With a view to seeking future cooperation in a mutually beneficial manner in green and digital industries and infrastructure after the COVID-19 pandemic 

1. Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Choi Jong Kun will travel to Colombia, Costa Rica and Mexico from April 18 to 26. The three countries are Korea’s main cooperation partners in Latin America.

° Vice Minister Choi’s trip will be the first travel by a high-level Korean official to three Latin America countries after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. During his nine-day visit, Vice Minister Choi will pay seven high-level courtesy calls, have nine bilateral and multilateral meetings at the vice minister level as well as three official lunches, and attend four events on patriots and veterans affairs.

2. The visit was arranged in response to the recent requests made by Latin American countries for stronger cooperation and with a view to seeking post-COVID-19 cooperation with Latin America in a mutually beneficial manner in areas where Korea has a competitive advantage, such as infrastructure and green and digital industries. 

° As next year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations with fifteen Latin American countries including the three destinations, Vice Minister Choi will seek to discuss various ways to expand Korea-Latin America exchanges.

° In particular,  during his visit to Costa Rica, the 13th Korea-SICA Meeting on Dialogue and Cooperation will be held for the first time in six years, bringing together eight vice minister-level officials from Central American countries to discuss ways to expand bilateral and multilateral cooperation that can contribute to political and economic integration of Central America.

※ Central American Integration System (SICA): A regional organization established in 1991 for political and economic integration of Central America

3. It is expected that Vice Minister Choi’s visit will enhance the Central American countries’ understanding of the Korean Peninsula peace process and serve as an opportunity to garner support of the region not only through the high-level bilateral meetings but also the adoption of the Joint Communiqué of the 13th Korea-SICA Meeting on Dialogue and Cooperation and the lecture that is to be given by Vice Minister Choi at the University for Peace.

4. Vice Minister Choi’s visit to Latin America and the face-to-face diplomatic exchanges will demonstrate Korea’s strong will to expand cooperation with the region even amid the difficult COVID-19 situation and to further broaden the horizon of Korea’s diplomacy.

° Also, his trip carries significance in that it will serve to support the participation of Korean companies in national projects in Latin American countries in the areas of infrastructure and green and digital industries, among others.