In order to strengthen the protection of Koreans sojourning or visiting overseas, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the International Association of Korean Lawyers (IAKL) singed a Memorandum of Understanding to Protect and Provide Legal Services to Overseas Korean Nationals on August 7.

Under the MOU, MOFA and IAKL will actively cooperate to respond speedily to and efficiently resolve overseas incidents and accidents that involve Korean nationals.

The MOU holds significance in that it establishes a system of private-public cooperation to strengthen the protection and security of our citizens abroad, by providing legal information and consultation necessary for the protection of Korean nationals sojourning abroad. MOFA already runs a program where legal professionals offer consultation services.

With over 30 million Korean nationals traveling overseas per year, according to estimates for 2018, there is an increasing need for the ROK government to actively respond to incidents, accidents and disaster occuring abroad. MOFA plans to continually strengthen private-public cooperation and improve policies for the protection and security for overseas Korean nationals.