President Yoon Suk Yeol’s State Visit to the UK
Focus on the 140th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations
On the 21st (local time), President Yoon Suk Yeol, in his speech to the UK Parliament, stated that this year, marking the 140th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between South Korea and the UK, would be a turning point for the two countries to leap forward. He highlighted the elevation of the relationship to global strategic partners, strengthening the foundation of supply chain and digital trade cooperation by the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) improvement negotiations, and expanding cooperation in areas such as digital, artificial intelligence (AI), cyber security, nuclear power, defense, semiconductors, and clean energy.
President Yoon, citing former Prime Minister Winston Churchill’s statement that “the price of greatness is a responsibility,” also mentioned cooperation between the two countries regarding geopolitical risks such as North Korea’s nuclear threat, the Russia-Ukraine war, the Israel-Hamas conflict, and issues such as supply chain, climate response, and the digital divide.
He emphasized, “Now is the time for our two countries to contribute to a better future for humanity as creative partners,” and “we will work together to promote freedom, peace, and prosperity in the international community.”
The Occasion of the Speech at Westminster Palace
President Yoon delivered his speech in English to the Parliament at the Westminster Palace in London in the afternoon on the theme of ‘A friendship to turn our challenges into pure opportunity.’ Describing the UK Parliament as the ‘mother of parliaments,’ President Yoon began his speech by saying, “The UK has been a pioneer in modern world history. It laid the cornerstone of liberal democracy and bloomed the market economy order.”
In his speech, President Yoon introduced the ties between the two countries, starting from the fact that Korea signed the Treaty of Protection and Commerce with the UK in 1883 as the first among European countries to the first Korean translation of the New Testament by John Ross, a missionary from Scotland (1887), the founding of the Daehan Maeil Shinbo newspaper by Earnest Bethell, a journalist from Bristol (1904), and the participation in the Korean War.
He then mentioned, “The Republic of Korea, left in ashes due to the war, desperately sought the help of the international community.” The UK did not turn its back on us this time either,” referring to the aid provided by the UK after the Korean War. He said, “The poorest country has become an economic and cultural powerhouse leading semiconductors, digital technology, and cultural content. It has transformed from a country that received help to a country that gives help.”
Strengthening Bilateral Relations
In his speech, President Yoon said, “This year, which marks the 140th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Korea and the UK, will be a turning point for the relationship between the two countries to leap forward,” and revealed plans to strengthen economic cooperation, including the improvement of the FTA, and the establishment of a new system for information sharing and cyber security cooperation between the two countries, as well as strengthening cooperation against international cybercrime.
In particular, President Yoon emphasized, “Since the Korea-UK FTA came into effect in 2021, trade and investment between the two countries in finance, distribution, services, and biotechnology have become more active,” and “We will initiate the Korea-UK FTA improvement negotiations to strengthen the cooperation base for supply chains and digital trade.”
He continued, “Based on the ‘Korea-UK Accord’ signed on the occasion of this state visit, the two countries are reborn as true ‘global strategic partners’,” and “We will create a more open and free international order with the UK, and create sustainable growth and prosperity for humanity with the UK.”
President Yoon delivered a message stating that the cooperation horizon between the two countries will expand significantly to areas like digital, AI, cyber security, nuclear power, defense, bio, space, semiconductors, offshore wind power, clean energy, and marine fields, and he requested “deep interest and support from the members of the UK Parliament.”
Addressing Global Challenges
In addition, President Yoon mentioned geopolitical risks (North Korea’s nuclear threat, Russia-Ukraine war, Israel-Hamas conflict, etc.) and economic gaps between countries (supply chain, climate response, digital, etc.), and quoted the words of British historian Arnold Toynbee that “Civilizations are born and developed in the process of repeating challenges and responses,” emphasizing, “Korea and the UK, which have written a dynamic history of creation, must closely unite and respond together to many challenges of the world.”
President Yoon said, “Both countries have a proud history of challenge and response, as well as the charm of culture and art,” and made the audience laugh by saying, “If the UK has The Beatles, Queen, Harry Potter, and David Beckham’s right foot, Korea has BTS, BLACKPINK, ‘Squid Game,’ and Son Heung-min’s right foot.”
Meanwhile, President Yoon said, “I am pleased and honored to talk about the future that the UK and Korea will create together in the UK Parliament,” and ended his speech by mentioning a quote from Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet, “Our friendship will bring happiness and turn the challenges we face into opportunities,” and wishing, “May God’s blessings be upon the great UK and the British people.”
By. Choi Young Hun
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