Eun-hye Kim Chief "Overseas Visit Achievements and Livelihood Effects Become Visible"
Yoon's First Official Schedule After Visit: 'Meeting with Young Scientists'
[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] The Presidential Office and the government are taking follow-up measures to translate the achievements secured during President Yoon Suk-yeol's visits to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Switzerland into tangible benefits for the public.
Kim Eun-hye, Chief Public Relations Officer of the Presidential Office, stated in a written briefing on the afternoon of the 24th, "This economic diplomacy, where the public and private sectors worked as one team, resulted in attracting $30 billion (approximately 37 trillion KRW) in investments, signing 48 memorandums of understanding (MOUs) worth $6.1 billion (approximately 7.5 trillion KRW), and a record-breaking achievement with Denmark's Vestas, the world's leading wind turbine manufacturer, announcing a $300 million (approximately 370 billion KRW) investment."
She added, "Beyond traditional cooperation areas such as energy and defense, this visit also created opportunities for economic cooperation in new industries including hydrogen, bio, smart farms, and digital transformation," and noted, "The delegation of over 100 businesspeople who accompanied the visit, along with the 'Republic of Korea's first salesperson,' were the key players who imprinted Team Korea on the world stage."
Kim emphasized, "The government will establish a Korea-UAE investment cooperation platform to swiftly and flawlessly implement the investment agreements made between the heads of state and will promote follow-up measures to ensure that the outcomes of the visit translate into visible benefits for the public."
Following the visit, President Yoon, who took on the role of the Republic of Korea's first salesperson, instructed related ministries including the Ministry of Economy and Finance, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, Ministry of SMEs and Startups, and the Financial Services Commission to form a task force (TF) to carry out follow-up actions on the MOUs and contracts between Korea and the UAE.
Regarding the achievements of the UAE state visit, Chief Kim said, "It is judged to be the trust and rapport between the two heads of state." This reflects the alignment between President Yoon's governance direction, which has sought export routes through advanced technologies such as nuclear power, defense, and energy, and the UAE's aspiration to seek a new turning point through decarbonization.
She also introduced the communication efforts between the Korean and UAE governments in this regard. Kim added, "The synergy with Khaldoon Mubarak, Chairman of Mubadala Investment Company, who has continued meetings on behalf of the UAE from President Yoon's inauguration ceremony in early spring last year, to his visit as a special envoy in September, and even during the desert winter in January, reflects this."
President Yoon Suk-yeol, on a state visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), is entering the Abu Dhabi Presidential Palace on the 15th (local time) for an expanded Korea-UAE summit with UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. [Image source=Yonhap News]
Khaldoon Al Mubarak, who also serves as the head of the Abu Dhabi Executive Office, attended President Yoon's inauguration ceremony last May as a congratulatory envoy and visited Korea in September as a special envoy of the UAE President, where he met with President Yoon. Director Kim also visited the UAE as a presidential special envoy in December last year.
On the 18th, Khaldoon met President Yoon at a 'Lunch with Global CEOs' held at a hotel in downtown Davos and mentioned the Barakah nuclear power plant, expressing trust by saying, "Korea, with its excellent capabilities, ultimately accomplished everything within the given time and budget. It is a good example that shows what makes Korea special."
Chief Kim stressed regarding this visit, "From the sandy desert to Davos, we will continue toward a 'Korea Again' where all citizens prosper."
Meanwhile, as his first schedule after returning from the visit, President Yoon held a luncheon meeting with young scientists in fields such as quantum technology, artificial intelligence (AI), bio, and space at the Yongsan Presidential Office. The purpose was to communicate with young scientists for national innovation and development and to timely listen to areas where government support is needed.
On the 17th, at the Future Vision Dubai Forum held at the Dubai Future Museum, President Yoon quoted the genius scientist Einstein's saying, "You cannot explore the world with an old map," emphasizing innovation and development by stating, "We will do our best for a Korea that creates new maps and pioneers new routes." Additionally, on the 19th, President Yoon had a dialogue with quantum field scholars at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich to explore strategies Korea should adopt.
Chief Kim explained, "The president's conviction that national leap and growth, reducing division and conflict, is only possible through science, technology, and innovation," and added, "Accordingly, as his first schedule of the new year and as an extension of the visit, the president had a luncheon with young leaders in AI, advanced bio, space, and quantum fields, discussing ways to nurture world-class talent, discover competitive research institutes, and strongly support international cooperation at the government level."
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