1. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs held a preliminary seminar for the 2025 Korea–Latin America and the Caribbean (K-LAC) Future Cooperation Forum on Tuesday, July 1. A lead-up event to the Forum scheduled to be held from August 26 to 27, the seminar served as an opportunity for participants to exchange views on the direction of preparations for the success of the upcoming Forum. The seminar was chaired by Director-General for Latin American and Caribbean Affairs Lee Jooil and attended by around 40 participants, including 22 members of the LAC diplomatic corps in Korea and LAC experts.

2. In his opening remarks, Director-General Lee highlighted that the K–LAC Future Cooperation Forum has served as a key platform for Korea–LAC cooperation over the years. He also expressed his hope that both the preliminary seminar and the upcoming Forum would provide an opportunity to explore ways to further strengthen cooperation between the two regions.

3. The seminar included a presentation on the outlook and plans for this year’s Forum, which will be held under the theme “Strategic Partnership for Joint Prosperity.” The Ministry also gathered feedback from members of the LAC diplomatic corps on how to ensure the success of the event. Many participants agreed that, amid the ongoing shift in the geopolitical landscape, it is essential for Korea and LAC to strengthen cooperation to achieve sustainable and inclusive economic growth, casting the theme of the Forum as timely and relevant. In addition, participants exchanged views on the priority topics that should be addressed during the Forum and discussed ways to encourage the participation of high-level officials from LAC.

4. Since 2008, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has annually hosted the K–LAC Future Cooperation Forum as the largest high-level event in Korea dedicated to the LAC region, with a view to enhancing future-oriented cooperation between the two regions. Each year, high-level government officials of LAC countries are invited to Korea as speakers of the Forum, on the sidelines of which they attend bilateral meetings and other side programs.