National Assembly Speaker Jo Jeong-sik met with British Ambassador to South Korea Colin Crooks at his office Tuesday, exchanging views on strengthening bilateral cooperation in future industries, expanding inter-parliamentary exchanges, and promoting peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula.
Jo expressed gratitude to Crooks, who has served as ambassador to both South Korea and North Korea, saying, "I thank you for your active diplomatic efforts as a Korean Peninsula expert and your contributions to fostering friendship between Korea and the United Kingdom." He added that the two countries have built friendship and trust over more than 140 years as longstanding partners, and that the United Kingdom deployed more than 56,000 troops to support South Korea during the Korean War.
Jo said he found it meaningful that the United Kingdom and South Korea would serve as consecutive G20 chair countries in 2027 and 2028, respectively. "I hope the two countries can contribute to the international community by working closely together and coordinating responses on global issues such as AI, energy and supply chains," he said.
Jo also noted that since establishing a "Global Strategic Partnership" in 2023, the two countries have been actively pursuing exchanges and cooperation across a wide range of fields. He said he hoped the follow-up procedures for the Korea-UK free trade agreement upgrade — concluded in December last year — would proceed smoothly and take effect as soon as possible, and called for closer cooperation in future industries including AI, advanced technology and offshore wind energy. He also urged continued attention and cooperation toward peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula.
"Parliamentary cooperation is crucial to advancing the bilateral relationship," Jo said. "A British parliamentary delegation is scheduled to visit Korea in early November, and I will make every effort as Assembly speaker to further invigorate exchanges and cooperation between the two parliaments."
In response, Crooks said the two countries had developed close cooperation across many areas, as Jo had noted, and expressed hope that the Korea-UK FTA upgrade agreement, successfully concluded last year, would be signed soon. He also asked for the National Assembly's cooperation on the ratification and entry-into-force process.
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