Jeong Eui-yong Encourages Ark Unit Soldiers... President Moon Presents Wristwatch and Hangwa (Summary)

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Hye-seon] On the 17th, Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong visited the Aegis Unit stationed in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on behalf of President Moon Jae-in, along with National Security and Defense Strategy Secretary (Lieutenant General Kang Shin-cheol) and Joint Chiefs of Staff Civil-Military Operations Director (Major General Jung Deok-seong).

The Blue House stated that although President Moon could not attend due to other schedules, he asked Minister Chung to convey his encouragement and delivered gifts such as wristwatches and Hangwa to the soldiers of the Aegis Unit.

Minister Chung had lunch with the soldiers and encouraged them by saying, "You, who have left the shelter of your beloved families and country to show loyalty and patriotism, are the symbol of a strong military and a military trusted by the people. The sweat you have shed has contributed to the development of the special strategic partnership and brotherly relations between our two countries."

The Aegis Unit, which means "brother" in Arabic, is the first unit dispatched for military cooperation since the establishment of the Republic of Korea Armed Forces. It was deployed from 2011 at the request of the Crown Prince of the UAE in 2010, marking its 11th anniversary this year.

Meanwhile, Chief Presidential Secretary for Policy Lee Ho-seung visited the Korean-style smart farm greenhouse at the Al Kuwaitat Research Center of the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority on the same day. The smart farm greenhouse, the first of its kind built in the Middle East, is a result of the joint effort by Korea and the UAE to promote agricultural technology cooperation and smart agriculture, initiated during President Moon’s visit to the UAE in 2018. The Korean-style smart greenhouse covers an area of 2,142㎡ and uses a circulating hydroponic system that saves more than 20% of agricultural water. According to the Blue House, Korea and the UAE are conducting joint research in four fields including smart greenhouses, desert rice, date palms, and livestock care.