0
Woo Won-shik, speaker of the National Assembly of Korea, delivers opening remarks at the 11th MIKTA Speakers’ Meeting held at the Grand & Vista Walkerhill Hotel in Seoul on Nov. 12. / Source: Yonhap News

At the 11th MIKTA Speakers’ Meeting, National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik underscored the need for international cooperation grounded in multilateralism, especially in an era of overlapping global crises. He proposed strengthening parliamentary solidarity based on trust and concrete action. MIKTA—an initiative launched by Korea in 2013—brings together Mexico, Indonesia, Korea, Türkiye and Australia.

Delivering the opening address as host nation at the event held on Nov. 12 at the Grand & Vista Walkerhill Hotel in Seoul, Woo said, “What drives change is not size but trust and action,” stressing that MIKTA should build on its achievements to redefine its role and move forward collectively.

Delegations from member states attended the meeting, including Indonesian House Speaker Puan Maharani, Mexican Deputy Speaker Paulina Rubio, and Australian House Speaker Sue Lines, alongside Woo.

In his keynote remarks for Session 1, Woo warned that escalating international conflicts are worsening humanitarian crises that spill across borders. “In 2024 alone, 239,000 people died due to armed conflict, and the United Nations estimates that 305 million people will require humanitarian assistance,” he said. “As seen in the Gaza conflict, such crises can trigger cascading disruptions—from energy shortages to supply chain turmoil.”

Woo then outlined specific roles and avenues for parliamentary cooperation to address these challenges. He highlighted that Korea’s official development assistance (ODA) budget has reached 6.5 trillion won, emphasizing that Korea is contributing to the international community based on its own experience of rebuilding from the devastation of war. “Parliaments, through their legislative and budgetary authority, can promote the nexus between humanitarian aid, development and peace, while enhancing government transparency,” he noted.

He proposed building an inter-parliamentary platform for multilateral cooperation and actively participating in global cooperation mechanisms. “Humanitarian assistance brings real change only when the international community shares responsibility and works together,” Woo said. He added that if MIKTA serves as a hub of solidarity and collaboration, it can help generate comprehensive solutions to global issues. The Korean National Assembly, he pledged, will work actively to support peacebuilding and humanitarian efforts.