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Open Diplomacy with the People

Part 5 Open Diplomacy with the People

260

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade has initiated various measures toeffectively respond to emergencies concerning Korean nationals abroad. In2005, MOFAT established the around-the-clock Consular Call Center, the firstof its kind in the world, to provide consulting services on issues concerningpassports, immigration, and other incidents abroad. In addition, RapidResponse Teams were dispatched to various regions of the globe to efficientlydeal with problems caused by international disasters or terrorist activities.Other notable efforts include the text messaging of contact information forconsular emergencies to cell phone customers utilizing global roaming services.Also, public awareness campaigns, aimed at preventing accidents abroad havebeen carried out on several occasions via themassmedia.With the number of Korean travelers abroad reaching 12 million a year,

coupled with the increase in their respective foreign activities, the interestand demand for quality consular services have also been on the rise. To meetthe challenges of this change, MOFAT has stepped up its efforts to implementpolicies with emphasis on the effective protection of our nationals as a toppriority.

Chapter 1 Protecting the Safety of KoreanNationals Abroad and Promoting theRights of Overseas Koreans

1. Strengthening the Measures to Protect Korean Nationals Abroad

Chapter 1 Protecting the Safety of Korean Nationals Abroad 261

1) Consular Call Center

The Consular Call Center began its official operation on April 1, 2005,following a one-year test period. During the initial phase of its operation, thenumber of calls received was merely 2,000 calls per month. However, thisnumber has gone up to an average of about 12,000 calls per month in 2006.MOFAT has designated and fostered the Call Center as a model case of

government innovation. As a result, the following honorary recognitions havebeen accredited, reinforcing its success; the Consular Call Center received tophonors as the best call center for a Government Ministry, and took secondplace with respect to all public agencies according to the Korea Service QualityIndex (KSQI) of 2006. Furthermore, the Center was also recognized as one ofthe “Four Promising Innovation Brands”and “Ten Practical Innovation Casesof the Participatory Government.”However, there is still room for improvements in terms of expanding the

realm of its work so that it may eventually become a one-stop service centerfor all public inquiries concerning MOFAT and its work. To this end, MOFATwill continue to strive to further enhance the capacity of the Call Center byincreasing expertise and further promoting public awareness.

Part 5

Open Diplomacy with the PeopleCall Center Numbers

2005.42005.52005.62005.72005.82005.92005.102005.11

2005.122006.12006.22006.32006.42006.52006.62006.72006.82006.92006.102006.11

2006.122007.1

18,000

16,000

14,000

12,000

10,000

8,000

6,000

4,000

2,000

0

1,9883,306

4,7345,981

7,9069,734

11,242 10,954

13,35814,785

15,817

11,438

9,595

11,387

12,907

15,454

10,035 9,708Bombing terror

in LondonHurricaneKatrina

Bombingterror in Bali

Bombing terrorin Turkey

Bombing terrorin Turkey

Bombing terrorin Thailand



Bombing terrorin India

Bombing terrorin Bangladesh

Bombing terrorin Pakistan

6,083

9,73410,974

12,512

2007.2

(Unit: No. of items)

262

2) Rapid Overseas Remittance System

The “Rapid Overseas Remittance”system, launched on June 1, 2007, is ameasure to provide assistance to Korean travelers who are in need of quickcash as a result of robbery, loss of possessions, or other unforeseen accidents.Once a deposit is made by family members or friends to a designated bankaccount of the Consular Call Center, the recipient can collect this amountdirectly through Korean diplomatic missions abroad.This new system is of huge assistance to travelers facing trouble since it

does not require large wiring fees or entail a waiting period of two to threedays, as in the case of regular bank transfers.

3) Rapid Response Team

In response to international terrorism and other incidents threatening thesafety of Korean nationals, MOFAT dispatched Rapid Response Teams to thefollowingregionstosecuretheirsafereleaseortotakethenecessarymeasurestoremedythesituation.

(Examples of RapidResponse TeamDispatch)- Kidnappings in 2006: KBS reporter in Palestine (March); Dongwonfishermen in Somalia (April); andDaewoo officials inNigeria (June)- Incidents in 2007: Sinking of the Golden Rose in Chinese seas (May);Civilian airliner crash in Cambodia (June); and the Taliban abductionincident inAfghanistan (July)

In addition, successful accident prevention activities were carried out duringthe following occasions.- Anti KORUSFTAdemonstrations abroad (June, September, andNovember);German World Cup 2006 (June); and the Afghanistan Peace Festival(August).



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4) Overseas Emergency Alert System

In May of 2005, MOFAT launched the Overseas Emergency Alert Systemusing SKT Global Roaming Services. The system received positive feedbackfrom the public as it is the first consular service in the world utilizing modernInformation Technology. Accordingly, MOFAT has expanded the system to KTFGlobal Roaming Service users since January 2007. With this, emergency textservices to cell phone roamers are provided to an annual average of more than2.2million users in 100 different countries.

Dispatch of Rapid Response Teams

Kidnapped in the Gaza Strip by Palestinian gunmen,released after 2 days

Kidnapped off the coast of Somalia by armed abductors,released after 117 days

Preventive Protection extended to Korean demonstrators

Kidnapped in Nigeria by gunmen, released after 2 days

Preventive Protection extended to Korean fans

Preventive Protection extended to Korean participants

Preventive Protection extended to Korean demonstrators

Preventive Protection extended to Korean athletes andsupporting staff

Preventive Protection extended to Korean demonstratorsFifth Round of the KORUS FTANegotiations (Dec. 8-12, 2006)

Doha Asian Games (Dec. 1-15, 2006)

Fourth Round of the KORUS FTANegotiations (Sep. 6-9, 2006)

Afghanistan Peace Festival (Aug. 1-8, 2006)

World Cup 2006, Germany (Jun. 16-25, 2006)

Kidnapping of Daewoo ConstructionEmployees (Jun. 7-9, 2006)

Third Round of the KORUS FTANegotiations (Jun. 5-11, 2006)

Kidnapping of Dongwon Fishermen(Apr. 4-Aug. 8, 2006)

Kidnapping of KBS Reporter (Mar. 15-18, 2006)

Incident Summary of Events


5) Deployment of Consular Assistants

MOFAT adopted the Consular Assistant system to extend consular servicesto areas where there are no Korean missions. The system, which beganoperation onMarch 1, 2006, assigned a total of 102 civil consular assistants to 19countries without Korean missions and 83 regions that are located in remoteareas from the nearest Korean mission. Under the guidance of a consul, theassistants are to take the necessary initial actions when an incidence requiringconsular protection occurs.

