Asean-Korea Centre inaugurates sixth secretary general

Diplomacy

Published: 28 May. 2024, 17:15 Updated: 28 May. 2024, 19:39

Asean-Korea Centre inaugurates sixth secretary general

Secretary General Kim Jae-shin of the Asean-Korea Centre delivers his inaugural and welcoming address during the inauguration ceremony at Lotte Hotel Seoul on Monday. [ASEAN-KOREA CENTRE]

The inauguration of the sixth secretary general of the Asean-Korea Centre Kim Jae-shin was held on Monday evening at the organization’s headquarters in Jung District, central Seoul.

Kim will oversee cooperation programs between Korea and Asean member countries for a term of three years. Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, secretary general of Asean, was present at the inauguration ceremony on Monday.

At the inauguration ceremony, Kim expressed his commitment to Korean-Asean relations and mentioned that this year was momentous, as it is the 15th anniversary of the Asean-Korea Centre and the 35th anniversary of Asean-Korean dialogue relations.

Kim also outlined the Asean-Korea Centre’s key lines of effort for the next three years: supporting sustainable and mutually beneficial Asean-Korea economic cooperation initiatives; facilitating tourism and cultural exchanges through capacity-building programs; and enhancing solidarity and collaboration between Asean and Korea by fostering communication and raising awareness.

From seventh from left, Kang Insun, second vice minister of Foreign Affairs, Kao Kim Hourn, secretary general of Asean, and Kim Jae-shin, secretary general of the Asean-Korea Centre, pose for a photo with dignitaries during the inauguration ceremony for Kim at the Lotte Hotel Seoul in Jung District on Monday. [ASEAN-KOREA CENTRE]

Kim graduated with a bachelor's degree in political science and international relations from Korea University in 1979 and entered the foreign service in 1980. He has worked at Korean embassies in Japan, China, the United States and Myanmar, and served as the director-general of both the Asian and Pacific Affairs Bureau and the Northeast Asian Affairs Bureau.

After holding positions as ambassador to Germany and ambassador to the Philippines, Kim was the senior adviser for the Center for Japanese Studies at the Institute of Foreign Affairs and National Security.

The Asean-ROK summit is set to be held in the second half of the year. ROK stands for Korea’s official name, the Republic of Korea.

Founded in Seoul in 2009, the Asean-Korea Centre is an intergovernmental organization dedicated to enhancing trade, promoting investment, boosting tourism and fostering cultural and people-to-people exchanges between Asean and Korea. Its membership consists of Korea and the 10 Asean member states.

BY LIM JEONG-WON [lim.jeongwon@joongang.co.kr]