On 25 September 2025 leaders from government, academia, and industry gathered for the Korea–South Africa Future Dialogue 2025 in Pretoria. The event was co-hosted by the Embassy of the Republic of Korea and the Korea–Africa Foundation (KAF).
The Republic of Korea has been strengthening ties with Africa since hosting the first Korea–Africa Summit in June 2024. Building on this momentum, the Embassy of Korea in South Africa, KAF, and the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) convened the 2024 Korea–South Africa Future Dialogue, which followed two online preparatory seminars in 2025 focused on health (14 May 2025) and education & women’s empowerment (9 June 2025). These initiatives identified shared priorities, fostered cooperation networks, and prepared the ground for this year’s Dialogue.
Aligned with South Africa’s G20 Presidency for 2025, the Pretoria Dialogue aimed to deepen cooperation by moving from dialogue to practical action. The platform connected Korean institutions, businesses, and academia directly with South African counterparts to institutionalize summit outcomes and translate G20 agendas into tangible, on-the-ground partnerships.
The opening ceremony featured welcome remarks by Amb. Dong-Han Yang, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to South Africa; congratulatory remarks by H.E. Amb. Young-Chae Kim, President of the Korea–Africa Foundation; and introductory remarks by H.E. Zodwa Lallie, Acting Deputy Director-General for Asia and the Middle East at the Department of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa. The session included a briefing on the outcomes of the 2025 preparatory seminars.
The Dialogue then moved into thematic sessions. In health cooperation, Prof. Glenda Gray (Distinguished Professor, University of the Witwatersrand; Director, Institute for Infectious Diseases and Oncology Research) outlined South Africa’s vaccine strategy and prospects for epidemic preparedness. Dr. Hoon-Sang Lee (Director of Strategy & Planning, RIGHT Foundation) presented the Foundation’s global health R&D model and collaboration opportunities with South Africa. Mr. Jae-Young Lee (Vice President, Glory Biotechnologies Corp.) introduced innovations in diagnostics and his company’s vision for future Korea–Africa health cooperation. Discussions identified pilot-ready opportunities in digital diagnostics, supply-chain and data systems, and preparedness platforms.
In education, technology, and women’s empowerment, a session developed with ACCORD, was moderated by Ms. Pravina Makan-Lakha (Senior Advisor, Women, Peace & Security, ACCORD). Dr. Maria Vivien Visaya (Senior Lecturer, University of Johannesburg) spoke on advancing women’s sustainable participation in STEM. Prof. Su-Won Kim (Graduate School of International and Area Studies, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies; Co-Researcher, Asia Research Centre, University of Pretoria) presented a Korea–South Africa academic collaboration model on decolonial education through AI and heritage. Prof. Ga-Young Park (Research Professor, Global Center for Development and Strategy, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology) highlighted structured partnerships for AI-STEM education linking General Motors Korea, local communities, and the public sector. Key proposals included cross-border mentoring and fellowship pipelines, AI-heritage curriculum co-development, and project-based AI-STEM programmes with industry co-mentoring.
The Dialogue concluded with matchmaking sessions to scope joint pilots and designate focal points for implementation. Both countries reaffirmed their commitment to moving from dialogue to delivery, laying the foundation for long-term cooperation across health, education, technology, and women’s empowerment.
As part of this effort, Junhee Seo, serving as a Junior Research Fellow at ACCORD, also contributed through the Korea-Africa Foundation’s Young Professionals on Africa program, which supports Korean youth in deepening their engagement with Africa.
