National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik, front row center, poses with ASEAN member nation envoys and government officials during a luncheon in Seoul, Wednesday. Courtesy of Thai Ambassador Tanee Sangrat on X

National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik hosted a luncheon, Wednesday, for diplomatic envoys from the 10 ASEAN nations, emphasizing the importance of bilateral relations and outlining a vision for enhanced collaboration across various sectors.

Held at the National Assembly's Sarangjae Hall, the gathering celebrated 35 years of Korea-ASEAN cooperation, which has seen remarkable growth in trade and cultural exchanges since the establishment of dialogue relations in 1989. Woo highlighted the transformation of the partnership into a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2024 as a milestone in their shared history.

“The year 2025, the Year of the Green Snake, symbolizes new beginnings, wise transformation and growth,” Woo said. “I hope this year marks the start of an era where Korea-ASEAN relations grow and evolve toward an even brighter future.”

Woo reaffirmed Korea's commitment to ASEAN-focused diplomacy and its active role in ASEAN-led mechanisms. He outlined plans to strengthen cooperation in emerging industries, such as digital technology, and to enhance parliamentary diplomacy through more frequent exchanges of delegations.

“Based on our upgraded partnership, we aim for practical and mutually beneficial cooperation,” Woo said, adding that the National Assembly would continue its involvement in the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly to foster regional collaboration.

The diplomatic envoys expressed confidence in Korea's leadership and initiatives. Thai Ambassador Tanee Sangrat shared his impressions on social media, writing, “National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik hosts lunch and assures ASEAN ambassadors continued support for Korea's resilient democracy and parliamentary diplomacy. Ambassadors expressed confidence in Korea and suggested info-sharing mechanisms.”

The luncheon was attended by all 10 ASEAN member nations' representatives, including Singaporean Ambassador Eric Teo, Philippine Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega and Vietnamese Ambassador Vu Ho.

Meanwhile, diplomats from the Group of Seven (G7) nations and the European Union gathered in Seoul on the same day to express their support for Korea's democratic resilience during a meeting with acting President Choi Sang-mok.

The luncheon meeting, attended by envoys from the EU, the United States, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan, underscored the international community's recognition of Korea's political stability despite ongoing domestic challenges.

“We commend Korea's robust democratic institutions and applaud their strength during these trying times,” the envoys said collectively, according to a release from Choi's office.

The acting president thanked the diplomats for their confidence in the nation's governance and stressed the interim administration's ability to oversee political, economic and national security matters. He noted that maintaining transparency and public trust is a priority for the government. Choi vowed to continue fostering cooperation with global partners, emphasizing that Korea's commitment to democracy and diplomacy remains steadfast.