○ The Governors Association of Korea jointly hosted the “2026 Local Livelihood Diplomacy Forum” with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jeju from May 13 to 14. Under the theme “The Role of Diplomacy for Balanced Regional Growth: Economic Perspectives,” the forum brought together approximately 100 participants, including officials from the central and local governments, experts from local research institutes, and international relations ambassadors from cities and provinces.
○ The event consisted of a forum on the first day and a job seminar on the second day. The forum began with a keynote lecture by Yang Deok-soon, Jeju National University President, followed by discussions on the current status and future direction of local governments’ economic diplomacy, as well as a roundtable on strategies to promote local economic diplomacy. Participants expressed expectations that the forum would serve as an opportunity to further strengthen the cooperative framework between the central and local governments.
○ Meanwhile, since signing a Memorandum of Understanding on the Promotion of Local Diplomacy in 2024, the Governors Association of Korea and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have continued to expand their cooperative foundation. In particular, the establishment of the Youth and Local Livelihood Diplomacy Team within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has further strengthened the cooperative framework for promoting local diplomacy.
Source: https://newsseoul.co.kr/news/view/1065585017995052 NewsSeoul