1. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs attended the 29th ASEAN-ROK Dialogue in Bangkok, Thailand, from May 15 to 16. This year’s Dialogue provided an opportunity to discuss the future direction of the ASEAN-ROK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) established in 2024, and to exchange views on regional and global issues.

* The ROK participants included Deputy Minister for Political Affairs Chung Byung-won (Head of Delegation), Minister at the Mission of the ROK to ASEAN Park Yoonjoo, and Minister at the Embassy of the ROK in Thailand Hahm Jeong-han.

* The ASEAN side consisted of senior officials from 10 ASEAN member states and Timor-Leste, as well as the Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for Political-Security Community.

* The Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) is the highest level of partnership between ASEAN and its dialogue partners. The ASEAN-ROK CSP was established on the occasion of the 35th anniversary of Dialogue Relations in 2024.

2. Deputy Minister for Political Affairs Chung Byung-won, co-chair of the meeting, emphasized that the ASEAN-ROK relations have developed continuously and consistently across a wide range of areas including political-security, economic, and socio-cultural aspects. In particular, he stressed that ASEAN and the ROK should work together to strengthen their partnership through signature projects in key focus areas, including digital transformation and cyber security, climate change and the environment, and the empowerment of future generations. The participants reviewed the implementation progress of the ASEAN-ROK Plan of Action 2021-25, and examined the status of preparations for the adoption of the subsequent Plan of Action 2026-30 at the Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in July, which will lead to the substantive implementation of the CSP.

* Signature projects on digital transformation support ASEAN’s digital innovation by establishing AI infrastructure, developing human resources, and spreading AI technology. A signature project on cyber security named the “ASEAN Cyber Shield Project” helps ASEAN countries develop cyber security response capabilities.

* Signature projects on climate change and the environment include the “ASEAN-Korea Cooperation on Methane Mitigation (AKCMM),” the “ASEAN Air Pollution Response Project (CASA),” and the “Advancing Cooperation in Integrated Municipal Solid Waste Management.”

* Signature projects on the empowerment of future generations include the “Higher Education for ASEAN Talents (HEAT),” the “Technical and Vocational Education and Training through ASEAN Mobility (TEAM)”, and the “ASEAN-ROK Film Leaders Incubator (FLY).”

3. In addition, Deputy Minister Chung reiterated the ROK’s unwavering support for ASEAN Centrality and the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP). ASEAN expressed appreciation to the ROK’s consistent prioritization of ASEAN in its foreign policy. ASEAN also asked for the ROK’s support for the ASEAN Community Vision 2045, which is expected to be adopted at the ASEAN Summit (May 26–27), as well as the Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA), on which ASEAN aims to complete negotiations by the end of this year.

4. Participants exchanged views on regional and global security including the situation on the Korean Peninsula, and reached common understanding on the importance of the ASEAN–ROK partnership amid global political and economic uncertainties. The ROK stressed that the DPRK’s continued nuclear and missile development and provocations pose a threat to regional peace and stability. The ROK also explained that the DPRK’s aggressive cryptocurrency thefts are causing damage to ASEAN member states. In this regard, the ROK called for a united and firm message from ASEAN to the DPRK.  

5. Meanwhile, Deputy Minister Chung emphasized that the theme of the ROK-hosted 2025 APEC Summit, “Building a Sustainable Tomorrow: Connect, Innovate, Prosper,” and this year’s ASEAN theme, “Inclusivity and Sustainability,” are closely related, and asked for cooperation from ASEAN to successfully host the APEC Summit.  

6. Lastly, Deputy Minister Chung held bilateral meetings with the heads of delegations of Thailand (ASEAN-ROK Country Coordinator for 2024-27) and Malaysia (ASEAN Chair for 2025), and exchanged views on bilateral issues. They agreed to closely cooperate to ensure the success of the upcoming ASEAN-related Foreign Ministers’ Meetings in July and the Summit in October, which will be held in Malaysia.