Bilateral Meeting with the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA)

Dr. Julitta Onabanjo had a bilateral meeting with Ms. You-ah Chung, Director of the Multilateral Cooperation and Humanitarian Assistance Department of the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). The meeting highlighted several key points including the following:

• Global Symposium on Ageing and Fertility where KOICA prompted interest in Artificial Intelligence in the context;
• Discussion and cooperation on climate change as the common focus of KOICA and UNFPA;
• Overview of the ICPD30 and the role of Korea in the Global dialogue; and
• Promotion and Development of humanitarian cooperation between UNFPA and KOICA in areas such as Gender-based Violence(GBV) and Technical facilitated GBV(TFGBV).

Through the meeting, UNFPA and KOICA identified the possibility of strengthening mutual support and cooperation on critical humanitarian issues in the future.

Meeting with MP Nam, In-soon of the National Assembly, and the Vice President of the Korean Parliamentarian League on Children, Population and Health

UNFPA delegation had a courtesy meeting with H.E. MP Nam, In-soon who is currently serving as the Vice President position of the Korean Parliamentarian League on Children, Population, and Environment. UNFPA conveyed gratitude to MP Nam for her support in advocating gender equality and promoting firm relationships and collaboration between the Republic of Korea and UNFPA. Also, UNFPA introduced the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD30) and invited RoK's participation as a co-organiser for the upcoming ICPD30. The Director of TD highlighted the Global Symposium, emphasizing RoK's demographic progress as a reference case for other regions with similar challenges.

Courtesy Meeting with Ms. Kang, Joo-yeon, Director-General for International Organizations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA)

UNFPA Delegation had a courtesy meeting with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and announced that the core funding to UNFPA will be increased to 1 million starting in 2024. The UNFPA delegation appreciated Ms. Kang's support in supporting the works of UNFPA and making significant contributions to fostering the partnerships between MOFA and UNFPA. An invitation to join the ICPD30 Global Dialogue on demographic diversity was also extended to Ms. Kang and RoK, with a focus on sharing Korea's experience in addressing low fertility and aging. Ms. Kang expressed interest, mentioning that MOFA would review the invitation and consider other themes like technology to advance the ICPD agenda.

Dinner with Mr. Won, Do-yeon, Director-General for Development Cooperation, MOFA

UNFPA delegation met with Mr. Won, Do-yeon, Director-General for Development Cooperation, MOFA to discuss the prospects of the first strategic dialogue between UNFPA and MOFA in 2024 as the control has recently been transferred from MOHW to MOFA. The meeting shed light on the priorities of the Republic of Korea as it aims to become a global pivotal state and foster its engagement with vulnerable regions. As youth, digital inequality, and artificial intelligence are also rising as the key interest areas in Korea, these were underlined as keywords of the cooperation between MOFA and UNFPA in the future. 

Meeting with KOSTAT

The bilateral meeting with KOSTAT highlighted the possibility of changing the current MoU between KOSTAT and UNFPA to replace activities with the deployment of a secondment from KOSTAT to UNFPA PDB in New York. The revision of the MOU will be implemented based on the relevant costs and level of the secondment informed from KOSTAT to UNFPA.