1. On April 1, the third day of their 2015 meeting, the chiefs of overseas diplomatic missions held a discussion on the “ROK people’s safety and happiness.” They reviewed basic attitudes of public servants toward the ROK people and had an enthusiastic discussion on ways to protect Koreans overseas and strengthen consular services.

2. Ambassador for Overseas Koreans and Consular Affairs Lee Key-cheol made a presentation titled “ensuring the ROK people’s happiness by strengthening measures to protect and support Koreans overseas.” In the presentation, Ambassador Lee explained that protecting overseas Koreans’ lives and assets is a fundamental obligation of overseas diplomatic missions under the ROK’s constitution and laws and the Park Geun-hye government’s guiding principles. He also stressed that the missions need to be more active in handling consular affairs by changing the way of thinking. Subsequently, he reviewed the ROK’s current system to protect and support Koreans abroad, as well as high-priority tasks. He also requested the participating mission chiefs to improve the morale and professionalism of staff of their missions; strengthen preparedness in ordinary times; actively cooperate with other diplomatic missions in case of accidents or incidents; and negotiate with their host countries proactively to resolve difficulties facing Koreans overseas.

3. The chiefs of overseas diplomatic missions engaged in a lively exchange of views on the latest cases related to the protection of overseas Koreans, including the situation in Yemen. They also shared their missions’ efforts and experiences in increasing safety and convenience for Koreans. Lastly, the mission chiefs asked the Foreign Ministry headquarters to provide more support for their efforts to improve safety and convenience for Koreans. Participants from the headquarters promised to respond more actively to the mission chiefs’ efforts. 


                Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Relations of MOFA

*unofficial translation