A South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs leaked plan to establish a special organization tasked with promoting cooperation with Africa and share Korea’s development experience with the region elicited mixed reactions among African envoys ― surprise, annoyance and even outspoken criticism.

Instead of promoting the stated claim of cooperation with African nations, some African ambassadors responded to news of the plan that was leaked in early May with a mix of surprise and annoyance at not being first consulted.

Several African diplomats said they heard for the first time of the ministry’s plan to create an organization to promote private sector commercial links, as well as ties in the arts and civil society, during a monthly meeting of the African group of ambassadors on May 23.

When asked about it on Monday and Tuesday still other envoys said they had no knowledge of it and, without more information, declined to comment about the proposal.

African envoys appear peeved that the Foreign Ministry would pursue the creation of such an organization without consulting them at all about its role and structure.

“This is neocolonialism, isn’t it?” said one African envoy.

The Korean proposal for the center was included as a discussion item at the May 23 meeting, where it was described by one African diplomat as “something that could divide Africa,” according to another diplomatic source with knowledge of the meeting.

Envoys did not elaborate on how it would divide countries or in what way not being consulted is neocolonial.

The active dean of the African group of ambassadors, Nigerian Ambassador to Korea Desmond Akawor, requested a meeting on the issue with high-level foreign ministry officials.

“The role of the center would be to set up future African diplomacy, strategy and ways to better assist African countries, including but not limited to overseas development assistance,” said a diplomat at the Foreign Ministry’s Africa Division.

In recent weeks President Park Geun-hye has showcased her administration’s diplomatic outreach to African countries, highlighting development assistance and sharing Korea’s development experience.

Korean development assistance in the region doubled twice in a span of six years, with about $42 million in 2006, $100 million in 2009 and more than $200 million in 2012.

Korea received a three-day state visit from Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and Mozambican President Armando Guebuza arrives Monday for a four-day official visit. Gabonese Foreign Minister Issze-Ngondet and Foreign Minister Yoon Byung-se will discuss ways to enhance economic cooperation and global issues on June 7.

Broadly, Korean diplomatic ties with the region are on the rise. Zambia and Tanzania are poised to open chanceries here this year, raising the number of African nations with embassy level ties to 19. Sierra Leone may open an embassy here next year.

African envoys were also introduced for the first time to another creation of the foreign ministry, the “Friends of Africa,” during a meeting on May 27 between 12 African ambassadors and Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se.

The aim of the “friends” group is to raise the profile of Africa here in Korea through the media, cultural sphere and business. Its 12-member body includes local celebrities and TV personalities such as MBC producer Han Hak-soo, KBS anchor Kim Yoon-ji and actor Son Hyun-joo.

Friends of Africa however received tepid praise from African envoys here.

One African ambassador described the group this way: “How can they be so-called ‘friends of Africa’ if none of us have ever met them before?”

Not a single member of the Friends of Africa group is African.

Although the Foreign Ministry declined to elaborate on details for the proposed Korea-Africa plan, the director of the African division at the ministry said it would not at all be modeled after the Seoul-based ASEAN-Korea Center, as previously reported in a media outlet here.

The ASEAN Korea Center is co-organized by the Southeast Asian regional group and the Korean government. In the case of the Foreign Ministry’s Korea-Africa plan, the African Union is not expected to participate in the funding or management of the new group.

African Division Director Moon Sung-hwan said Korea has for too long focused most of its energy on North Korea and the “Big Four” countries of the United States, China, Japan and Russia, saying that Korea needs a group as envisioned by the Korea-Africa plan to develop ideas and strategies to better engage with Africa’s private sector.

Moon admitted considerable preparation was still required for the Korea-Africa plan to take shape, including coordinating with the Ministry of Strategy and Finance and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, as well as talks with the Korea International Cooperation Agency, which oversees the development assistance in Africa and around the world.

“People often ask me, why is Korea so late in engaging with Africa, well, this organization could help us produce a new trend line,” he said.

By Philip Iglauer (ephilip2011@heraldcorp.com)