Resumption of Korea-Spain Working-Level Meetings After 4 Years... "Joint Entry into Latin America"

South Korea and Spain held a diplomatic working-level meeting for the first time in four years to explore joint entry strategies into Latin America.

On the 19th (local time), Lee Ju-il, Director of the Latin America Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (left), and Francisco Javier Gasso Matoses, Director of the Ibero-America and Caribbean Department at the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, held the "5th Korea-Spain Latin America Directors' Meeting" in Madrid, Spain, and took a commemorative photo. Ministry of Foreign Affairs

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the 20th, Ju-il Lee, Director General of the Latin America and Caribbean Bureau at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, visited Madrid, Spain, the previous day (local time) and held the "5th Korea-Spain Latin America and Caribbean Directors General Meeting" with Francisco Javier Gasso Matoses, Director General of the Ibero-America and Caribbean Department at the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This meeting was resumed after about four years since the 4th meeting in June 2021.

The two directors exchanged views on the rapidly changing global environment and developments in Latin America, explained their respective Latin America diplomatic policies and current status of engagement, and cooperation with regional organizations in Latin America. Furthermore, they agreed to effectively respond to the Latin American situation by utilizing cooperation frameworks such as the Korea-Spain Latin America and Caribbean Directors General Meeting and the Ibero-American Community, and to continue cooperation to explore joint entry strategies into Latin America. The Ibero-American Community is a multilateral cooperation body consisting of 22 member countries that use Spanish and Portuguese, headquartered in Madrid. South Korea joined as an observer in October 2016.

An official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, "This meeting is evaluated as contributing to reaffirming the importance of cooperation between the two countries in Latin America on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of Korea-Spain diplomatic relations this year, while also strengthening communication between diplomatic authorities regarding Latin America policies."