On November 3, 2026, Ahmad Erfanian, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to South Korea, visited the Institute for Asian Studies at Seoul National University, where he met and held discussions with the institute's officials. The meeting was attended by Chae Su-hong, Director of the Institute for Asian Studies, and Ko Ki-yeon, Director of the Center for West Asian Studies. Ambassador Erfanian introduced the historical and friendly relations between Iran and South Korea and shared his views on ways to develop and expand constructive engagement between the two countries. Referring to the geopolitical circumstances and ongoing crises in the Middle East, he expressed hope that the Institute for Asian Studies would pursue academic discussions and dialogue on West Asian affairs more actively and extensively. He particularly emphasized the importance of addressing Iran's cultural, political, and security-related issues from a balanced perspective and through in-depth, expert analysis. During the meeting, the Ambassador and the Director of the Institute also exchanged constructive views on ways to expand academic exchanges between the two countries and strengthen communication networks and cooperation among their universities.