The Ministry of Foreign Affairs held the 2025 Policy Advisory Committee plenary meeting on December 15 at the Seohui Hall on the 18th floor of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building. The meeting was attended by over 120 people, including First Vice Minister Park Yoon-joo, Second Vice Minister Kim Jin-ah, senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Policy Advisory Committee members, including Chairman Kang Won-taek. The meeting included a welcome speech by Vice Minister Park, a response speech by Chairman Kang, presentations by senior officials, a free discussion among participants, and closing remarks by Vice Minister Kim.
In his welcome speech, Vice Minister Park introduced that since the inauguration of the Lee Jae-myung administration, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has prioritized practical diplomacy focused on national interests, announcing South Korea’s return to the world through multilateral diplomatic schedules, including the G7 and G20 summits. He also mentioned that through more than 35 bilateral summits, efforts have been made to strengthen practical cooperation in various fields, achieving significant results such as securing U.S. support for commercial enrichment and reprocessing rights and the construction of nuclear-powered submarines.
Vice Minister Park emphasized that the goal of all diplomatic activities is to enhance national power, and if South Korea becomes a more competent and competitive partner based on this enhanced power, it will lead to a virtuous cycle of further national interest enhancement. He requested the support and insights of the advisory committee members. Participants expressed their agreement with the government’s efforts for practical diplomacy centered on national interests and emphasized the importance of continuity in foreign policy, the need for diversified diplomacy, preparation for next year’s Korea-Central Asia summit, responses to U.S.-China relations, maritime issues, CPTPP membership promotion, protection of overseas nationals, prevention of overseas incidents and accidents, expansion of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ organization and budget, and the need to enhance diplomats’ capabilities in special foreign languages and regional expertise.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs plans to activate regular communication through meetings of 20 subcommittees to use the insights and wisdom of the advisory committee members in policy-making, including the results of today’s meeting.