Korea-Russia Consular Consultations Resume After 7 Years... "Shared Understanding on Importance of Protecting Nationals"

South Korea and Russia resumed their consular consultations in Moscow on the 21st (local time) for the first time in seven years. The meeting was held for the first time since November 2018, when the last session took place in Moscow.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Yoon Juseok, Director-General for Overseas Koreans and Consular Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, met with Alexey Klimov, Director of the Consular Department at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, at the Russian Foreign Ministry building on this day for the 18th Korea-Russia Consular Consultation. They discussed consular issues between the two countries, including improving entry, exit, and stay convenience for Koreans in Russia, as well as the protection of Koreans residing in Russia.

Director Yoon evaluated the ongoing cooperation and people-to-people exchanges in the consular field between the two countries based on the Korea-Russia Consular Convention and the Korea-Russia Mutual Visa Waiver Agreement. He also requested Russia's special attention and cooperation to enhance the safety and convenience of Koreans staying in Russia. Furthermore, he suggested that both countries continue to work closely together in the consular field to ensure the safety and convenience of their citizens.

Both sides agreed on the importance of protecting and improving the convenience of their nationals in each other's countries through consular cooperation. They also shared the view that the consultations served as a valuable opportunity to discuss in depth ways to strengthen cooperation in the consular field between the two countries.

Prior to the consultations, Director Yoon paid a courtesy visit to Andrey Rudenko, Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia. According to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, both sides emphasized the importance of regular contact and maintaining constructive and substantive exchanges between the foreign ministries of the two countries.

The Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained that during his meeting with Deputy Minister Rudenko, Director Yoon reviewed consular cooperation between the two countries and requested Russia's continued attention and cooperation for the protection of Koreans in Russia.