UNJournal Lee Sung Jun | South Korea's Government Representative for Overseas Citizen Protection and Consular Affairs, Lim Sang-woo, held the fourth Korea-Uzbekistan Consular Consultation with Uzbek Deputy Foreign Minister Abdullaev Olimjon in Tashkent on the morning of 3 August, marking the first such meeting between the two countries in roughly 12 years.

The talks covered a broad range of consular issues, including improving conditions for the entry, exit and residence of Korean nationals in Uzbekistan, and the protection of Korean citizens residing in the country. Previous rounds of the consultation were held in Seoul in October 2014 and in Tashkent in July 2011.

Lim noted that bilateral relations between South Korea and Uzbekistan have developed steadily across political, economic, cultural and people-to-people fields since diplomatic ties were established in 1992, underpinned by a special strategic partnership, and said the two countries would continue working closely to deliver tangible outcomes in consular cooperation as well. He also highlighted the growing scale of travel between the two countries, with approximately 120,000 citizens exchanging visits last year, including around 46,000 South Koreans traveling to Uzbekistan and 76,000 Uzbek nationals traveling to Korea. He requested Uzbekistan's continued attention and cooperation in ensuring the safety and welfare of Korean nationals residing in the country.

Both sides agreed on the importance of consular cooperation in protecting citizens and improving their welfare, and noted that the latest consultation, held nearly 12 years after the third round in Seoul in 2014, provided a useful opportunity for in-depth discussion of pending consular matters between the two countries.

Following the consultation, Lim also chaired a meeting of consular officials responsible for overseas safety from missions across Russia and the CIS region on the afternoon of 3 August. The meeting reviewed emergency evacuation plans, particularly for missions near the Russia-Ukraine border, and discussed measures to strengthen coordination with relevant countries. Participants also examined ways to expand consular assistance in response to a rapid increase in the number of Korean nationals visiting Central Asia in recent years. Lim urged consular officials responsible for overseas safety to take a proactive approach amid the changing environment for protecting citizens abroad.