Unification Minister Chung Dong-young held talks with the newly appointed Irish Ambassador to South Korea, Sean Hoy, on Friday at the Government Complex Seoul, where the two discussed ways to advance peace on the Korean Peninsula, the Unification Ministry said.

During the meeting, Chung called on Ireland to take a leading role in building Europe's understanding of and support for peace on the peninsula, pointing to Ireland's position as the rotating chair of the European Union for the second half of the year. The rotating EU Council presidency sets the bloc's agenda priorities during its six-month term, giving the chair country influence over which issues receive attention in European policy discussions.

Drawing on Ireland's long struggle for independence and the eventual settlement of the conflict in Northern Ireland, Chung said the two Koreas could learn from the country's perseverance in pursuing peace. The Northern Ireland conflict, widely known as the Troubles, was brought to a close through the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, a deal brokered with international involvement that established a power-sharing government, and it has since been cited in other regions as a reference case for conflict resolution.

For his part, Ambassador Hoy voiced support for Seoul's peace efforts and shared insights drawn from Ireland's own peace process. He said Ireland stands ready to work with any country seeking to learn from its experience, adding that peace is a goal always worth pursuing.

According to the ministry, the two sides affirmed their shared commitment to pursuing peace on the peninsula, grounded in a mutual understanding of the pain of division and the need to restore peace.

The meeting underscored the growing diplomatic engagement between South Korea and European partners on peninsular affairs, with Ireland's upcoming EU chairmanship positioned as a potential avenue for strengthening European backing for Seoul's peace initiatives.