1. On March 16, the third day of the 2016 meeting of the chiefs of the Republic of Korea’s overseas diplomatic missions, a plenary discussion on “diplomacy for a better protection of Koreans overseas whose effects are felt by the people” took place, chaired by Ambassador for Overseas Koreans and Consular Affairs Lee Key-cheol, to seek specific ways to implement it.

2. Ambassador Lee delivered a presentation on “diplomacy for a better protection of Koreans overseas whose effects are felt by the people.” In the presentation, the Ambassador called the protection of the Koreans overseas one of the obligations of the ROK government under the Constitution of the ROK and the most basic and important work of the Foreign Ministry. In that regard, he asked the mission chiefs to deal with the full range of incidents and accidents in an efficient and wise manner and with a clear sense of calling and dedication amid the rapid increase in the number of Korean travelers and residents overseas falling victim to crimes in their host countries and particularly amid indiscriminate terrorist attacks being launched on civilians across the world in the wake of the terrorist attack in Paris.

3. Ambassador to France Mo Chul-min and Consul-General to Shenyang Shin Bong-sup each delivered a presentation on “the response to the series of simultaneous terrorist attacks in Paris” and “the handling of the aftermath of the bus accident in Jian involving the ROK’s provincial government officials,” respectively, as exemplary cases of overseas missions’ responses to incidents and accidents. The mission chiefs scrutinized the process of overseas missions’ responses in the event of large-scale incidents and accidents or any other kinds of emergencies, and shared with one another lessons from such responses.

4. The mission chiefs who took part in the discussion shared the view that given the importance of the work to protect Koreans overseas and the high expectation of the ROK nationals toward the government, all overseas missions should make more efforts to protect Koreans overseas in a way that their effects are felt by the people; and pledged to work harder in unison with one another and the Foreign Ministry headquarters.


* unofficial translation