Yoon Arrives in Saudi Arabia Under Fighter Jet Escort... Begins State Visit Schedule

F-16 Escort Flight Upon Entering Saudi Airspace
Discussion on Cooperation in Energy, Hydrogen, and Entertainment Beyond Construction
Likely to Address Middle East Situation... Possibility of Humanitarian Aid

President Yoon Suk-yeol arrived in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, on the 21st (local time). This marks the first state visit to Saudi Arabia by a South Korean president, and discussions are expected to continue to expand the economic cooperation between the two countries, which had previously focused mainly on the construction sector.

The presidential aircraft, Air Force One, carrying President Yoon and his wife Kim Keon-hee, arrived at Riyadh King Khalid International Airport in the afternoon. As the aircraft entered Saudi airspace, two Saudi F-15 fighter jets escorted it from both sides. At the airport, Muhammad bin Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Governor, Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al-Muqrin, Mayor, Sami Alsadhan, Saudi Ambassador to Korea, and Park Jun-yong, Korean Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, welcomed President Yoon.

President Yoon Suk-yeol and First Lady Kim Keon-hee, who are on a state visit to Saudi Arabia, arrived at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on the 21st (local time). After disembarking from Air Force One, their official plane, they shook hands with the welcoming officials. [Image source=Yonhap News]

President Yoon will begin his official state visit schedule on the 22nd. Following the official welcoming ceremony, a summit and state luncheon with Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman are planned. That evening, he will attend three economic events: the Korea-Saudi Investment Forum, the Korea-Saudi Future Technology Partnership Forum on the 23rd, and the 50th Anniversary Ceremony of Korea-Saudi Construction Cooperation, encouraging businesspeople from both countries. On the last day of the Saudi schedule, the 24th, he will attend the Future Investment Initiative Forum, known as the 'Davos of the Desert,' as the guest of honor, where he will engage in a dialogue with the moderator on the current and future cooperation between Korea and the Middle East.

President Yoon Suk-yeol and First Lady Kim Keon-hee, who are on a state visit to Saudi Arabia, arrived at Riyadh King Khalid International Airport on the 21st (local time) and are moving to the reception room inside the airport to have a conversation with Deputy Governor Mohammad bin Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

President Yoon Suk-yeol and First Lady Kim Keon-hee, who are on a state visit to Saudi Arabia, arrived at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on the 21st (local time) and are having a conversation with Deputy Governor Mohammad bin Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz in the airport reception room.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Following this, President Yoon will travel to Doha, Qatar, continuing his state visit for one night and two days until the 25th. His first schedule in Qatar includes visiting the Korean Pavilion and other exhibitions at the Doha International Horticultural Expo. The expo is being held under the theme 'Green Desert, Better Environment,' and Korea is operating a pavilion showcasing excellent smart agricultural technologies.

On the 25th, he will hold a summit with Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani of Qatar and attend a state luncheon. He will then encourage participants at the Korea-Qatar Business Forum, attended by 300 businesspeople from both countries. As the final event in Qatar, he will visit 'Education City,' Qatar's self-proclaimed education hub in the Middle East, and engage in discussions with young Qatari leaders.

On the 21st (local time), a Saudi fighter jet escorted Air Force One carrying President Yoon Seok-yeol and his wife Kim Keon-hee, who are on a state visit to Saudi Arabia, over the skies near Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. [Image source=Yonhap News]

The primary goal of this tour is to expand economic cooperation. The Presidential Office emphasized, "Partnerships with the Middle East are advancing to a new stage that encompasses future industries such as hydrogen, IT, automobiles, shipbuilding, renewable energy, culture, and entertainment, beyond energy and construction," adding, "The main schedules, themes, and participants of the tour were organized considering the evolving partnership."

This is also why a large economic delegation is accompanying the tour. The Middle East economic delegation includes Lee Jae-yong, Vice Chairman of Samsung Electronics; Chung Eui-sun, Chairman of Hyundai Motor Group; Kim Dong-kwan, Vice Chairman of Hanwha; Huh Tae-soo, Chairman of GS; Jung Ki-sun, President of HD Hyundai; and Park Ji-won, Chairman of Doosan Enerbility.

A total of 139 companies are participating in the economic delegation accompanying President Yoon on his state visits to Saudi Arabia and Qatar. The delegation is divided into 130 companies heading to Saudi Arabia and 59 companies to Qatar. It consists of 35 large corporations, 94 small and medium-sized enterprises, 3 public enterprises and institutions, and 7 economic and cooperative organizations.

During the tour, there is also a possibility that President Yoon will express his position on Middle East security issues. Given the intensifying clashes between Israel and the Palestinian armed group Hamas following the Ukraine war, President Yoon plans to discuss security matters during the summits with Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Kim Tae-hyo, First Deputy Director of the National Security Office at the Presidential Office, stated, "We have deep concerns about the rapidly increasing civilian casualties," and added, "We will actively provide support on a purely humanitarian basis regarding the refugee issue."