On Thursday, May 28, Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Hyun held a meeting with Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Singapore who is on an official visit to Seoul from May 27 to 28. The two ministers exchanged views on major bilateral issues as well as regional and global matters of mutual concern.
Minister Cho welcomed Minister Balakrishnan's first official bilateral visit to Korea since the latter’s taking office in 2015. He noted that active high-level exchanges, such as Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong's official visit to Korea last November followed by President Lee Jae Myung's reciprocal state visit to Singapore just four months later, are further deepening the Strategic Partnership between the two countries.
※ Prime Minister Lawrence Wong's official visit to Korea took place on Nov 1–2, 2025, and President Lee Jae Myung's state visit to Singapore on Mar 1–3, 2026.
Minister Balakrishnan expressed his gratitude for Minister Cho's warm hospitality. Emphasizing that Korea and Singapore are partners with shared core values such as free trade and multilateralism, he voiced expectations for expanded and deepened mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields, including trade, investment, high technology and new growth sectors.
Minister Cho outlined the Korean government's policies and efforts toward peaceful coexistence on the Korean Peninsula. After listening to Minister Balakrishnan's observations from his visit to the DPRK, Minister Cho requested continued attention and support of Singapore, as well as of ASEAN, in fostering conditions conducive to dialogue with the DPRK. Minister Balakrishnan expressed understanding and suggested that both sides remain in close communication for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.
Furthermore, both ministers underscored the importance of regional cooperation, including through ASEAN-led mechanisms. In particular, Minister Cho requested Singapore's support in enhancing ASEAN-ROK relations in line with the Korean government's ASEAN-ROK CSP Vision*. Minister Balakrishnan affirmed that Singapore, set to assume the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2027, actively supports efforts to deepen cooperation between Korea and ASEAN. Both sides also shared the view that the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) is a vital platform for promoting peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, and committed to continued discussions and cooperation in that regard.
* Unveiled at the ASEAN-ROK Summit in October 2025, the ASEAN-ROK CSP Vision positions the ROK as a Contributor for dreams and hopes, a Springboard for growth and innovation, and a Partner for peace and stability in the ASEAN region.
Exchanging views on the recent developments in the Middle East, the two ministers drew the understanding that it is crucial to promote peace in the Middle East and guarantee free navigation and safety in the international sea lanes including the Strait of Hormuz, for the security and economic interests of the two trading nations. In this regard, they agreed to continue close communication and cooperation between the two countries.