1. On May 11, Vice Foreign Minister Cho Hyun met with Director General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) William Lacy Swing, who is on a visit to the Republic of Korea, and exchanged views on the ROK’s migration policies, and ways to step up cooperation between the ROK and the IOM.

o Director General Swing took note that the ROK, as a country which has made the most progress among Asian countries in integrating migrants, is implementing highly advanced migration policies.

o Vice Minister Cho hoped to continue consultations on substantive measures to increase the number of Koreans working for the IOM. Director General Swing agreed to do so, and expressed appreciation for the ROK government’s contribution to the IOM.

※ ROK government’s contribution to the IOM: about US$4.25 million in 2016 (assessed contribution of 999,452 Swiss francs / voluntary contribution of $3,252,424)

2. Director General Swing expressed appreciation for the ROK government’s active participation in the negotiations on the “Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration,” which sets out the UN’s efforts to respond to international migration. Vice Minister Cho reaffirmed the ROK’s support for the IOM’s roles in devising and implementing the Compact, as well as the ROK’s willingness to continue to contribute to strengthening international cooperation on migration.

※ The Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration is a non-binding document to be adopted late this year in accordance with the New York Declaration, which was adopted at the UN Summit for Refugees and Migrants in September 2016. It sets out the UN’s principles and commitments in responding to international migration.

3. Vice Minister Cho and Director General Swing took note that the Foreign Ministry and the IOM decided to extend the bilateral MOU on the evacuation of overseas Koreans in emergency situations, which was set to expire in June this year, for another six years. The MOU is expected to make more contributions to better protecting Koreans in emergency situations overseas.

※ The MOU between Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Organization for Migration on Evacuation Support Services sets forth the agreement between the two sides on the use of the IOM’s charter flights to evacuate Koreans in emergency situations overseas, including civil strife and earthquakes. It was set to expire on June 8 this year, but the two sides agreed to extend it until June 8, 2023.

* unofficial translation