Foreign Minister Cho Hyun of South Korea convened the inaugural Korea-Africa Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Seoul on 2 June 2025, bringing together representatives from 50 African countries and four regional bodies to chart a new course for bilateral cooperation on trade, supply chains, climate, and global security. It is the first such ministerial gathering hosted independently by the South Korean government.

Who Was in the Room

The meeting, held under the theme 'Partnership for Joint Responses to Global Challenges', drew participation from 50 of the 54 invited African nations. Four continental institutions were also represented: the African Union (AU), the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. The session was co-chaired by Cho and Ghanaian Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, whose country holds the vice-chairmanship of the African Union this year.

Key Statements from the Opening

In his opening address, Cho framed the meeting as a response to a world in flux. 'We gather today at a critical juncture where the global order is rapidly shifting. The world is facing multi-faceted challenges across various sectors, such as supply chains, energy and food security,' he said. He also pointed to the rising geopolitical weight of the continent: 'Amid continued instability in the Middle East and uncertainty surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, African countries are gaining increasing geopolitical and economic significance on the global stage ... Closer cooperation between Korea and Africa is more important than ever.'

Ablakwa called on both sides 'to move beyond traditional models of cooperation toward transformative economic collaboration.' He also praised Seoul for proceeding with the meeting despite an Ebola scare in parts of Africa, saying it demonstrates that South Korea 'will not stigmatise Africa or engage in generalisations.'

Agenda and Areas of Focus

The plenary session covered trade and investment, science and technology, and supply chain resilience. Participants also explored expanded cooperation on climate change, health, peace and security, development assistance, and people-to-people exchanges. A joint statement was expected to be adopted at the conclusion of the ministerial meeting. On the sidelines, Cho was scheduled to hold bilateral talks with all participating foreign ministers to address issues of mutual interest.

Korea-Africa Business Forum on Tuesday

The diplomatic dialogue is set to be followed on Tuesday by the Korea-Africa Business Forum, which will bring together approximately 300 business leaders, experts, government officials, and representatives from both sides. Sung Kim, president of Hyundai Motor Company and a former US ambassador to South Korea, and Wamkele Keabetswe Mene, secretary-general of the AfCFTA, are scheduled to deliver keynote addresses. The forum is co-organised by the Korea-Africa Foundation, the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency, and the Korea International Trade Association.

Historical and Strategic Context

South Korea first established diplomatic ties with six African countries in 1961, completing its full diplomatic roster with all 54 African UN member states after formalising relations with South Sudan in 2011. Seoul has since deepened its Africa engagement, driven by the continent's rapid economic growth, abundant natural resources — including oil and critical minerals — and its growing strategic relevance amid Middle East instability and intensifying global competition for supply chains. This meeting signals a further institutionalisation of that relationship at the highest diplomatic level.