Ministry of Foreign Affairs Holds Overseas Safety Meeting... Discusses Public-Private Cooperation Measures for Protecting Overseas Koreans

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in collaboration with the Korea Crisis Management Foundation, held the "2nd Overseas Safety Conference" on the 3rd at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Public Diplomacy Center in a hybrid format of in-person and online to discuss public-private cooperation measures to support the safe overseas activities of citizens.

Held for the second time following last year, this meeting was attended by experts from various private sectors including international development cooperation NGOs, the Overseas Construction Association, insurance companies, medical institutions, religious organizations, and academia to discuss public-private cooperation measures for the protection of overseas Koreans.

Lee Tae-ho, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, said in his greeting, "Protecting the lives and safety of overseas Koreans is the most important policy stance of our government," emphasizing, "There are limits to the government responding alone in overseas crisis situations, so cooperation between the public and private sectors is absolutely necessary."

The participants exchanged opinions on the impact of COVID-19 on overseas activities of overseas Koreans this year, shared information on private sector resources and capabilities that can be utilized in crisis situations, and discussed public-private cooperation measures to ensure the safety of overseas Koreans in the era of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

This event served as an opportunity to enhance communication and trust between the private sector and the government in the field of overseas safety through the exchange of diverse opinions from various sectors ahead of the enforcement of the Consular Assistance Act for the protection of overseas Koreans scheduled for January next year.

An official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained, "The Ministry plans to systematically strengthen cooperation with the private sector in the consular assistance process by newly including provisions related to cooperation with the private sector in the enforcement decree of the Consular Assistance Act."