Seoul, Washington boost alliance through public diplomacy push

Senior diplomats from South Korea and the United States discussed expanding joint efforts to strengthen their alliance through a range of public diplomacy initiatives, including digital outreach and people-to-people exchanges, Seoul’s foreign ministry said.

The dialogue brought together Lim Sang-woo, South Korea’s ambassador for public diplomacy, and Sarah Rogers, the US Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy, to explore practical avenues for cooperation in the field, Yonhap reports.

According to the ministry, both sides agreed that public diplomacy serves as “an essential policy tool for advancing key alliance priorities,” extending beyond its traditional role of fostering mutual understanding and trust between their populations.

They committed to enhancing awareness of the value and significance of the South Korea–US alliance among citizens of both countries, as well as the broader international community. This effort will be pursued through strategic messaging, digital communication, and expanded cultural and interpersonal exchanges.

The officials also emphasized the importance of identifying new areas of collaboration in response to a rapidly evolving global landscape.

During the meeting, the two sides signed a memorandum of understanding on joint cooperation to commemorate the 250th anniversary of US independence this year, marking another step in deepening bilateral ties.

By Vafa Guliyeva