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Emergency Text Messages sent in 2006

Possibilities of terrorist activities around the APR 9 PresidentialElection, Precaution alert

Earthquake in Hokkaido, Precaution alert

Coup reported, Precaution alertTypoon reported, Precaution alert

Possible terrorist activity alert on Sinai Peninsula, Egypt

Intelligence on airplane terrorism, Precaution alert

Worsening public security in Afghanistan, Advice not to travelto the area

Warning on the possibility of a Tsunami on Sulawesi Island,Precaution alert, Advice to contact family members

Tsunami in Western Java, Precaution alert, Advice to contactfamily members

Mumbai serial bomb attacks, Precaution alert, Advice tocontact family members

Earthquake in Java Island, Precaution alert

Possibilities of terrorist activities around the JAN 26 nationalholiday, Precaution alert

Frequent occurrence of foreigner kidnapping, Precaution alertJan. 03

Jan. 16

Apr. 03

May 27

Jul. 12

Jul. 18

Jul. 24

Jul. 31

Aug. 10

Sep. 06

Sep. 20Sep. 29

Nov. 15

Yemen

India

Italy

Indonesia

India

Indonesia

Indonesia

Afghanistan and 16other countries

UK

Israel and 2 othercountriesThailand

Philippines

Japan

Date ContentsCountry

Through this measure, consular protection for overseas Koreans has beenexpanded to include the following areas: 22 in China (includingWuhan, Harbin,Guilin and Kunming), 21 in Asia (including Bali and Cebu), 18 in Europe(including Barcelona, Edinburgh and Milan), 26 in the Americas (includingCuba, Nicaragua and Bolivia), and 15 from the African-Middle Eastern region(includingCapeTownandLuxor).

6) Security Measures for Korean Companies in High-Risk Areas

The kidnapping of Daewoo Construction workers by a Nigerian militia inJanuary 2007 prompted MOFAT to send government inspection teams on fourdifferent occasions to check up on the precautionary measures taken foremployee safety by Korean construction companies in volatile regions.On the basis of these assessments, the government will devise appropriate

security measures for each company, taking specific regional factors intoaccount. Following the hostage situation in Nigeria, a government official wasdispatched to Nigeria in May 2007 to be of assistance in ensuring the securityof Korean construction companies there. In addition, discussions among therelevant Ministries are underway to carry out additional inspections in thehigh-risk regions where there is a large concentration of Korean deep-seafishing vessels.

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Inspection Team Deployments

Philippines, IranAfghanistan, PakistanIndia, Sri Lanka, IndonesiaThailand, Saudi Arabia, Algeria

1st Inspection Team2nd Inspection Team3rd Inspection Team4th Inspection Team

Feb. 5-16, 2007Feb. 21-Mar. 7, 2007Mar. 20-31, 2007Apr. 5-16, 2007

Team Period Countries

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7) Restriction of Travel to Dangerous Regions

With the revision of the Passport Act, Korean nationals are not allowed totravel to or stay in countries designated as volatile regions. Pursuant to thismeasure, Koreans have been restricted from traveling to Iraq, Somalia andAfghanistan for a period of one year starting from August 7, 2007. However,permanent residence, news coverage, urgent humanitarian reasons, officialduties, corporate activities, matters concerning national interest and othertenable or inevitable situations are considered to be possible exceptions. Insuch cases, entry or residence may be permitted after an in-depth examinationon the necessity of the travel and other security protocols.

2. Revitalization of the Committee on Overseas Koreans Policy

The Committee on Overseas Koreans Policy was established in 1996 in orderto comprehensively review and coordinate policies on overseas Koreans. InNovember 2004, the Committee decided to hold its meetings on a regular basis(at least one session a year for the Plenary Committee and two sessions for theWorking Committee) to reinvigorate its work. At the 6th plenary session held inDecember 2006, the Committee reviewed and confirmed the plans for overseasKoreans support projects in 2007, and discussed the issue of designating acommemorative day for overseas Koreans.Through the revitalization of the Committee on Overseas Koreans Policy,

the Korean government will continue to coordinate various tasks and supportprojects conducted by diverse government agencies, so as to enhance theefficiency of the work regarding overseas Koreans and to bolster cooperationbetween the various Ministries.

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Overseas Koreans and Organizations

● Overseas Koreans Population: 6,781,433● Overseas Koreans Organizations: 2,822

Middle EastOverseas Koreans: 9,340Organizations: 24

AfricaOverseas Koreans: 8,399Organizations: 35 Caribbean and South

AmericaOverseas Koreans: 105,975Organizations: 142Oceania

Overseas Koreans: 369,435Organizations: 253

JapanOverseas Koreans: 629,236Organizations: 171

ChinaOverseas Koreans: 2,762,020Organizations: 170

EuropeOverseas Koreans: 654,659Organizations: 611

North AmericaOverseas Koreans: 2,242,369Organizations: 2,822

▶ Overseas Koreans Population

ChinaUSAJapanCanadaRussiaUzbekistanKazakhstanAustraliaPhilippinesVietnam

2,762,0202,023,653

629,236218,716207,225178,070102,28095,29791,47753,800

50,52341,99533,13132,97230,70029,80025,00021,59220,90013,981

BrazilUKUkraineNew ZealandIndonesiaGermanyThailandArgentinaKyrgyzstanFrance

12345678910

11121314151617181920

Rank Country Population Rank Country Population

Since late 2005, the Korean government has been providing legal assistanceto overseas Koreans residing in the CIS countries without any citizenship andalso has enhanced diplomatic cooperation with countries such as Russia,Ukraine and Kazakhstan to support their settlement. In addition, MOFAT willinitiate an agricultural support program in conjunction with the Ministry ofAgriculture and Forestry to foster economic sufficiency for Koreans in theseregions.

3. Supporting Resettlement in CIS Countries

There are approximately 500,000 overseas Koreans living in CIS countries.After the collapse of the former Soviet Union in 1991, approximately 50,000 ofthese ethnic Koreans left the countries of initial residency due to variousreasons including the civil war in Tajikistan and economic hardships inUzbekistan. They moved to other CIS countries, but many of them are stillresiding there without legal citizenship.In 2006, the Korean government founded the Commission on Overseas

Korean Support for the CIS Region, and set the following agenda as the top

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▶Global Network of overseas Koreans

The Global Network of Korean Scientists &Engineers (www.kosen21.org)

World Korean Business Convention(www.hansang.net)

World Federation of Korean Association ofCommerce (www.hansangkorea.com)

Korean Trade Network (www.koreantrade.net)

Korean.net (www.korean.net)

Korean Women’s International Network(www.kowin.or.kr)

International Network of Korean Entrepreneurs(www.inke.org)

The Korean Business Network of the World(www.dure21.com)

World Federation of Overseas Korean TradersAssociation (www.okta.net)

five priorities: Expanding Korean language education opportunities; Increasingassistance for students to study or receive training in Korea; Maintainingethnic/cultural identity; Expanding employment opportunities in Korea; andSupporting local settlement.Since late 2005, the government has been providing legal assistance to

overseas Koreans residing in the CIS countries without any citizenship andhas also enhanced diplomatic cooperation with countries such as Russia,Ukraine, and Kazakhstan to support their resettlement. In addition, MOFATwill initiate an agricultural support program in conjunction with the Ministryof Agriculture and Forestry to foster economic sufficiency for Koreans in theseregions.

