Speaker Information

Opening Session

Cho Tae-yul

  • Minister of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Korea

    Opening Remarks

    H.E. Cho Tae-yul assumed the mantle of the 41 st Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Republic of Korea in January 2024.

    During more than 40 years of his diplomatic career since 1979, he assumed various senior positions in the ROK government including, among others, Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN (2016-2019), Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs (2013-2016), Ambassador for Development Cooperation (2011-2012), Ambassador to the Kingdom of Spain (2008-2011), Deputy Minister for Trade (2007-2008) and Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Office and Other International Organizations in Geneva (2005-2007). While serving as ROK's Permanent Representative to the UN, he was elected as Chairman of the UN Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) in 2017 and President of the Executive Boards of UN Development Programme (UNDP), UN Population Fund (UNFPA) and UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS) in 2019.

    He also served as member of the Advisory Group of the UN Development Cooperation Forum in his capacity as ROK's Ambassador for Development Cooperation (2011-2012) and contributed to the work of the Global Agenda Council on the Arctic of the World Economic Forum (WEF) as its member (2014-2016). During his tour in Geneva, he played a key role as ROK's representative for WTO/DDA negotiations. He also served as Chairman of WTO dispute panel on the famous US vs. EU hormone case (2005-2007) and WTO Government Procurement Committee (2005-2007).

    He graduated from the College of Law, Seoul National University (SNU) in 1979. He continued his studies on public international law at the Graduate School of SNU (1979-1981) and international relations at the Oxford University (1982-1983). He is the author of The Power of Pride and Principle, a memoir published in 2021.

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