외교부

                                                                  제28차 한-아세안 외교장관회의 모두 발언

                                                                              (2025.7.10, 말레이시아)

Mr. Co-Chair,

Excellencies and Distinguished Delegates,

It is my great pleasure to join you today.

Let me first extend my gratitude to the Malaysian Government for your hospitality, and

Minister Maris for your role as Country Coordinator.

Personally, I feel especially privileged to attend today’s meeting after spending the last two years

at the Korean Mission to ASEAN in Jakarta.

Excellencies,

Taking this opportunity,

I would first like to express heartfelt appreciation to the ASEAN member states for your support and trust

in the strength and resilience of Korean democracy.

Under the new administration of President Lee Jae Myung, Korea looks forward to deepening and expanding

our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with ASEAN based on mutual trust, mutual respect, and mutual benefit.

Such policy priority has been manifest in President Lee’s phone calls with regional leaders.

I find that Malaysia’s theme for ASEAN

“Inclusivity and Sustainability” and the ROK’s theme for APEC “Building a Sustainable Tomorrow” share the same spirit.

We look forward to working with you, especially the seven ASEAN Member States who are part of APEC as well,

to maximize synergy between these two important bodies, leading up to the summits at the end of this year.

Today, later at the meeting, we are expected to adopt “ASEAN-ROK Plan of Action 2026-30”

for substantive implementation of the CSP. My sincere appreciation goes to our Country Coordinator Thailand,

for your able leadership shown during the past 4 months of working-level drafting sessions in Jakarta.

Based on the new Plan of Action,

ASEAN and Korea will navigate our way forward to addressing challenges we face together, such as global supply chain uncertanties, climate change, and transnational crime, among others. The new POA will also serve as a guiding document to strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation on future-oriented areas, including AI, digital transition, and green transition.

Lastly, I would like to reiterate Korea’s firm support for ASEAN Centrality. Korea welcomes the successful adoption of

‘ASEAN Community Vision 2045,’ as well as ASEAN’s decision to admit Timor-Leste as the 11th member of ASEAN at the upcoming Summit in October.

As a Comprehensive Strategic Partner, Korea will continue to work together with ASEAN to building

“resilient, innovative, dynamic, and people-centred ASEAN,” and we will continue to promote cooperation with Timor-Leste.

I look forward to a fruitful discussion today on the future of our partnership.

Thank you.