KUALA LUMPUR: South Korean Ambassador to Malaysia Yeo Seung Bae has reaffirmed Seoul’s strong support for Malaysia’s upcoming presidency of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) in 2025 , highlighting the enduring partnership between the two nations.

Yeo expressed confidence in Malaysia’s leadership to advance Asean’s goals, especially amid changing dynamics in the Indo-Pacific region.

“Malaysia’s central role in Asean will guide the region towards greater stability and prosperity. South Korea remains steadfast in its commitment to working alongside Malaysia to achieve these common goals.

“South Korea stands ready to fully support Malaysia to successfully fulfill its role as ASEAN Chair. As a first step, the two sides coordinated the schedule to host the Apec Summit in Korea South, followed consecutively by the ASEAN Summit in Malaysia,” he said. on the Malaysia Scholars on Korea Network (MASK) program titled “High Ties between Malaysia and South Korea”, Tuesday (October 29).

The event was co-hosted by Isis Malaysia and the South Korean Embassy.

The ambassador said this back-to-back hosting arrangement will enable greater participation of world leaders in both events.

As strategic partners, he said the two countries are well positioned to deepen cooperation in various areas, including defense and economy.

On defense cooperation, Yeo highlighted South Korea’s commitment to regional peace, particularly in the areas of maritime security and defense.

He added that Seoul’s involvement in ASEAN-led mechanisms, such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), highlights the importance of continued collaboration to address common security challenges.

“South Korea is committed to supporting Asean peace initiatives and we look forward to deepening our defense ties, including in maritime security, cybersecurity and counter-terrorism efforts,” Yeo said.

Meanwhile, regarding the ongoing South Korea-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement (FTA) discussions, which resumed in March this year, Yeo highlighted the significant progress made, with both sides aiming to foster economic growth through better trade, investment and better market access.

“The FTA presents transformative potential, not only for Malaysian businesses but also for all ASEAN members looking to expand into the South Korean market, particularly in the digital and green economy sectors “, he said.

Yeo added that the FTA aligns with Asean’s vision of a region integrated through trade and sustainable development, enabling Malaysian businesses to benefit from new opportunities in South Korea’s thriving sectors.

During the event, ISIS Malaysia and the South Korean Embassy also signed a memorandum of understanding to promote research, information and knowledge exchange. The terms cover joint research, publication, exchanges and the establishment of a chair in Korean studies.

Areas of research include foreign policy, security, economics, technology, innovation, environment and sustainable development, and national unity.

The first memorandum of understanding, signed in 2017, laid the foundations for MASK activities.- Bernama