1. Minister of Foreign Affairs Kang, Kyung-wha had a telephone conversation with Secretary-General of ASEAN Lim Jock Hoi on the morning of June 15 and discussed the two sides’ responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, the project to support the fight against the COVID-19 crisis, allowing entry of business people in exception to entry restrictions, and ways to step up cooperation between the Republic of Korea and ASEAN in line with the implementation of the ROK’s New Southern Policy.

2. Minister Kang took note of the stabilization in the spread of COVID-19 in a number of member states of ASEAN and the role of the ASEAN Secretariat in the collaboration in the region on disease prevention and control. She went on to explain the government-wide efforts of the ROK to bring COVID-19 under control.

3. Secretary-General Lim commended the ROK government’s efforts to respond to COVID-19, saying that they have been very effective, and extended appreciation to the ROK government for carrying out a project designed to support ASEAN’s fight against COVID-19 with the ASEAN-ROK Cooperation Fund.

° Minister Kang expressed gratitude to ASEAN for its cooperation for the swift implementation of the project as well as hope for the ASEAN Secretariat’s active role in consolidating the ASEAN member states’ commitment to and capacity for overcoming the common threat of COVID-19.

4. Minister Kang also stressed that, even amid the COVID-19 situation, it is important to ensure free economic activities through the facilitation of travel of essential workforce, such as business people. She went on to explain that the ROK is drawing up measures to allow entry of business people of ASEAN countries in exception to relevant restrictions -- measures in which a balance is reached between quarantine efforts and economy.

° Secretary-General Lim recalled that since the latest ASEAN Plus Three Summit, each country has been having increasingly active discussions on allowing business people’s entry in exception to relevant restrictions. He went on to suggest that, as discussed at the ASEAN Plus Three Economic Ministers' Meeting on June 4, since it is important to improve economic resilience through the post-COVID-19 restoration of supply chains and connectivity, ASEAN and the ROK work closely together to overcome the economic crisis due to COVID-19.

5. Minister Kang mentioned that the ROK government has consistently been implementing its New Southern Policy with the goal of building a “People-centered Community of Peace and Prosperity.” In particular, she explained that the ROK government will seek health cooperation as a core element of the New Southern Policy, as the importance of creating a safe environment in the region has been growing since the outbreak of COVID-19.

° Secretary-General Lim mentioned that the ROK’s successful response to COVID-19 has made the country an exemplary model for the ASEAN countries in the fields of medical care and disease prevention and control and voiced hope for expanded health cooperation with the ROK. He also extended appreciation to the ROK government for its support for the project for the Rohingya repatriation in Rakhine State, Myanmar.

6. Minister Kang noted with appreciation that, even amid the difficult COVID-19 situation, active efforts have been made to maintain relations with ASEAN, including through video conferences, and suggested that the two sides collaborate actively in future crises.