Seoul, South Korea - The South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) held an inauguration ceremony on May 9th for the 2025 Forum for East Asia-Latin America Cooperation (FEALAC) National Youth Delegation. MOFA expressed high hopes that these next-generation young leaders will serve as civilian diplomats, playing a crucial role in enhancing cooperation between East Asia and Latin America.

The FEALAC National Youth Delegation, now in its 7th year as part of MOFA's youth supporter program, will actively participate in key FEALAC-related diplomatic events. Their responsibilities will include on-site reporting and the creation of online promotional content. Notably, they will produce blog articles and card news to effectively communicate FEALAC's activities and the significance of East Asia-Latin America cooperation to the wider public.

This year's recruitment for the 7th cohort witnessed an overwhelming response, with approximately 340 enthusiastic university students applying, resulting in a highly competitive selection ratio of 14:1. This keen interest underscores the strong engagement of young Koreans with FEALAC and the Latin American region. The 24 individuals ultimately selected for the delegation are a diverse group of international youth hailing from nine FEALAC member countries, including South Korea, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Bolivia, Mongolia, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Myanmar. This international composition is expected to enrich the dialogue and broaden mutual understanding between the two regions through their unique cultural backgrounds and perspectives.

Lee Joo-il, Director-General of MOFA's Latin American and Caribbean Affairs Bureau, welcomed the delegation at the inauguration ceremony. He highlighted the various FEALAC events planned for the year and urged the youth representatives to "actively contribute to strengthening cooperation between East Asia and Latin America and revitalizing FEALAC as civilian diplomats." Director-General Lee emphasized that the fresh ideas and passion of the young delegates would inject new dynamism into FEALAC's activities and positively influence the development of relations between the two regions.

FEALAC, established in Singapore in 1999, is a formal inter-regional cooperative forum comprising 36 member countries (16 from East Asia and 20 from Latin America). Its primary objective is to promote cooperation across a wide range of areas, including political and diplomatic affairs, economic and socio-cultural exchange, science and technology, and sustainable development. Since its inception, FEALAC has served as a vital platform for fostering mutual understanding and shared prosperity between the two regions.

According to MOFA, Mongolia has been elected as the East Asian Regional Coordinator for 2025, signifying its important role in coordinating and representing the views of the East Asian member states within FEALAC. Furthermore, the 10th FEALAC Foreign Ministers' Meeting is scheduled to be held this year, indicating a significant push for more active cooperation within the forum. This high-level meeting is expected to be a crucial opportunity for member states to discuss key issues and chart the future direction of their collaboration.

Over the years, FEALAC has facilitated tangible exchanges between East Asia and Latin America through various cooperative projects and activities. In the economic sphere, discussions on trade and investment promotion have been ongoing. Socio-cultural cooperation has been strengthened through educational and cultural exchange programs aimed at enhancing mutual understanding. Collaboration in science and technology has been pursued through joint research and technology transfer initiatives, while efforts in sustainable development have focused on addressing shared challenges such as climate change and environmental protection.

The newly inaugurated 7th FEALAC National Youth Delegation will play a vital role in experiencing these diverse FEALAC activities firsthand and disseminating information about them to the Korean public. Their participation in various meetings and forums will allow them to provide vivid on-the-ground accounts, and the promotional content they create will effectively highlight the importance of FEALAC and East Asia-Latin America cooperation. The perspectives of the younger generation in this content are expected to significantly boost public interest and understanding of FEALAC.

MOFA has pledged to actively support the activities of the FEALAC National Youth Delegation and enhance communication channels to ensure their innovative ideas can be reflected in actual foreign policy. Furthermore, the ministry intends to provide various opportunities for these young talents, nurtured through their delegation activities, to thrive on the international stage in the future.

The inauguration of the 7th FEALAC National Youth Delegation is seen as a significant step towards the future of cooperation between East Asia and Latin America. The enthusiasm and dynamism of these young individuals are expected to inject new momentum into FEALAC's endeavors and positively contribute to building closer ties between the two regions. The diverse activities and achievements they will produce are highly anticipated.