SEOUL — Ahead of the upcoming Korea-Africa Summit, South Korean envoys in Africa emphasized the strategic necessity of strengthening relations with African countries. During a briefing on Thursday, the ambassadors highlighted Africa's potential as a key partner in South Korea's global diplomacy efforts, particularly given the continent's 55-member African Union.
According to Yonhap News Agency, South Korea's unique developmental experience and technological advancements position it favorably for engaging with Africa, compared to other nations like China and Japan.
The envoys underscored the imperative of a differentiated approach to cooperation, leveraging South Korea's history of rapid development from a previously colonized and underdeveloped nation to a modern industrialized state. The inaugural Korea-Africa Summit, scheduled for June 4 and 5 in Seoul, represents a significant step towards expanding South Korea's diplomatic and economic engagement with the continent.