4. Visiting Employment System for Overseas Koreans

Overseas Koreans with foreign nationality are protected under the Law ofthe Legal Status of Overseas Koreans and receive benefits in many aspects ofdomestic life including employment and economic activities. This law does notapply, however, to overseas Koreans who work in the manual labor sector.Consequently there persisted a problem where overseas Koreans from Chinaand the CIS countries were in fact deprived of the benefits under the Law ofthe Legal Status of Overseas Koreans.In order to provide overseas Koreans from China and the CIS countries with

more opportunities to visit Korea and to gain employment, the Koreangovernment introduced the Employment Management system since December2002 and the Special Employment Permit system since August 2004 as analternative to the application of the Law of the Legal Status of OverseasKoreans. On March 4, 2007, the Visiting Employment system went into effect.This system simplified employment procedures by allowing overseas Koreanswithout domestic ties to be included as candidates to visit Korea.The Visiting Employment system, which enables the issuance of a multiple

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visa valid for five years and grants three separate stays in Korea per year, isthe outcome of an active policy of engagement toward overseas Koreans. Thesystem is expected to alleviate discrimination against the different overseasKorean groups and help them resettle upon their return to the countries oforigin.

5. Supporting Overseas Koreans Communities

MOFAT continues to support overseas Koreans Communities through theOverseas Korean Foundation.

1) Major Activities of the Overseas Koreans Foundation

Operation of “Korean.net,”Publication of promotional materials,Support for overseas Korean media, Worldwide satellite network for Korean news

Korean culture festivals, Cultural and artistic performances,Supporting activities of overseas Koreans

Korean language and Korean identity development, Scholarships,Invitations for educational opportunities, Cyber Korean language lectures

Global Korean business network, Economic exchanges

Social exchanges, Korean community projects, Commemorative events onoverseas settlement, Invitations and support for overseas adoptees,

Local community surveys, Building research foundations, Cyber help-desk

Economy

Research

Education

Culture

Informatization

Exchange

Activity Major work

2) Major Achievements of Supporting Activities

The Fifth World Korean Business Convention

The World Korean Business Convention is an off-line event of the GlobalKorean Business Network project that seeks to build networks in various fields,including commerce, industry, international trade, information technology,venture capital, and science and technology. Through the convention, businessties aremade between and among overseas and domesticKorean companies.This is beneficial to all the parties involved, as overseas Korean businesses

are able to expand their markets by exchanging goods and information fromdifferent countries, continents and regions. In turn, domestic businesses canovercome language barriers and obtain valuable market information to expandof their business opportunities abroad.The Fifth World Korean Business Convention, held in Busan in October

2006, garnered the participation of 2,285 visitors (1,071 domestic and 1,214foreign) from 39 countries and led to 6,443 business consultations totaling$258 million (up from $187 million the year before). In close cooperation withthe local government and the 303 participating companies or organizations,the convention has become the largest convention for overseas Koreancommunities. In particular, the convention was held in tandem with the 2006Busan InternationalFootwear & Textiles(BIFOT) Exhibition,and thus served as anopportunity to boostthe local economy,build a system forcooperation amongrelated entities athome and abroad (e.g.the conclusion of anMOU between the

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Opening Ceremony of the 5th World Korean Business Convention(Busan, October 31, 2006)

272


World Korean Trade Association and the City of Busan, and also between theKorean-AmericanGrocers Association and theGyeongsangbukdo Province), andto encourage the active participation of overseasKorean businesses.

Korean Network Database

The Hanin Directory 2006, is a Koreannetwork database publication that aims to bindthe 6.7 million overseas Koreans together. Itcontains detailed information, organized byboth country and continent basis, on 432overseasKorean associations in 105 countries.Furthermore, the Overseas Adoptee White

Book, was published to commemorate the 10th

anniversary of the overseas adoptee supportprojects carried out by the Overseas KoreanFoundation. It comprehensively covers basicinformation on the adoption policies, statistics,post -adoption management systems andsupporting organizations to in -depthinformation on more than 500 adoption related entities, 4,000 related articlesand thesis, and information on Korean language education. In addition, an on-line service site has been launched to provide access to adoption-relateddatabase via the internet.

Strengthening Support for Overseas Koreans Communities

To commemorate 100 years of Korean settlement abroad, the Koreangovernment implemented the “Overseas Korean Youth Job Training Program”for descendents of ethnic Koreans residing in countries such as China,Sakhalin, Latin America, CIS countries and Mexico. This is a part of theefforts to build a secure economic foundation for these ethnic Koreans in theircountries of residence and to increase exchange with the motherland. As aresult, 252 persons from China, Latin America and CIS countries participated

The Front Page of the Hanin Directory2006 published by the Overseas

Korean’s Foundation

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in job aptitude training sessions in the areas of IT (Java and webprogramming), automobile and electric welding. Moreover, the governmentprovided support to maintain ethnic identity by procuring IT-related educationequipment to Korean Schools in China and the CIS countries and bycontributing 379 million Korean won to 2,072 Korean language schools in 107countries. The government has also supported various overseas Koreanassociations and Korean settlement events such as the commemoration of 120years of the Korea-France diplomatic relations, and the 40 year anniversarymarking the dispatch of Korean nurses to Germany.

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1) Consular Services Training

In order to meet the growing expectations and win the full confidence of thegeneral public, MOFAT has strived to bring about innovation in its work cultureand to enhance the quality of consular services by emphasizing a consul-orientedway of thinking to all of its employees.To this end, various sessions, including a full-day consular training,

discussion forums, service attitude assessments, and Consulate-Generalmeetings were held to raise the bar in terms of politeness and interactiveconsular skills. On the other hand, a number of surveys on consular servicesatisfaction have been carried out to further improve the quality of servicesprovided.

2) Publication on Cases of Consular Innovation

Seeking to build an effective system in providing outstanding consularservices, MOFAT designated 2005 as “the year of diplomacy for the people.”In

Chapter 2 People-oriented Consular Services

1. Creating a Service-Minded Organizational Culture

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Chapter 2 People-oriented Consular Services 275

this light, the second Casebook on Consular Activity Innovations, acompilation of successful innovation cases both at the capital and at themissions abroad, was published in 2006. This edition provides detailed accountsof hardware development and software applications on the systematicimprovement of consular services.

