On August 14, Foreign Minister Kim Sung-Hwan met with UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova, who is on a visit to the Republic of Korea on August 11-14 to attend the closing ceremony of the 2012 Yeosu Expo, at the Foreign Ministry. In the meeting, the two sides agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation in education, science and technology.


Director-General Bokova extended congratulations on the success of the Yeosu Expo and commended the ROK’s comprehensive contribution through UNESCO to building education systems, developing cultural industries, and protecting and preserving cultural heritage in developing countries in Africa and Asia-Pacific.

Director-General Bokova, in particular, expressed appreciation for the ROK’s plan to host major international meetings, such as the 7th World Water Forum and the UNESCO World Conference on Education in 2015, and thereby expand its contribution to the international community in these fields.

The upcoming visit to the ROK by Director-General Bokova will mark her third since her taking office in 2009. As such, it is seen to reflect the expectation of the international community to see the ROK’s role in international cooperation grow in the fields of education, science and culture as well as the ROK’s international standing as an advanced donor country.