▲ Lim Sang-woo (R), ambassador for public diplomacy at South Korea's foreign ministry, poses with Sarah Rogers, U.S. under secretary of state for public diplomacy, during bilateral consultations in Seoul on April 1, 2026, in this photo provided by the foreign ministry. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

(LEAD) S Korea-US-public diplomacy

(LEAD) S. Korea, U.S. discuss efforts to promote alliance through public diplomacy

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SEOUL, April 1 (Yonhap) -- Senior diplomats from South Korea and the United States discussed joint efforts Wednesday to bolster their alliance through various public diplomacy initiatives, ranging from digital communication to people-to-people exchanges, the foreign ministry said.

The dialogue took place between Lim Sang-woo, ambassador for public diplomacy, and Sarah Rogers, U.S. under secretary of state for public diplomacy, to explore avenues for practical cooperation in related areas.

The two sides agreed that public diplomacy is an essential policy tool for advancing key alliance priorities beyond its role in enhancing mutual understanding and trust between their peoples, the ministry said in a release.

They agreed to work together to better promote understanding of the value and importance of the South Korea-U.S. alliance among people in both countries and the wider international community through strategic messaging, digital communication, and people-to-people and cultural exchanges.

They also shared the need to explore new avenues of cooperation amid a changing international landscape.

At the meeting, the two sides signed a memorandum of understanding to cooperate in commemorating the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence this year.

During the meeting, Rogers also reportedly conveyed the U.S. position regarding a recently passed revision to a South Korean law aimed at addressing false and fabricated online information.

The revision to the Information and Communications Network Act requires platform operators, such as Google, X and Meta, to remove or block false and manipulated content. The law is set to take effect in July.

Rogers noted that the U.S. administration is concerned the law could excessively restrict freedom of expression, while Lim explained that its purpose is not to limit free speech but to hold those who create false and manipulated information accountable, according to sources familiar with the matter.

Earlier, Rogers voiced similar concerns in social media posts, publicly highlighting the issue.

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