From June 28 to June 30, the NEAR Secretariat hosted the 2023 NEAR Working-level Workshop at the Lahan Hotel in Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do, with a total of 80 participants from five Northeast Asian countries, including China, Japan, Korea, Mongolia, and Russia.

In his welcome address at the opening ceremony, NEAR Secretary- General LIM Byung-jin emphasized the importance of the role of working-level officials in the NEAR exchange and cooperation. He stated, "In the current international political landscape where confrontation and competition rather than cooperation are intensifying, it is the working-level officials who have shouldered the burden of the actual exchange work, and when we fulfill our responsibilities and roles, we will achieve common prosperity, and our deals will come true."

In addition, at the opening ceremony, LEE Young-seok, director general of the Economy and Industry Bureau of Gyeongsangbuk-do, and KIM Seong-hak, vice mayor of Gyeongju City, delivered congratulatory remarks, followed by congratulatory remarks via video from Sarantogos,  Mongolian ambassador to Korea, CHEM Ribiao, Chinese consul-general in Busan and DUDNIK Oxana, Russian consul-general in Busan.

The workshop started with a report on the current activities of the NEAR Secretariat and plans for 2023, followed by presentations on the NEAR subcommittee activity plans for each member region, promotion of major projects, and discussions on exchange and cooperation projects.

In particular, during discussions on the role of the Secretariat and the development of NEAR conducted, three years away from the 30th anniversary of NEAR, various opinions were given by working-level officials from member regions, such as the suggestion to conduct training programs for officials of member regions hosted by the Secretariat; increasing the number of officials seconded to the Secretariat; expanding high-level exchange of member regions; and expanding the areas and contents of exchange such as economy & trade, culture & tourism, youth, and sports.

After the meeting, there were cultural experience opportunities at the Gyeongju Museum and a welcome dinner hosted by NEAR. On Friday, June 30, the participants visited POSCO.

This year marks the 14^th NEAR Working-level Workshop. It was held in person for the first time in four years  due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants greatly appreciated the workshop this year. The NEAR Working-level workshop was designed to provide member regions with a platform for common development by strengthening human networks and sharing practical experience.