2. Consular Service Improvements

1) The e-Consul System

Since December 2004,MOFAThas been operating the e-Consul Systemwhichconnects overseas missions with the computer network of the centralgovernment. Now simpler and quicker one-stop consular services are readilyavailable at the missions abroad as well. The major improvement is thesubstantial reduction in time, from approximately a week to“real-time,”indealing with numerous administrative services such as the retrieval of familyregisters, residency registration, immigration records, identification anddriver’s licenses, and other administrative services. Currently, 89 overseasmissions are connected to this e-Consul Systemand there are plans underway tofurther expand the system to cover all the foreignmissions.

2) Public Service Centers and Opinion Boxes

Public service centers were established in 133 missions to improve consularservices around the world. In addition, opinion boxes have been placed in allforeign missions since March 2005, to collect complaints, recommendationsand general opinions for improvements. Furthermore, in the efforts tomaintainstandards in public services, MOFAT plans to amend consular service related

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protocols and enact a set of rules on public service procedures for our missionsabroad.

3) Consular Center at Incheon International Airport

In case a passport has expired or is due to expire within six months fromthe date of departure, the Consular Service Center at Incheon InternationalAirport can grant a six-month extension or issue a temporary passport with aone-year validity, after relevant assessment procedures.

3. Public Awareness for Consular Services

1) Website for Travel Safety Information

Since December 2004, MOFAT began operation of a website(www.0404.go.kr) to help ensure the safety of Korean nationals travelingabroad by providing usefulinformation on consularservices, accident prevention,and safety tips on foreign travel.The site also contains variousinformation and news on thesecurity situation of countries,travel warnings, passports, andother consular affairs, togetherwith information on the“travelalert level”of 48 countries orregions. Website for Travel Safety Information

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2) Media Campaigns on Safe Travel

MOFAT provides information on safe travel through the following massmedia channels: twice a week on “Today’s World”(KBS FM1); everyday on“Foreign Safe Travel Tips”(YTN); and once a week on“World News”(KBS 2TV).In addition, distribution of notices in the form of pamphlets and posters,frequent press releases, and open discussion sessions also play an importantpart in MOFAT’s efforts to provide timely and appropriate information to thosetraveling abroad.

4. Pursuing Visa Waiver Agreements

1) U.S. Visa Waiver Program

To facilitate public convenience and to promote further exchange betweenKorea and the U.S., MOFAT has been pursuing the conclusion of a Visa WaiverProgram (VWP) with the U.S. MOFAT has been working closely with both theexecutive and the legislative branches of the U.S. government to create a morefavorable environment to this end. In addition, close consultations among therelevant ministries have been carried out at home to effectively meet thevarious entry requirements. As a result of such efforts, Korea and theU.S. cameto an agreement in December 2006 on a roadmap for expediting Korea’s entryinto the VWP. Furthermore, President Bush has voiced his support for the VWPon a number of occasions, leading to a friendly atmosphere both inside theBeltway and on the Hill. With the passing of the U.S. bill stipulating themodernization of the VWP on August 3, 2007, the possibility for Korea ofbecoming a signatory to the program has greatly increased. MOFAT willcontinue to strive to conclude the VWPwith theU.S. through close consultationsand cooperationwithboth the relevantministries and theU.S. government.

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2) Other Visa Waivers

To facilitate further international exchange and ease of foreign travel, visawaiver agreements with various countries in the world are either underway orhas already been concluded. MOFAT will continue to explore new possibilitiesand pursue visa waiver agreements that may be of interest to Koreannationals.

Increased Public Demand for the Protection of Korean Nationals Abroadand for Quality Consular Services

The number of international travelers has continuously been on the rise since the liberalization of foreign travel in1989. In 2006, the number reached 12 million, bringing about a rapid increase in the number of accidents andincidents abroad as well.

▶ Number of Travelers Abroad

1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

14,000,000

12,000,000

10,000,000

8,000,000

6,000,000

4,000,000

2,000,000

-2,741,500

3,778,1404,508,076

5,351,974

5,275,1833,393,198

4,659,9355,795,044

6,379,255

7,441,059

7,386,088

9,139,31410,372,409

11,815,901

▶ Number of Accidents and Incidents Abroad

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

5,0004,5004,0003,5003,0002,5002,0001,5001,0005000

1,241

3,356

4,427 4,235

554

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The number of Korean nationals traveling abroad has grown by more than 15% per annum toreach 12 million travelers this year alone. Accordingly, not only have more than 4,000 major andminor incidents been reported each year but travelers have also been exposed to the danger ofinternational terrorism and natural disasters, such as earthquakes, tidal waves and hurricanes.Due to the limitations in manpower to promptly address such consular needs, MOFAT launched

the Consular Call Center at the end of 2004 as a means to innovate consular services. The ConsularCall Center provides swift and helpful services in emergencies 24 hours a day 365 days a year toKorean nationals residing or traveling aboard. The Center also has the function of preventing incidents by using Global Roaming services to send

warnings or precautions through text messages to those staying in “volatile regions”prone toearthquakes or terrorist activities. As MOFAT is currently the only Foreign Ministry in the worldoperating a Consular Call Center, other foreign ministries have shown keen interest in adopting asimilar system.

The Achievements of the Consular Call Center in Southeast Asia, America and Europe

The Consular Call Center has proved its usefulness by easing the worries of families who have lostcontact with their loved ones staying in the affected areas — during the Southeast Asian Tsunami in2004; Katrina which swept the Southeast region of the U.S. in 2005; and terrorist activities inLondon and Bali. A list of the cases where the Center provided emergency support is tantamount:consultations for an emergency blood transfusion for a child with a rare disease who was visiting hisrelatives in Shenyang; and a visit arrangement for a child whose father was injured from a trafficaccident in Chin Tao; and advice on handling a traffic accident for a backpacker traveling throughParis among many other cases. Although the Center users have reached 150 thousands persons per year, MOFAT faces an urgent

need to extend the services to a wider range of people. MOFAT managed to employ voluntary workersfrom Seocho-gu Voluntary Service Center to distribute pamphlets at Study or “Live-Abroad”Fairs andto send information to both universities and civic groups. Furthermore, for Korean nationals leaving thecountry, MOFAT expanded its services to include the printing of manuals on e-tickets and educationalevents with support from airline companies and the Korea Association of Travel Agents (KATA).Whenever and wherever one is in need of emergency services, he or she can dial the international

dialing code of their country followed by +800-2100-0404 for tips on travel safety provided byMOFAT.

