South Korea’s Foreign Minister Cho Hyun meets with ambassadors from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to discuss ways to strengthen cooperation between South Korea and Southeast Asia. Korean foreign ministry officials say the meeting takes place on Thursday and focuses on expanding people-to-people ties and economic exchanges, which Cho says continue to deepen. Cho also points to recent high-level engagement among member countries, including visits by Vietnam and Laos leaders to South Korea last year, and visits by South Korean President Lee Jae Myung to Singapore, the Philippines and Vietnam this year. The foreign minister further notes a visit to South Korea by Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto last month.

Cho emphasizes Seoul’s commitment to advancing the Korea-ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. He also describes Seoul’s efforts to revise the Korea-ASEAN free trade agreement, saying the update is intended to deepen economic cooperation with ASEAN members. The officials frame the talks as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen regional partnership across diplomacy and trade.