1. The Preparatory Committee for the 2019 ASEAN-Republic of KOREA Commemorative Summit started in earnest the “CAFE ASEAN” event, in which a coffee truck, a portable promotion booth, tours various areas in the Republic of Korea (ROK), to mark D-30 before the Summit, which will take place in Busan on November 25-27.

° “CAFE ASEAN” was planned as a “portable promotion booth” that will visit diverse areas in the ROK to familiarize and bring the upcoming Commemorative Summit closer to the ROK people through their everyday item, coffee.

° “CAFE ASEAN” will provide citizens with not only information on the forthcoming Summit but also “ASEAN coffee,” the one and only blend of coffee available in the ROK.

° The ASEAN coffee, a harmonious blend of coffee from the ten ASEAN member countries created in collaboration with a professional barista in the ROK, symbolizes “Unity in Diversity,” the goal of ASEAN.

2. The “CAFE ASEAN” coffee truck will visit the venues of the Summit’s special events and highly crowded areas in the ROK from October 25 to November 27, when the 2019 ASEAN-Republic of KOREA Commemorative Summit will be wrapped up. Further information on the coffee truck, including its location and events, is available on the website of the 2019 ASEAN-Republic of KOREA Commemorative Summit at 2019asean-roksummit.kr and social media accounts of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

3. Minister of Foreign Affairs Kang Kyung-wha attended the coffee truck event held at the Cheonggye Plaza, Gwanghwamun, on October 25. At the event, the Minister made “ASEAN coffee” in person as a one-day barista and sampled it with a number of people of the ROK and ASEAN who were at the site. The Minister expressed hope that the “CAFE ASEAN” coffee truck event would serve as a good opportunity to draw commitment of people of the ROK and ASEAN to hold a successful 2019 ASEAN-Republic of KOREA Commemorative Summit and 1st Mekong-Republic of KOREA Summit.

° On October 24, “CAFE ASEAN” was pilot-operated at the “Asian Culture Week” event in Gwangju, drawing keen attention and expectations from participating officials of ASEAN culture-related areas.