Korea-China youth exchange program resumes after 5-year hiatus

First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Kim Hong-kyun delivers a speech at the launch ceremony of the Korean delegation for the Korea-China youth exchange program held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in central Seoul, Monday. Yonhap

A Korea-China youth exchange program, co-hosted by the Korea Foundation (KF), has resumed after five years off, as 48 young South Koreans have embarked on a week-long visit to China, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Monday.

The program, jointly operated by the KF and the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, had been suspended for the past five years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the ministry, the 48 members of the Korean youth delegation are set to visit Beijing and Qinghai in China from Monday through Saturday, engaging in various cultural experiences and visits to diverse institutions.

The youth program participants, selected through a public recruitment process in July, are between ages 24 and 34 and have a strong interest in and understanding of China.

"Since the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations in 1992, Korea and China have been close neighbors and very important partners to each other. The Korean government values the Korea-China relationship, aiming to develop further it into a more mature and healthy relationship based on mutual respect, reciprocity and shared interests," First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Kim Hong-kyun said during his address at the launch ceremony for the Korean youth delegation in Seoul, Monday.

The vice minister also emphasized the importance of deepened exchanges between the two countries: "Beyond bilateral relations, the two countries must work closely together for the peace and prosperity of the international community."

The youth exchange program was initiated as a follow-up to the Korea-China summit in 2008. It continued until 2019 before being suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Korean foreign ministry explained that the program could be resumed after five years, following an agreement reached during the summit between President Yoon Suk Yeol and Premier Li Qiang at the Korea-China-Japan Trilateral Summit held in late May.

Plans are underway for a Chinese delegation to visit Korea next year.