1. With about 50 days left until the 2019 ASEAN-Republic of KOREA (ROK) Commemorative Summit and the 1st Mekong-Republic of KOREA Summit, which will take place in Busan on November 25-27, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs held a briefing session on the progress in the preparations for the events for the Ambassadors of the ten ASEAN member countries to the ROK on October 7, 2019.

2. During the briefing session, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained the overall progress in protocol preparations, including the schedules and venues of the Summits and the special events, and plans for receiving advance teams. In particular, the Ministry mentioned that a taskforce for each ASEAN country had been formed in order to provide protocol services tailored to each country’s needs. In addition, the Ministry shared with the Ambassadors the overall substantive matters, including the agenda and the programs of the plenary sessions of the Summits.

3. Officials of not only the Ministry of Foreign Affairs but also government agencies that will hold major special events on the occasion of the Summits attended the briefing session and had consultations with the Ambassadors: Among those government agencies were the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the Ministry of Environment, and the Busan Metropolitan City government.

4. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will prepare for the Commemorative Summit in close communication with ASEAN on overall substantive and protocol-related matters in a bid to hold the event successfully.