On 1 August 2019, The Honourable Dato Seri Paduka Haji Erywan bin Pehin Datu Pekerma Jaya Haji Mohd Yusof, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brunei Darussalam, and H.E. Mrs. Kang Kyung-wha, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea (ROK), co-chaired the ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conference with the Republic of Korea during the 52^nd ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting/ Post Ministerial Conferences (PMCs) in Bangkok.

The Ministers took note of the ROK’s New Southern Policy to advance relations with ASEAN in all dimensions, and that the President of ROK had already visited seven ASEAN Member States, and plans to visit all ASEAN Member States in the future. They welcomed that this year marked the 30^th anniversary of ASEAN-ROK Dialogue Relations and that the 3^rd ASEAN-ROK Commemorative Summit would be held in Busan this November under the theme “Partnership for Peace, Prosperity for People.” They recommended the drafting of a new ASEAN-ROK Plan of Action for 2021 – 2025, which takes account of the ASEAN – ROK Vision Statement for Peace, Prosperity and Partnership to be issued at the Commemorative Summit, and discussed synergies between ASEAN-led platforms and the G20. They also exchanged views on regional and international issues, including trade tensions, the situation in the Korean Peninsula and the South China Sea, as well as the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific. 

On security, they discussed cooperation in counter terrorism, transnational crime, cyber security, and maritime security, with the objective of enhancing information sharing and capacity-building. The Ministers also discussed cooperation in digital economy, the ASEAN-Korea FTA, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), connectivity, smart cities, and the timely conclusion of discussions at the Working Group on the ASEAN-ROK Regional Air Services Agreement. 

The Republic of Korea became a Sectoral Dialogue Partner of ASEAN in 1989, and was granted full Dialogue Partner status in 1991. At the 13^th ASEAN-Republic of Korea Summit in Hanoi, Viet Nam, the Dialogue Partnership was elevated to Strategic Partnership. On the same occasion, both sides adopted the Joint Declaration on ASEAN-ROK Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity and the ASEAN-ROK Plan of Action for 2011-2015. 

The Republic of Korea established its Permanent Mission to ASEAN in Jakarta in October 2012. Brunei Darussalam is currently the Country Coordinator for ASEAN – Republic of Korea Dialogue Relations.

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