Bangkok: South Korean President calls to congratulate Anutin on his return as Prime Minister and pledges to push forward the CEPA (Consortium of Economic Partnership) to strengthen relations between Thailand and South Korea. Today (Tuesday, April 7, 2026) at 1:30 PM, at the Prime Minister's Office, 2nd floor, Thai Khu Fah Building, Government House, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul held a telephone discussion with HE Mr. Lee Jae Myung, President of the Republic of South Korea. Following the discussion, Ms. Ratchada Thanadirek, Spokesperson for the Prime Minister, 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 key topic discussed. 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 returning 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.
In terms of promoting peace, 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, which would be a crucial opportunity to sign the CEPA agreement and further strengthen relations between the two countries.