On December 6, 2022, the Voluntary Agency Network of Korea (VANK) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to advance digital public diplomacy through public-private cooperation.
Foreign Minister Park Jin and VANK founder Park Ki-tae formalized the agreement at the MOFA’s Citizen Diplomacy Center, marking a decade of collaboration between the two organizations.
VANK is dedicated to promoting Korea globally through initiatives like training cyber diplomats, correcting historical distortions, enhancing Korea’s national brand, and addressing global challenges.
According to MOFA, the updated MOU reflects the growing potential of digital and metaverse spaces and the critical role of public-private partnerships in diplomacy. The revision aligns with the government’s Second Five-Year Public Diplomacy Plan (2023–2027), which emphasizes empowering youth in digital public diplomacy.
The partnership outlines key areas of cooperation, including the training and management of digital diplomats and expanding digital Hallyu through social media platforms. Both organizations recognize the power of imagination in digital and metaverse environments to broaden Korea’s diplomatic outreach.
Starting next year, the two will launch the “Youth Digital Diplomat Program,” targeting middle and high school students with an interest in digital diplomacy. The program will assign quarterly projects to about 100 participants and feature lectures from current and former diplomats and subject-matter experts.
This strengthened alliance aims to inspire a new generation of digital diplomats, advancing Korea’s presence on the global stage through innovative and collaborative efforts.