Relations between Canada and Korea have developed significantly since the establishment of formal diplomatic ties 60 years ago. Based on strong people-to-people ties, shared values and interests, and due to the complementarity of their economies, both countries have established a comprehensive strategic partnership and developed a multifaceted relationship. Several recent high-level diplomatic visits between Canadian and Korean officials, including a visit by President Suk Yeol Yoon to Ottawa in September 2022 and a visit by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to Seoul in May 2023, underscore the current strength of the bilateral relationship and the potential for increased collaboration.
Especially as both Canada and Korea are redefining their relations with the Indo-Pacific, with both having released a strategy for the region at the end of 2022, the 60th anniversary of Canada-Korea diplomatic relations in 2023 provides an opportune time to reflect upon the strong ties that bind both countries and discuss how the relationship can be deepened in the years ahead.
This multi-partner event will include presentations by senior Canadian and Korean officials detailing their respective visions for the Indo-Pacific. The presentations will be followed by a panel of experts from academia, government, and the private sector that will review key elements of each country’s approach to the Indo-Pacific region to identify areas of mutual interest and potential for further collaboration. A Q&A session will follow the panel discussion, and the event will be held under Chatham House Rule.
