Opening Remarks
The Second Korea-G7 Cooperation Forum

Thursday, May 22, 2025, at 09:05 a.m.
Fairmont Château Laurier, Ottawa, Canada
Amb. Gheewhan Kim, President, The Korea Foundation

(Greetings)
Good morning, ladies and gentlemen.

I am Gheewhan Kim, president of the Korea Foundation.

It is my great honor and pleasure to welcome you to the second Korea–G7 Cooperation Forum in Ottawa, Canada.

Please allow me to extend my most sincere appreciation to Mr. Paul Samson, president of Centre for International Governance Innovation(CIGI), and to our colleagues at the Istituto Affari Internazionali(IAI), for their outstanding partnership in co-hosting this forum. This is the second forum on this timely and important G7 subject, following the first forum in Rome, Italy last year. I thank you all for your excellent leadership and continued commitment.

I want to say my special thanks to Senator Peter Boehm and Ambassador Woongsoon Lim(임웅순) of the Republic of Korea for your presence today. Also my deep appreciation goes to all distinguished speakers from Korea and G7 countries for joining us today.

(Introduction)
As the group of 7 marks the 50th anniversary this year, the Korea-G7 cooperation forum has an added meaning in that we reflect on the G7’s legacy and discuss how Korea and the G7 can keep collaborating and continuing cooperation in an increasingly uncertain and fractured world

Strategic rivalry is deepening, current global rules are being tested, and advances in critical technologies are transforming all aspects of human life and reshaping power and influence globally. We are witnessing a fundamental change and transformation in the system as well as in how the states and the international community navigate in an increasingly uncertain and unpredictable environment.
No doubt, Korea with the like-minded G7 countries, will continue to make collaborations so that we can remain proactive and resilient with timely, relevant and well-coordinated policy choices, supporting civil society and democratic principles that will guide our thoughts and actions.

(Korea’s Engagement and Contribution)
In the Indo-Pacific and beyond, Korea has been strengthening partnerships with different groups of like-minded countries, including trilateral cooperation with the United States and Japan, Korea-Japan-China cooperation, and Korea’s extended roles as one of NATO IP4 countries.

Korea is trying to contribute to global norm-setting in emerging strategic areas, including on AI safety and responsible use of AI in the military domain.

Korea is also chairing the Minerals Security Partnership, a coalition of 15 countries committed to securing resilient and transparent supply chains in critical minerals.

Korea is increasing its outreach to the Global south by sharing knowledge and capacity building with developing countries in different regions globally.
Now Korea and Canada are expanding dialogue channels for strategic partnership, with shared purposes, on important global and regional challenges, from the Indo-Pacific, G7, and NATO to Ukraine.

(Security, Economy, and Technology: One Strategic Equation)
The convergence of security and economic policy is a new reality. Trade agreements have become national security instruments. Technological innovation is a critical source of power and influence.

Collaboration among G7+ countries has become increasingly more important in supporting common values and the rules-based order.

I am very pleased to co-host the 2nd Korea-G7 Cooperation Forum in Ottawa after the first one in Rome last year.

(Closing)
I look forward to your lively and productive discussions today.

Thank you.