The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, with the collaboration of the National Council of Youth Organizations of Korea, hosted the "Korea-ASEAN Future-Oriented Cooperation Project: Youth Exchange Program 2008" with 10 member states of the ASEAN from February 14 to 21 in Seoul and Gangwon Province. 110 youths from Korea and 10 ASEAN countries enjoyed this event altogether.

The goal of the program is to promote mutual understanding and friendship between the youths of Korea and the member states of ASEAN. Marking its 10th round, this program has been held since 1994 to establish a cooperative partnership between Korea and ASEAN member countries and to strengthen youth exchanges and cooperation. This year's program served as valuable opportunities for exchanging views and enhancing cooperation between the youths of Korea and ASEAN member states under the theme of "Youth's Role in Expanding Korea-ASEAN Economic Cooperation." Around 20 Korean youths are also going to visit Thailand and Brunei Darrussalam in July this year as a part of the Exchange Program for this round.

At the "mock Korea-ASEAN Workshop," which was held in Seoul on February 15, participants made presentations regarding specific cases of economic cooperation between Korea and ASEAN and adopted the "Seoul Declaration 2008" at the conclusion of their discussion. The declaration is to be forwarded to the ASEAN Secretariat and the UN Economic and Social Commission in Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).