureaus within the new OFFICE OF STRATEGY AND INTELLIGENCE, will collect and analyze data from around the world to provide necessary intelligence to key policymakers in a timely manner. In the long term, this bureau will grow into a unit that can provide companies and other private organizations with information service that will help them with their activities.

- In addition, the INDO-PACIFIC STRATEGY DIVISION has been established within the STRATEGY AND POLICY PLANNING BUREAU to oversee and examine the progress in the implementation of the Strategy for a Free, Peaceful, and Prosperous Indo-Pacific Region, Korea’s first comprehensive regional strategy. Also, MOFA revamped the unit dedicated to Korean Peninsula affairs in a way that will reinforce competency in handling affairs including North Korean human rights and support for North Korean defectors, which are based on universal values, with Korea’s policy for the denuclearization of North Korea unwaveringly in place.

- Furthermore, the INTERANATIONAL SECURITY BUREAU has been set up to be in total charge of international security affairs which have been handled by multiple units of MOFA. This move will allow MOFA to address security affairs in a more comprehensive and holistic manner.

° Second, the INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS BUREAU has become the INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND NUCLEAR AFFAIRS BUREAU reflecting the significance of nuclear affairs. Moreover, having created the position of the DEPUTY DIRECTOR-GENERAL FOR DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION within the Development Cooperation Bureau, MOFA will seek to strengthen international and interagency collaboration on development cooperation in order to effectively implement value-based international solidarity activities and Global South diplomacy.

° Third, the ECONOMIC SECURITY AFFAIRS DIVISION has been created to focus on proactive and efficient diplomacy for economic security in the era where economy and security are converging. This unit will seek to contribute to securing a global arena where Korean companies and citizens can carry out their activities safely, and to minimizing damage from the economic and security polycrisis and maximizing opportunities despite such polycrisis.

° Fourth, MOFA’s regional bureau system has been slightly restructured in a way that takes into account regional connectivity, in order to reinforce relevant work efficiency. The NORTHEAST ASIAN AFFAIRS BUREAU has been reshuffled into the NORTHEAST AND CENTRAL ASIAN AFFAIRS BUREAU with the new CENTRAL ASIA DIVISION within it.

3. Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yul noted that this reorganization is the very first step in innovating the diplomatic system toward the realization of the  policy vision. The restructured MOFA will do its best to ensure that Korean companies and nationals pursue their dreams more freely and safely all around the world and to enhance Korea's international standing as a Global Pivotal State that contributes to freedom, peace and prosperity.