Seeking to Expand Cooperation with Prime Minister Varadkar
Also Emphasizing 'First Visit Country of Trade Delegation'
President Yoon Suk-yeol held a summit meeting with Leo Varadkar, Prime Minister of Ireland, at the Yongsan Presidential Office on the 3rd, exchanging views on bilateral relations, ways to strengthen practical cooperation in various fields, and regional and international affairs, the presidential office said.
Prime Minister Varadkar visited Korea in the form of a working visit from the previous day until the 3rd.
President Yoon Suk-yeol is shaking hands with Leo Varadkar, Prime Minister of Ireland, and taking a commemorative photo at the Korea-Ireland summit held on the 3rd at the Yongsan Presidential Office building in Seoul. [Photo by Yonhap News]
This is the first solo visit to Korea by an Irish head of state in 40 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 1983. President Yoon welcomed Prime Minister Varadkar wearing an orange tie matching the colors of the Irish flag.
President Yoon said, "Ireland is a country that dispatched troops to the Korean War and a friendly nation sharing universal values of freedom, human rights, and the rule of law," welcoming the prime minister's visit on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations. Although Ireland was not a United Nations member during the Korean War, it sent a battalion-sized force of about 1,000 troops under British and American military status, of which about 170 died in action.
Prime Minister Varadkar emphasized, "Korea is Ireland's key cooperation partner in the Asia-Pacific region," adding, "Considering Korea's importance, I chose it as the first country to visit with a trade delegation."
According to the presidential office, Ireland dispatched a delegation of about 50 people, including three ministers from major economic ministries such as the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, as well as representatives from related organizations in industry, tourism, and education, accompanying Prime Minister Varadkar's visit.
President Yoon said, "I hope that bilateral trade and investment will increase dramatically through this summit and the trade delegation's visit," adding, "In particular, I look forward to expanding cooperation in fields where both countries share strengths, such as the bio industry." He also expressed hopes for revitalizing exchanges among future generations based on the recently revised Working Holiday Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). Prime Minister Varadkar responded, "There is great potential for cooperation between the two countries in trade and investment," and added, "Let's continue to seek cooperation not only in the economy but also in education and research."
Prime Minister Varadkar also expressed support for the Korean government's firm stance on responding to North Korea's nuclear and missile provocations.
During the meeting, President Yoon's citation of a poem by Irish poet Seamus Heaney at the White House dinner during his state visit to the United States in April also became a topic of discussion. Prime Minister Varadkar said, "I appreciate President Yoon's knowledge and interest in Irish culture."
Attending the meeting from the presidential office were Cho Tae-yong, Director of the National Security Office; Kim Tae-hyo, First Deputy Director of the National Security Office; and Lee Chung-myeon, Foreign Secretary. From the Irish side, Michelle Wintrup, Ambassador of Ireland to Korea, and Helen Blake, Deputy Secretary for the European Union (EU) and International Affairs at the Prime Minister's Office, were present.
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