RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia and South Korea are reaffirming their commitment to a deeper parliamentary partnership, as Indonesian Deputy Speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly, Edhie Baskoro Yudhoyono (Ibas), met with South Korean Parliament Deputy Speaker Lee Hack-young at the National Assembly in Seoul.

The meeting, held on Thursday, April 23, 2026, brought together lawmakers from both countries, representatives of the Indonesian Embassy, and members of the bilateral cooperation group, underscoring the momentum in strengthening ties between Jakarta and Seoul.

Ibas expressed appreciation for the warm welcome and emphasized that the visit builds on earlier exchanges, including the recent trip of National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik to Indonesia. “This reflects how Indonesia and South Korea are moving toward an increasingly close and strategic relationship,” he said in Jakarta on Tuesday, April 28, as quoted by Antara, noting the countries’ shared roles in global forums such as the G20 and APEC.

Highlighting five decades of cooperation, Ibas pointed to progress across trade, investment, education, and defense, while stressing the importance of continuity under the leadership of Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and South Korean President Lee Jae-myung.

He also introduced the Indonesian delegation -- comprised of lawmakers of the People's Consultative Assembly and the House of Representatives from various commissions -- and underscored the complementary strengths of both nations: Indonesia’s natural resources and demographic advantage alongside South Korea’s technological innovation and cultural influence.

The discussion also touched on cultural diplomacy. Ibas acknowledged the strong presence of Korean pop culture in Indonesia, from K-pop to dramas like Autumn in My Heart and Crash Landing on You, while affirming Indonesia’s commitment to promoting batik, traditional cuisine, and performing arts in Korea.

The meeting was marked by lighthearted exchanges, including Ibas sharing that he had once been a fan of Autumn in My Heart. Delegates presented batik and tenun as symbols of friendship, embodying Indonesia’s motto of unity in diversity.

Looking ahead, Ibas outlined three priorities: strengthening parliamentary diplomacy through regular dialogue and exchanges, advancing cooperation in strategic sectors such as green economy and digital transformation, and expanding cultural and youth exchanges to build long-term ties.

“Together, Indonesia and South Korea can forge a stronger, more impactful partnership that delivers real benefits to our people. Gamsahamnida. Thank you,” he concluded.

From the South Korean side, Deputy Speaker Lee Hack-young praised Ibas’s active role in parliamentary diplomacy and welcomed the elevation of ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership. He called for boosting economic cooperation through the Indonesia-Korea CEPA, with a goal of raising trade volume from USD 20 billion to over USD 30 billion.

Lee also highlighted Indonesia’s leadership in ASEAN and its role in supporting peace on the Korean Peninsula. Meanwhile, Chair of the Korea–Indonesia Parliamentary Friendship Group, Kim Gihyeon, noted that ties would continue to deepen and urged greater support for Korean businesses investing in Indonesia. ***