Press Briefing

Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Relations Kim In-chul

June 20, 2019  14:30  KST

Good afternoon. Let me start today’s briefing.

First, Minister of Foreign Affairs Kang Kyung-wha will attend the “Experience Korea 2019,” the excursion program for the Diplomatic Corps in the Republic of Korea, during which she will host a dinner for the Diplomatic Corps tomorrow, June 21, and walk along the “DMZ Peace Trail” with the Diplomatic Corps on June 22.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has held programs for the Diplomatic Corps on an annual basis since 1991. This year’s program, in which the Diplomatic Corps will visit Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, and part of Gangwon Province on June 21-22, is expected to serve as an opportunity for the Diplomatic Corps to enhance understanding on industrial policies of the ROK government, to help boost the local economy, and to observe the transformation of the DMZ into an area of peace and hope for the future.

Moving along, at the Center for Participatory Diplomacy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at 4:20 pm, today, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Lee Tae-ho and President of Sungshin University Yang Bo-kyung will sign the MOU between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Sungshin University for cooperation on education on consular affairs and the cultivation of experts in the field.

The MOU marks the second of its kind that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has concluded with a domestic university for the development of consular human resources following the one it concluded with Dongguk University in January. The MOU stipulates that joint efforts shall be made to offer consular affairs-related courses, and to form an academic group and hold academic conferences in the field.

The MOU is expected to help nurture consular experts for smooth implementation of the Act on Consular Assistance for the Protection of Overseas Korean Nationals to be brought into force in January 2021; and to help strengthen the private-public cooperative system for providing consular assistance that meets the actual needs of Korean nationals.

Lastly, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Lee Tae-ho will attend the “Trilateral Cooperation 20th Anniversary Photo Exhibition,” underway at the Seoul Metro Art Center at Gyeongbokgung Station of Seoul Metro Line No. 3, in the morning, June 21.

The Photo Exhibition, held by the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS) to mark the 20^th anniversary of the launch of the Republic of Korea-Japan-People’s Republic of China Summit, will be attended by officials in the field and members of the Diplomatic Corps in the ROK.

(A question-and-answer session followed.)

* unofficial translation