1. Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Choi Jong Kun met with outgoing Swedish Ambassador to Korea Jakob Hallgren on August 25, before his departure from Korea after 3 years of service.

2. Vice Minister Choi conveyed gratitude to Ambassador Hallgren for his contribution to strengthening bilateral relations through high-level exchanges such as mutual visits by the leaders of the two countries on the occasion of the 60^th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations (2019) and the first official visit to Sweden by a Speaker of the National Assembly (2020).

* The first state visit to Sweden by a Korean President (June 2019), a visit to Korea by the Swedish Prime Minister (December 2019), and an official visit to Sweden by the Speaker of the National Assembly (September 2020)

ㅇ Vice Minister Choi hoped to expand substantive cooperation in various fields such as climate, environment, and human rights, expressing appreciation for the Swedish government’s active contribution to the establishment of peace on the Korean Peninsula, and also asked for Ambassador Hallgren’s continued concern and support for Korea even after his departure.

3. Ambassador Hallgren replied that he would continue to strive to enhance the bilateral relationship between the two countries even after leaving Korea, on the basis of the relations he built during his service as Ambassador to Korea.