Voice from the Field

Consular Call Center Team

Travel abroad safely with the Consular Call Center:

Preventive Measures against Accidents,Interest Growing in Other Countries

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As the core of national power shifted from hard power to soft power,MOFAT set a policy goal of increasing Korea’s soft power through culturaldiplomacy, carrying out a variety of diplomatic activities in 2006. Basically, itwas implemented through both multilateral and bilateral cooperation withother countries: bilateral cooperation was achieved through the conclusion ofthe Cultural Agreements, the organization of Cultural Joint Committees, andcultural events with other countries. Multilateral cooperation was accomplishedthrough summits including ASEM, APEC, and ASEAN+3 as well ascollaboration with international organizations such as UNESCO. All of theseactivities raised international awareness of Korean culture and improvingKorea’s national image abroad. In order to cultivate a dynamic national image of Korea, MOFAT not only

sent cultural groups and institutions of traditional and modern dance, music,and theater abroad, but also invited foreign journalists to Korea, encouragedyouth exchange activities and so forth. In the field of sports, MOFAT widelysupported the Korean soccer team and cheer groups during the 2006 WorldCup held in Germany, while making efforts to host major international sportsevents in 2007 by working closely with related committees. MOFAT has alsoactively participated in international debates regarding issues such as the

Chapter 3 Promoting Korea’s National Image andStatus through Cultural Diplomacy

1. Strengthening Soft Power through Cultural Diplomacy

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Chapter 3 Promoting Korea’s National Image and Status through Cultural Diplomacy 281

Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of CulturalExpressions, thus strengthening the nation’s image as a responsible member ofthe international community. Cultural diplomacy through the Korean Wave(Hallyu) and the 2003-2010 project“Promoting the Uniqueness and Ingenuity ofKorean Art through Various Permanent Exhibitions in Embassies andConsulates Abroad”contributed to the establishment of a positive nationalimage ofKorea as a country rich in cultural heritage aswell.

2. Visible Outcomes

1) Intergovernmental Cooperation: Cultural Agreements and Joint CulturalCommittees

MOFAT concluded eight Cultural Agreements and Cultural ExchangeExecutive Programs during 2006, preparing an institutional foundation forcultural cooperation. There were also twelve Joint Cultural Committeesmeetings and meetings of the Director-Generals of the Cultural Affairs Bureauof the Foreign Ministry — a 71% increase in the number of meetings heldcompared to 2005, which performed a crucial role in cultural cooperationamong states. These agreements and meetings laid the foundation for Korea’spublic diplomacy to raise the awareness of Korea among other countries andpromote a friendly sentiment towards Korea.

2) Successful Promotion of Integrated Cultural Exchange Events withMajor Countries

A. “The Year of Friendship between Korea and Japan in 2005”and “South

Korea-China Cultural Exchange Year”

The year 2006 was meaningful in terms of cultural exchange in Northeast

282


Asia. Korea, China andJapan conducted a varietyof cultural exchangeprojects under thecommon recognition thatmutual understandingand friendly ties amongNortheast Asian peoplelead to peace andprosperity in this region. With Japan, MOFAT

assisted the follow-upactivities to the“Yearof Friendship between Korea and Japan in 2005”initiated by the private sectorin order to continue and strengthen friendly and cooperative relations withJapan following the success of the Year of Friendship between Korea and Japanin 2005. From September 23 to 24 under the title“Korea-Japan Festival 2006,”a street festival, regarded as themost successful of the 700 events related to theYear of Friendship, was held in Daehakro, building up friendly relationsbetween young generations in the two countries.With China, MOFAT designated the year 2007 — the 15th anniversary of the

establishment of diplomatic relations between Korea and China — as the“Korea-China Cultural Exchange Year”and prepared various cultural events,including numerous stage performances, fine art exhibitions, educational-andsports-related activities through official consultation channels. The twogovernments agreed to organize more than 100 government-supported eventssuch as the opening and closing ceremonies for the Cultural Exchange Year. Inparticular, MOFAT established an advisory committee composed of non-governmental figures to encourage the participation of the private sector inthese events so that the Cultural Exchange Year could be a real festival for thecitizens in the two countries.

Public Representatives for the Korea-China Cultural ExchangeYear (Seoul, December 15, 2006)

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B. The 120th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Ties between

Korea and France

During President Roh’svisit to France in December2004, the two sides agreed topromote cooperation andestablish future -orientedrelations by celebrating the120th anniversary of theestablishment of diplomaticrelations between the twocountries. To this end, eachcountry hosted a series ofdiverse cultural events under the slogans“Coree auCoeur”and“Aja, France!”MOFAT held about 100 events, including Gayageum performance by Hwang

Byung-gi (June 8) and a concert featuring Korea’s beloved opera singer ChoSumi (December 12), displaying the beauty of Korean culture in France. Notonly big cities but also rural areas in France witnessed Korean culture, andthe joint planning and participation of the two countries’art institutions ledthe cultural exchange to occur at a more practical level. The French press andmedia not only introduced those events in great detail but also reported acomprehensive analysis on the Korean culture’s uniqueness presented intraditional performances, dances, fashion and movies. France also opened a website (www.france.or.kr) to promote events initiated

by the French diplomatic missions in Seoul, such as the“Masterpieces of Museede Louvre”and“Le Ballet de l’Opera de Lyon.”Many of themwere considered tohave improved themutual understanding between the two countries.

C. The Year of Mutual Visits between Korea and the United Kingdom

In December 2004, President Roh Moo-hyun visited the UK as the chief ofstate for the first time in Korea’s history since the establishment of thediplomatic relations between the two nations in 1883. During the visit, the two

Visitors at the Gallery on the Muse de Louvre on occasionof 120th anniversary of Diplomatic Relations with France. (National Museum of Korea, Seoul, October 24, 2006)

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sides agreed to promote the Year of Mutual Visits between Korea and theUnited Kingdom in purpose of enhancing mutual understanding. To this end,Korea opened a campaign titled “Think Korea 2006”in Britain, and the UK isplanning “Think UK 2007”in Korea. “Think Korea 2006”introduced traditional and modern Korean culture tothe UK through increased human exchange, economic seminars, and movieand art festivals. The campaign focused especially on art and culture to meetthe British people’s taste.Thanks to the British press’interest in the Year of Mutual Visit, there was

a significant increase in the number of articles related to Korean culture in2006: Compared to five articles concerning Korean culture in 2005, 28 articlespublished in 2006, and the ratio of culture-related articles also increased from1% in 2005 to 3% in 2006. The Times presented a special coverage on Korea onOctober 18, which covered 12 pages and included a thorough explanation ofKorean culture.

