Press Briefing

Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Affairs Choi Youngsam

October 19, 2021  14:30  KST

Good afternoon. Let me start today’s briefing.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Chung Eui-yong will chair the 1^st meeting of the Overseas Koreans Protection Committee this afternoon, Tuesday, October 19.

In the upcoming meeting of the Overseas Koreans Protection Committee, participants will deliberate on and confirm the 1^st basic plan for the protection of overseas Koreans for the years from 2021 to 2025 and discuss important policy issues regarding the protection of overseas Koreans.

The basic plan for the protection of overseas Koreans to be confirmed this time is a government-wide national plan that will be used as a basic guideline on activities to protect overseas Koreans for the next five years.

With the launch of the Overseas Koreans Protection Committee as well as the enforcement of the Act on Consular Assistance for the Protection of Overseas Korean Nationals this year, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will do its best to implement policies for the protection of overseas Koreans that can bring real benefits to the people.

Next, on Friday morning, October 22, Minister of Foreign Affairs Chung Eui-yong will hold a meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, who will visit Korea from October 21 to 24.

In the meeting, the two Ministers will exchange views on the way forward for the development of the bilateral Strategic Partnership, ways to expand substantive cooperation including trade and infrastructure, stronger cooperation on the international stage including MIKTA, and major regional situations.

Foreign Minister Çavuşoğlu’s upcoming visit to Korea will be the first bilateral visit to Korea since the inauguration of the Foreign Minister in 2014. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expects the visit to serve as an opportunity to further deepen the Strategic Partnership with Turkey.

Lastly, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Choi Jongmoon will attend the appointment ceremony of goodwill ambassador for “Mekong-ROK Exchange Year” tomorrow, Wednesday, October 20.

The leaders of Korea and five Mekong countries have designated the years 2021 and 2022 as “Mekong-ROK Exchange Year” to promote friendship and exchanges among the peoples of the six countries in celebration of the 10^th anniversary of Mekong-ROK cooperation.

In regard to this, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will appoint actor Lee Kwang-soo as goodwill ambassador for “Mekong-ROK Exchange Year” so that he can play a bridging role between Korea and Mekong countries.

In his remarks at the appointment ceremony, Vice Minister Choi will stress the importance of close exchanges and cooperation between the peoples of Korea and Mekong countries, and ask Mr. Lee to contribute to further strengthening Mekong-ROK cooperation through his activities as goodwill ambassador for “Mekong-ROK Exchange Year.”

(A question-and-answer session followed.)