Yoon Meets Swiss Koreans, "Science and Technology Cooperation with Leading Tech Nations"

First Schedule in Switzerland: Meeting with Korean Community
Korea-Switzerland 60th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations
"Efforts Toward a New 60 Years Based on Trust and Cooperation"

[Zurich=Asia Economy Reporter Bae Kyunghwan] President Yoon Suk-yeol stated, "We will strongly seek advanced scientific and technological cooperation with leading technology countries."

On the 17th (local time), during his first schedule in Switzerland, President Yoon met with local compatriots and said, "We will do our best to ensure that Korea's new leap forward brings tangible benefits to the overseas Korean community." President Yoon, who is on a tour of two countries, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Switzerland, arrived at Zurich Airport, his second destination, in the afternoon aboard the presidential aircraft, the 'Air Force One.'

President Yoon Suk-yeol and First Lady Kim Keon-hee, visiting Switzerland, are saluting the national flag at a dinner meeting for Korean residents in Switzerland held at a hotel in downtown Zurich on the 17th (local time).
[Photo by Yonhap News]

At this event, President Yoon expressed his commitment to strengthening bilateral exchanges. He said, "This year marks the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and Switzerland," adding, "Based on the trust and cooperation built over the years, we will strive even harder toward the next 60 years."

He particularly emphasized cooperation in science and technology. President Yoon stated, "In this era of scientific and technological competition, we will strongly seek advanced scientific and technological cooperation with technology-leading countries like Switzerland that share universal values with us." During his visit to Switzerland, President Yoon arranged a meeting at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich to exchange views with scholars on quantum technology. A presidential office official explained, "Through this visit, we will exchange opinions on the success factors that enabled Switzerland to become a quantum technology powerhouse and the strategies our country, as a latecomer, should adopt, while building a human network among scientists of both countries."

Regarding the Swiss Korean community, he said, "It already boasts a history of over 100 years," and noted, "In 1919, an anonymous Korean raised the banner of Korean independence in Europe through an article in a Swiss daily newspaper." He added, "Since dispatching a delegation to the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission in 1953, Switzerland has been striving for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula," and "Trade with Switzerland is reaching record highs every year. There are also increasing new cooperation opportunities in future industries such as pharmaceuticals and bio sectors."

He also mentioned the case of former President Syngman Rhee, who visited Geneva in 1933 to appeal for Korean independence to the international community. President Yoon said, "Lee Han-ho, a disciple of President Rhee, devoted himself to the independence of the homeland while in Switzerland and left a significant mark on sports exchanges between the two countries," and expressed gratitude, "I deeply thank the overseas Korean community for their great interest and support during the process of repatriating Lee Han-ho’s remains to Korea last November."