D. The 50th Anniversary of the Establishment Diplomatic Ties between Korea

and Turkey

At the Korea-Turkey summit in April 2005, the year 2007 — the 50th

anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries — was designatedas the“Year of Friendship betweenKorea andTurkey.”OnSeptember 14, 2006, ameeting of the Director-Generals of the Ministry ofForeign Affairs in two countrieswas held to discuss the details ofupcoming events including theopening ceremony and othersubjects such as the logo andexpenses. As a result, twoopening ceremonies took place:a traditional dance by theNational Center for Korean

The Opening Ceremony of the Year of the Korea-UKMutual Visits 2006 (London, February 23, 2006)

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Traditional Performing Arts was performed in Ankara and Istanbul on March 8,2007, and the MIK Classical Concert in Ankara on March 9, 2007, wassuccessfully held through the support of the Korea Foundation. Besides, theKorean government is planning diverse cultural events such as film festivals, artexhibitions, and fashion exchanges, hoping to spreadKorea’s culture throughoutitsBrotherCountry—Turkey.

3) Support for Overseas Performances by Korean Art Groups

The Korean government sent a total of 24 Korean art groups to 44 countriesfor important events including the 120th anniversary of diplomatic relationsbetween Korea and France, the APEC Summit Meeting in Vietnam, the ASEMSummit Meeting in Finland and various Korean Culture Weeks hosted byoverseas Korean missions. The performing groups were selected on the basis of evaluations made by

experts in the Performing Arts Advisory Committee. Cultural characteristics,preferences, and the diplomatic importance of the performing location were alltaken into consideration when selecting the performing groups. In those overseas performances, not only the local residents but also

government officials, businessmen, journalists and artists were invited toenjoy Korea’s rich culture. In order to prepare successful performances in thefuture, MOFAT objectively evaluated cultural needs through surveys taken bythe audiences and the corresponding embassy personnel at the end of theperformances.

4) Promotion of Cultural Exchanges through Sports

As cultural exchanges have become active in international community, theimportance of Sports Diplomacy has increased. Cooperation in sports is thebest cultural project for an advanced country to build partnership with

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developing countries without causing discomfort.Sports have played an important part in enhancing the image of Korea.

Especially those international sports events successfully held in Korea — the1988 Seoul Olympics and the 2002 World Cup — played a leading role inestablishing a dynamic Korean image.

Support for the 2006 Germany World Cup

The 2006 World Cup in Germany reminded Koreans of the 2002 World Cup,which was almost a national festival for passionate Koreans. MOFAT gave itsfull support and assistance to the winter training camp for the Korean soccerteam and organized the 2006 German World Cup Special Committee to supportthe Korean Soccer Association and cheer groups and resolve other problemsarising from the 2006 World Cup. Unfortunately, the Korean soccer team wasnot able to advance to the octo-finals. However, the Korean team clearlydemonstrated the potential of the Korean soccer team as the team, for the firsttime ever, ended the match against France in a tie. In 2006 GermanWorld Cup,Korean residents in Germany, cheer groups and the soccer team was unitedthroughout all games.

Support for the Hosting of International Sports Events

As experience shows, hosting international sports events such as the SeoulOlympic Games and the World Cup can provide good opportunities to enhanceKorea’s national image and gain economic benefits. Therefore, MOFAT and theKorean diplomatic missionsmade an effort to host the 2011 Daegu InternationalAthletic Games, the 2014 Incheon Asian Games and the 2014 PyeongChangWinter Olympic Games in close cooperation with each respective hostingcommittee.Through their efforts, Daegu was selected to host the 2011 International

Athletic Games over Brisbane, Australia and Moscow, Russia. In addition, theircooperation with the 2014 Incheon Asian Games Hosting Committee led to thedesignation of Incheon as the host for the 2014 Asian Games. Although New Dehliwas a strong contender, the Olympic Council of Asia chose Korea in April 2007.

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Forming its own task force team,MOFAT cooperatedwith the 2014PyeongChangWinter Olympic Games Hosting Committee and sent a support team to the 119th

meeting of the International Olympic Committee in Guatemala. Unfortunately,PyeongchanglostthebidtoSochi,Russiaby4votesinthesecondroundofvotes.

Taekwondo Performance Team Activities

To advertise and popularize Taekwondo, one of the most beloved Koreansports in international community, MOFAT sent a Taekwondo performanceteam in cooperation with the Korean Taekwondo Association to the UnitedKingdom, Norway and France from May 11 to 24, 2007, and to Ecuador andMexico from November 15 to 16, 2007. Plans to send the performance team toAmerica and Central Asia in 2007 are being set and discussed.

5) The Revitalization of Intellectual Exchanges Programs

MOFAT has been inviting leading journalists from developing countries toenhance Korea’s national image by showing foreign journalists the level ofnational prosperity Korea has achieved and publicize Korea’s various projectsof giving loan - and grant -type aid to developing countries. In 2006, sixjournalists from six different countries (Peru, Argentina, Greece, Qatar,Tanzania, and Ghana) were invited. Also, during the first half of the year2007, six journalists from six other countries (Cambodia, Croatia, South Africa,Ukraine, Ecuador, and Fiji) were invited. These journalists stayed in Korea for 6days, during which they had meetings with Korean leaders and visited theKorea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), the Korea Press Foundation(as well as other related public institutions), the Unification Tower, high-techindustrial facilities and major cultural sites. During these tours, the journalistswere given printed material as well as verbal explanations of“Dynamic Korea.”After returning to their home countries, these journalists shared what theylearned about Korea with their respective media companies. They alsoparticipated in conferences with other leading journalists and opinion leaders

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53) In 2005, two groups of 54 Korean university students visited Singapore, Malaysia, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Thailandrespectively, and ASEAN university students were invited to Korea. In 2006, 54 Korean university students visitedIndonesia, Laos, and Vietnam, while 97 ASEAN university students visited the Korea. In early 2007, 70 ASEAN universitystudents visited Korea, while 21 Korean university students visited the Philippines and Singapore.

