0
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung speaks during a meeting with his senior secretaries and aides at Cheongwadae on the 28th. / Photo via Yonhap News

The Korean government announced on June 1 that President Lee Jae-myung will host a reception on June 2 for African ministerial-level officials visiting South Korea to attend the Korea-Africa Foreign Ministers' Meeting. This diplomatic outreach is widely interpreted as a strategic move to expand South Korea’s diplomatic horizons within the Global South by fostering deeper cooperation with African nations.

Kang Yu-jung, Chief Spokesperson for Cheongwadae, stated in a media notice that day, "President Lee Jae-myung will host a reception at Cheongwadae tomorrow at 3:00 p.m. for ministerial-level officials from various African countries who are visiting South Korea to attend the Korea-Africa Foreign Ministers' Meeting."

The reception will be attended by approximately 20 ministerial-level officials representing African nations and regional international bodies, including the African Union (AU).

Cheongwadae is expected to place significant strategic emphasis on broadening pathways for cooperation with Africa across diverse sectors, including supply chain resilience, development cooperation, and the digital and energy transitions.

"Through this group reception with the African foreign ministers, President Lee plans to exchange constructive views with the attending dignitaries on future directions to enhance cooperation between South Korea and Africa," Spokesperson Kang explained.

                                                                                                      Park Young-hoon