Presidential Office welcomes Kakao's follow-up actions by Yoon and Bin Salman on Saudi investment attraction

Regarding the Possibility of a Davos Korea-Japan Summit: "Not an Easy Structure"

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] The Presidential Office stated on the 12th that it "welcomes and is closely monitoring" Kakao Entertainment's successful attraction of a total investment of 1.2 trillion won from the Saudi Arabian sovereign wealth fund and others.

When reporters met with a Presidential Office official at the Yongsan Presidential Office in the afternoon and asked about the Presidential Office's response to Kakao Entertainment securing investment from the Saudi side, the official replied, "To commemorate the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and Saudi Arabia, Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman made an official visit to Korea last November, and President Yoon Suk-yeol and his wife invited him to the presidential residence for talks."

He added, "At that time, there were discussions about extensive cooperation not only in the energy and defense industries but also in cultural tourism and tourism promotion sectors, and this investment seems to be one of the follow-up measures."

Meanwhile, when asked about the possibility of President Yoon meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at the Davos Forum in Switzerland next week, the official said, "I am not sure whether Prime Minister Kishida will attend," and added, "It does not seem to be an easy structure for leaders to hold separate meetings at the Davos Forum."

Regarding President Yoon's directive during the Ministry of Foreign Affairs briefing the previous day to make overseas diplomatic missions 'export advance bases,' the official conveyed, "As previously introduced, overseas missions are not branches of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs but branches of the Government of the Republic of Korea, and there was a request that all should become key bases for exports."