1. On January 8, Kim Hee-sang, Deputy Minister for Economic Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea, delivered congratulatory remarks at the opening ceremony of the 12th ASEAN Connectivity Forum, hosted by the ASEAN-Korea Centre and supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the ROK. In his remarks, Deputy Minister Kim highlighted Korea’s role and contributions to various connectivity initiatives aimed at enhancing ASEAN community integration.

* The ASEAN-Korea Centre is an intergovernmental organization established in Seoul in March 2009 to enhance cooperation between ASEAN and the Republic of Korea. It was founded to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the establishment of ASEAN-ROK Dialogue Relations.

** The ASEAN Connectivity Forum is an annual event hosted by the ASEAN-Korea Centre and supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea since 2013. The forum aims to share updates on ASEAN connectivity initiatives and promote Korean business participation in regional projects. It brings together ASEAN diplomatic missions in Korea, relevant domestic institutions, academia, and private sector stakeholders.

※ In October 2024, on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of ASEAN-ROK Dialogue Relations, the two sides established the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) during the ASEAN-ROK Summit, marking the highest level of partnership between ASEAN and the ROK.

2. He recalled the establishment of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) last year between Korea and ASEAN—the highest level of partnership—emphasizing that it demonstrates both sides’ strong commitment to deepening future strategic cooperation.

3. He noted that under the upgraded partnership framework, cooperation in the three key pillars of ASEAN Connectivity—physical, institutional, and people-to-people—would be further strengthened. He then elaborated on Korea’s specific initiatives and support measures in these areas.

4. He introduced the launch of the Korea-ASEAN Digital Innovation Flagship Program last year, which will be implemented over the next five years with a budget of USD 30 million. He stressed that the program aims to contribute to the development of digital infrastructure and human capital within ASEAN. He also highlighted continued support for cyber resilience in the region through initiatives such as the ASEAN Cyber Shield Program.

5. He further underscored that Korea’s connectivity cooperation will remain demand-driven, reflecting the specific needs of ASEAN. In this regard, he introduced the Partnership for ASEAN-ROK Methane Action (PARMA), launched last year to support ASEAN’s methane reduction capabilities in response to climate change.

6. He also explained that Korea’s tailored cooperation efforts are being expanded not only through the ASEAN-Korea Cooperation Fund, but also via the BIMP-EAGA-ROK Cooperation Fund and the ROK-Mekong Cooperation Fund, reflecting the diverse needs of maritime and continental Southeast Asian countries.

7. On the topic of people-to-people connectivity, he emphasized Korea’s commitment to developing future human resources and expanding exchanges. He introduced the plan to train 40,000 future ASEAN talents over the next five years through the Inclusive Education Modules (IEM) Program, and announced new scholarship programs in cutting-edge science and technology fields.

8. Lastly, Deputy Minister Kim reaffirmed that despite the recent political climate in Korea, the Korean government will continue to pursue key foreign policy initiatives with consistency, and will make every effort to restore and enhance Korea’s international standing and credibility.