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> Overview > Role & Function

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Overseas Visits

As part of parliamentary diplomacy, National Assembly members or staff pay visits to other countries to tighten inter-parliamentary cooperation or to address diplomatic issues. These visits often involve official meetings with a counterpart’s parliamentary or governmental leaders; inspection of industrial, educational or cultural facilities; or meetings with Korean business people and compatriots.

Inter-Parliamentary Groups

As of March 2019, four Inter-Parliamentary Councils, 112 Parliamentary Friendship Groups and one Korea-China Regular Inter-Parliamentary Exchange are in operation.

1Inter-Parliamentary Council

The National Assembly establishes parliamentary councils with other parliaments in pursuit of greater national interests and an effective communication channel to cope with urgent tasks. The Councils play a key role in interactions with major countries’ parliaments and in holding joint conferences, which makes them professional diplomatic groups beyond just friendship-forming associations. Four councils have been established with the US, China, Russia and the EU.

2Parliamentary Friendship Group

A Parliamentary Friendship Group is organized by parliamentarians of the Republic of Korea and another country. Participating in mutual exchange programs and joint activities, members try to enhance their understanding of the other country and seek closer cooperation in politics, economics, society and culture. The National Assembly has formed friendship groups with 112 countries.

3Republic of Korea-China Regular Inter-Parliamentary Exchange

The Republic of Korea and China signed the bilateral parliamentary cooperation protocol in 2006 and formed the Regular Inter-Parliamentary Exchange in a bid to enhance friendly relations. The two parliaments have been holding joint meetings on a regular basis.

4Overseas Inspection by Standing Committees

Members of each standing committee often pay visits to other countries for observation and inspection of what is worth referring to in their legislative activities. The delegation is organized by the chairperson and vice chairpersons of the standing committee with the Speaker’s approval.

5Special Delegation

In case of a national emergency, the National Assembly can dispatch a delegation as a parliament-level effort. The delegation is organized by the Speaker, after discussions with the leaders of each negotiation group or Assembly members who play a leading role in diplomatic affairs involving the issue in question. Decisions on the dispatch are made on the basis of urgency, significance of the issue, relations with the counterpart, and advice of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other relevant authorities.