KUALA LUMPUR, 27 October 2025 (TATOLI) – The 26th ASEAN – ROK Summit officially commenced today at the 47th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit, being held from 26 to 28 October 2025 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Center (KLCC) under Malaysia’s Chairmanship. The summit brings together the eleven ASEAN member states and their dialogue partner, the Republic of Korea (ROK), represented by President Lee Jae-Myung.
President Lee arrived in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday, marking his first visit to Southeast Asia since taking office in June. His presence signals Seoul’s ambition to elevate its comprehensive strategic partnerships with ASEAN and explore enhanced cooperation across economic, digital and security domains.
During the summit, the ASEAN-ROK session is focused on the three core pillars under the newly announced “Korea-ASEAN Solidarity Initiative (KASI)” -innovation and digital transformation, energy transition, and youth and people-to-people exchange. On the developmental front, cooperation against trans-national online crimes – in particular scams targeting Koreans in the region – is also set to feature in the talks.
Key Statements and Highlights
- President Lee stated that the ROK sees the ASEAN region not only as a strategic partner but also a “springboard for innovation – led growth” and as a “partner for peace and stability” ,
- Malaysia, as ASEAN Chair for 2025, emphasizes the theme “Inclusivity and Sustainability”, underlining the importance of stronger inter-regional ties and resilient economic integration.
- Among the bilateral engagements scheduled on the sidelines, President Lee is expected to meet with ASEAN leaders and hold talks with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to deepen trade, investment and infrastructure cooperation.
Outlook & Significance
The 26th ASEAN-ROK Summit is viewed as a strategic moment for Seoul to reaffirm its partnership with Southeast Asia, not only economically but also in terms of regional security and digital governance. For the ASEAN bloc, engaging with ROK provides access to advanced technologies, innovation ecosystems, and an increasingly ambitious partner in the Indo-Pacific context.
Journalist: Digna Serrao
Editor : Filomeno Martins