54) Korea has acceded to the Convention on February 9, 2005

in which they promoted Korea’s image out of goodwill. Thanks to Korea’spublicity efforts, its relationswith these developing countries have been furtherstrengthened, proving that the results of its intellectual exchange programhave so far been positive and effective.In addition, MOFAT has built a future-oriented relationship with other

countries through international youth exchange programs. During the first halfof every year, university students in Korea participate in exchange programswith 10 ASEAN member countries, while the Korea-Japan University StudentExchange Program takes place in the second half of every year. Korea andChina also have been improving mutual understanding between their publicofficials through theKorea-ChinaPublic Official ExchangeProgram.53)

6) Active Participation in Multilateral Discussions in Cultural Field

On March 18, 2007, the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of theDiversity of Cultural Expressions went into effect as the treaty, adopted at the33rd ordinary session of the UNESCO’s General Assembly on October 20, 2005,was ratified by more than 30 member states. MOFAT has been takingnecessary steps to ratify the Convention, the first international regulationestablished to protect cultural diversity, through constant consultation withrelevant authorities. In the future, member states that have ratified theConvention will hold ordinary sessions and organize an intergovernmentalcommittee in order to specify the guidelines in implementing the Convention,and MOFAT will keep an eye on the trend of related international debates. On April 20,2006,the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible

Cultural Heritage54) came into effect, urging the international community to

Part 5



protect intangible heritage from being demolished and lost forever. The StateParties to this Convention held two ordinary sessions in June and November2006 and elected 24 members for its Intergovernmental Committee. MOFATattended the first meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee as an observer,which was held in Alger for 19 days beginning on November 18, 2006. Theagenda of this Committee was the selection of advisory bodies and theestablishment of standards of inscription for the IntangibleHeritage List.Elected as a member state of the World Heritage Committee in the 15th

ordinary session of the Convention in 2005, Korea actively joined in discussionsduring the 30th meeting of the WHC in Lithuania from July 8 to 16, 2006. TheCommittee is responsible for preserving cultural and natural heritage sitesaround the world and inscribing properties with outstanding universal valueonto theWorldHeritage List.From July 19 to 21, 2006, MOFAT attended the UNESCO Intergovernmental

Meeting to elaborate on the Declaration of the Principle Relating to CulturalObjects Disclosed in Connection with the Second World War. In October 2006, afield investigation by UNESCO to consider placing Jeju Island on the WorldNatural Heritage List was delivered, resulting in the island’s inscription ontothe list at the 31st meeting of theWHCon June 27.MOFAT has made constant efforts in multilateral cultural diplomacy, and

these efforts contributed to establishing the national image as one of the activemiddle-states.

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7) Publicizing Korean Culture through the Korean Wave (“Hallyu”)

MOFAT endeavored to promote the world’s interest in and understanding ofKorea by utilizing the Korean Wave, which has been spreading rapidlythroughout East Asia. In particular, the Hallyu Supporting Council, establishedin 14 strategically chosen East Asian countries, have played multiple roles suchas publicizing the Korean wave in their respective countries in line with thedifferent social conventions of each country and supporting the performances ofvarious Korean stars. In addition, MOFAT sent the stars of the extremelypopular Korean drama called“Dae Jang Geum”to the Philippines, Brunei,Singapore, and Cambodia in March and August of 2006, taking intoconsideration the major contribution that Korean movies and dramas havemade in spreading Korea’s culture abroad. This celebrity-sending project has

■Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions● Adopted by the UNESCO’s General Assembly and came into effect on March 18, 2007. Defined the

measures the State Parties should take to avoid cultural standardization around the world.•The 1st General Assembly of the State Parties was held in July 2007, and an intergovernmental

committee consisting of 24 countries is to be organized soon.

■■Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage●Confirmed the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity and the List of the

Intangible Cultural Heritage in Urgent Need of Protection was adopted on October 17, 2003 and wentinto effect on April 20, 2006.•Two General Assemblies were held in 2006 and an Intergovernmental Committee composed of 24

countries was organized.

■■World Heritage Committee● A meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee to examine diverse cultural and natural heritage

around the world and to inscribe the properties that are considered as having outstanding universalvalue onto the World Heritage List•Consists of representatives from 21 of the State Parties to the Convention. Korea’s seven cultural

heritages including Changduk Palace and Suwon Hwaseong Fortress were nominated and inscribedonto the List by the approval of this Committee.

Culture-related Agreements and International Organizations

Part 5



received much praise from the foreign public and has helped spread a pleasantatmosphere throughout Asia since its start in 2004 on the 15th anniversary oftheKorea-ASEANdialogue.Furthermore, in order to show that the Korean wave is not a temporary fad

or a one-sided propagation of Korean culture, MOFAT has focused its effortson promoting a mutual cultural exchange programs in which the cultures ofvarious East Asian countries are also introduced to Korea. As a result of theefforts, two cultural events were held in September 2006 in which culturalworks from 10 member countries of ASEAN as well as those from Korea, China,and Japan were introduced to the Korean public: the East Asian Film Festival(September 14-17 in Seoul and Changwon) and the East Asian Arts Festival(September 19-22 in Seoul). Both of these festivals were meaningful as theywere the first collective cultural exchange event put on by East Asian countries.They were also regarded as the foundations of further friendship and growththroughout East Asia.

8) Promoting the Uniqueness and Ingenuity of Korean Art throughVarious Permanent Exhibitions in Embassies and ConsulatesAbroad

Recognizing that Korean diplomatic missions and official residences abroadplay an important role in shaping the image of Korea in foreign countries,MOFAT has supported the use of diplomatic missions as exhibition spaceswhere the finest Korean works of art are displayed to be easily introduced toforeigners and to enhance Korea’s image abroad. In 2006, the government sent120 Korean works of art to 15 Korean embassies, including those in Norway,Ireland, Jordan, and the Shenyang province of China. These art collectionswere carefully reviewed by members of the Arts Advisory Committee thatcontinues to manage the exhibitions to this day and contributes effectively tothe enhancement of Korea’s image abroad.

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9) Inauguration of the Diplomatic Archives

The Diplomatic Archiveswas inaugurated on April 27,2006, with an aim to constructa scientific and organizedsystem for the preservationand utilization of diplomaticrecords.Housed in the Institute of

Foreign Affairs and NationalSecurity (IFANS) in Seocho-gu,Seoul, the building consists ofthree floors and a ground floor.Within the History of Diplomacy Exhibition Hall, which is a part of theDiplomatic Archives, diplomatic documents and supplies collected since Koreafirst opened its doors to foreign countries in 1876 are presented. The DiplomaticDocument Reading Room, also located within the building, has opened to thepublic disclosed documents that have been archived formore than 30 years.The Diplomatic Archives purports to provide the public with easy access to

records of Korea’s diplomatic history and international relations. The Archivesis also continuously developing a variety of services to promote publicunderstanding in the field of Korea’s international relations and endeavoringto provide adequate and abundant resources for those who wish to know moreabout Korea’s diplomatic history.

The Inauguration Ceremony of the Diplomatic Archives(IFANS, April 27, 2006)

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The very first “East Asia Week,”held in Korea from September 13 to 22, closed with a greatsuccess. President Roh Moo-hyun had proposed the event at the ASEAN+3 (Korea, China andJapan) Summit held in December 2005 in order to promote mutual understanding among the peopleof East Asia. As the proposing country, Korea hosted the East Asian Film Festival and the East AsianArts Festival. At the film festival, films from twelve countries were screened, most of them for the firsttime with the exception of those from China, Japan and Thailand.

The film festival attracted a diverse audience ranging from Southeast Asians residing in Korea toKorean film buffs because it offered an opportunity to view various East Asian films in one place,which would normally be difficult.

