Press Briefing

Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Relations Kim In-chul

May 21, 2019  14:30  KST

Good afternoon. Let me start today’s briefing.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Kang Kyung-wha will attend the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)’s Ministerial Council Meeting (MCM), to be held in Paris, the French Republic, from May 22 to 23.

The MCM is the supreme decision-making body that decides the OECD’s overall work plan and priorities for the next one year. The Republic of Korea will serve as Vice-Chair of the upcoming MCM.

During a high-level panel of the MCM on Wednesday, May 22, Minister Kang will present her views on the global economic outlook. On May 23, she will chair a session on “Realising the Digital Promise for Sustainability and Well-being.”

Minister Kang will also attend a reception and dinner hosted by Chair and Vice-Chairs, and hold a reception to extend encouragement to Korean staff members working for international organizations in Paris, including the OECD and UNESCO.

On the occasion of the MCM, Minister Kang will meet with her Japanese and Peruvian counterparts, and hold the 3rd ROK-France ministerial strategic dialogue.

Moving on to the next topic, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will hold a meeting of the heads of the ROK’s diplomatic missions in ASEAN member countries, and the opening ceremony of the new building of the Mission of the Republic of Korea to ASEAN in Jakarta, the Republic of Indonesia, on Wednesday, May 22.

In the meeting of the heads of the ROK’s diplomatic missions in ASEAN member countries, participants will discuss strategies for pursuing the New Southern Policy; ways to strengthen the capacity of the ROK Mission to ASEAN and to increase cooperation among the ROK’s diplomatic missions in ASEAN member countries; and preparations for the 2019 ASEAN-ROK Commemorative Summit and the inaugural Mekong-ROK Summit.

The meeting and the opening ceremony will be attended by Chairman of the Presidential Committee on New Southern Policy Joo Hyung-chul. He will request the efforts and attention of the heads of the diplomatic missions to successfully implement the New Southern Policy.

Thank you.

(A question-and-answer session followed.)

* unofficial translation