Bangkok: South Korean President called to congratulate Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul on jointly pushing forward the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between Thailand and South Korea, continuing the fight against scammers, and expanding cooperation in tourism, film, and entertainment. Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul held a telephone discussion with President Lee Jae Myung of the Republic of South Korea. Following the meeting, Prime Minister's Spokesperson Ratchada Thanadirek summarized the key points as follows:
According to Thai News Agency, the Prime Minister thanked the President of the Republic of South Korea for his congratulatory phone call on his appointment and mentioned his positive impression of their previous meeting in Gyeongju during the APEC summit. The President of the Republic of South Korea congratulated the Prime Minister on his appointment, emphasizing the importance of Thailand as a close friend and expressing commitment to continuing the strategic partnership between the two countries.
On the economic and trade front, both sides agreed to push forward negotiations on the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between Thailand and South Korea. This agreement will promote trade and investment and mitigate the impact of supply chain volatility. Thailand hopes to conclude the negotiations soon.
Combating online crime was another focal point of the discussion. Law enforcement agencies of both countries cooperate closely, particularly under the Thailand-Korea Breaking Chains project to combat online scam centers. The South Korean President thanked Thailand for assisting several South Korean citizens from neighboring countries in their return home. Both sides are ready to upgrade training and the use of technology to strengthen their capabilities in preventing and suppressing cybercrime.
Regarding people-to-people and cultural relations, the President of the Republic of South Korea mentioned the increasingly close and strong relationship between the people of the two countries, particularly in the cultural and musical dimensions, which are widely popular in both. This reflects the good ties between the people of both countries, and there is a readiness to expand cooperation in creative industries, including tourism, film, and entertainment.
The Prime Minister reiterated that Thailand supports South Korea's efforts to build peace on the Korean Peninsula and hopes for continued positive developments. At the end, the Prime Minister extended an invitation to the President of the Republic of South Korea to pay an official visit to Thailand at the earliest opportunity, particularly during the ASEAN Summit in November 2026. This summit would be a crucial opportunity to sign the CEPA agreement and further strengthen relations between the two countries.