As for the East Asian Arts Festival, performing arts groups from Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam,along with a breakdancing group from Korea, participated in the event. There had actually beenconcerns during the initial stages of preparation for the event as to how the younger generation, whoare accustomed to sensational costumes and fast-tempo music, would react to the East Asiantraditional performances that would be rather unfamiliar to them.

However, on the day of the actual event, university students turned out to be the largest group inthe audience, followed by families with children. The performances were as good in quality andcontent as any other I had seen during my trips around the world. The rich facial expressions andbody language and the exciting plot development kept me on the edge of my seat for the duration ofthe entire event.

The “East Asian Week”was originally designed to function as a stepping stone for the promotionof friendly relations among East Asian countries, whose cultural exchanges had been weak despitetheir geographical proximity to each other. However, since a single stone does not suffice to build afully-functioning bridge, I hope that the East Asian Week is only the first step in a cumulative processthat will connect the countries of East Asia together.

Voice from the Field

Director-General Koo Bon-woo (Sept. 27, 2006) A contributing article submitted to the Government Information Agency

Let’s build cultural stepping stonesamong the East Asian countries

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The policy goal of “Public Diplomacy: Embracing the People”is difficult toachieve through one-way communication. Therefore, the Ministry has beenmaking efforts to satisfy the citizens’right to know by providing prompt,useful and correct information and reaching out to the citizens through a moreopen form of “two-way”communication.To accomplish this policy goal, the Ministry has strived to depart from the

one-way delivery of information and fully realize “Public Diplomacy:Embracing the People”by expanding two-way communication channels (directoff-line dialogues and indirecton-line promotional activitieswith the public) with an openmind.Direct off-line dialogues

with the citizens can provideopportunities for the citizensto participate more actively inthe Ministry’s policy-makingprocess by overcoming theanonymity of various on-line

Participants of the Visit MOFAT program (Seoul, April 21, 2006)

Chapter 4 Expanding Dialogue with the Public

through Two-Way Communication

1. Public Outreach

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Chapter 4 Expanding Dialogue with the Public through Two-Way Communication 295

promotional activities, such as homepage and e-mails, and enabling custom two-way communication for each target group.Direct meetings and dialogue with the citizens have taken place by means

of Visit MOFAT Programs, lecture circuits to major cities around the country,visits to middle schools and high schools in various regions, and speciallectures for college students. In 2006, the Ministry organized 15 Visit MOFATPrograms, 15 visits to middle schools and high schools around the country and52 lecture circuits in 24 cities. In the sessions, the Ministry gatheredsuggestions and comments on foreign policy issues and directly informed theparticipants of the results of their feedback.The Ministry also enlisted participants of these events as members of the

Policy Customer Relationship Management (PCRM) in MOFAT and providedopportunities for sustained two-way communication between the Ministry andthe citizens.Indirect on-line promotional

activities with the public is anideal method for the wide-rangingIT-based policy environment ofKorea, which provides majorforeign policy information to alarge number of people at low costby utilizing the existing on-linechannels with expandability andwithout time constraints.To provide detailed and timely

information and promote it as apublic forum, the Ministryintroduced the Policy-customer-relationship -managementIntegrated Management Systemto significantly improve the

Foreign Policy Lecture Stops

●Incheon (2)●Seoul (13)

●Suwon (3)●Yongin (3)

Hwaseong (2)●

●Cheonan (3)●Cheongwon (2)

●Jeonju (1)●Iksan (1)

●Kwangju (2)●Jinju (1) ●Busan (4)

●Woolsan (1)

●Pohang (1)●Yeongcheon (1)

●Kyungju (2)

●Mokpo (1)Mooan (1)● ●Naju (1)

●Yeosoo (1)●Suncheon (1)

●Jeju (2)

Asan (2)●Gyeryong (1)●

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customer databasemanagement and newsletter/policy mail service. In addition,some 120 people were appointed asmembers of“Cywatch”for monitoringmajordiplomatic issues that are posted on the homepages of the headquarter,overseas missions and the portal site“e-World,”reporting on problems andproposals.Through a series of efforts, the Ministry is working to meet the people’s

right to know and enhance their understanding of major diplomatic issues andpolicies. The Ministry will continue its efforts to reflect public opinions thatare collected through various on-line and off-line programs in the process ofits policy-making and implementation and to strengthen human resources forconsistent and effective management of “Cywatch”activities and other on-linepromotional activities as well.

2006 Public Diplomacy Initiatives

•Since August 2003, applications have been accepted once a month- Special visit program on Children’s Day, special lectures for college students, etc.- Offering an introduction of MOFAT, visits to offices and privates sessions talking

with diplomats•Approximately 1,200 visitors in over 15 sessions during 2006

•Offering an introduction to MOFAT through video showings, lectures and chatsessions at 15 high schools around the country during 2006•Encouraging participation of officials who graduated from the visiting schools

•52 lectures and informal discussion sessions in 24 cities during 2006※20 more sessions than 2005 (32 sessions in 22 cities)•Program designed to explain major foreign policy issues and gather opinions

•“Hot Issues”: enhanced on-line promotional activities on major pending issues- For “Dokdo,”a pop-up menu was created to provide information and links to

related sites (headquarter and overseas missions homepages)•Integrated public service boards on the MOFAT homepage •Provision of local language service on overseas missions homepages

Improvements inVisit MOFATProgram

Visits to Middleand High Schoolsaround theCountry

Foreign PolicyLecture Tour

Management ofthe MinistryHomepage

Categories Major Activities

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Chapter 4 Expanding Dialogue with the Public through Two-Way Communication 297

2. Overseas Information Network

MOFAT, in cooperation with the National Intelligence Service, developed theOverseas Information Network in July 2005 to enable central governmentofficials tomore easily gain access to useful information collected fromoverseasmissions. After a trial period of two months in October and November, theNetwork has been fully operational since December 2005. Sixty-three overseasmissions and sixty-four government bodies are currently connected to theNetwork as ofDecember 2006.The Network is unprecedented achievement in that it provides real-time

communication between government employees in Korea and abroad. As ofDecember 2006, more than 5,600 items of information spanning sixteen areas,including information on foreign policy and security, the economy, trade,overseas innovation, and Dokdo, were posted on the system to enablegovernment officials to have access to such information.Civil servants within Korea can go online and access real-time information

posted by overseas missions and search necessary information through theNetwork. They can request information that they need from overseas staffthrough the “knowledge marketplace,”and can also search data using the pre-registered “words of interest”through the “customized information”function.In 2007, emphasis will be put on quality control of information distributed

through the Network and the establishment of a user-oriented managementsystem.

open diplomacy with the people - operationspaix.netv...262 2) rapid overseas remittance system the...

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