Yoon Embarks on State Visit to UK... Final Expo Bid in France During Tour

King Charles III's First State Guest Invitation After Coronation
MOU on Advanced Industries... UK-Korea Accord to Be Adopted
Dinner and Reception with BIE Delegation in France

President Yoon Suk-yeol will embark on a 6-night, 7-day state visit to the United Kingdom on the 20th, followed by a final on-site campaign in France to secure the 2030 Busan World Expo (Expo). President Yoon plans to seek strengthened cooperation with the UK, which is regaining global influence through science and technology, finance, trade, and diplomacy, while aiming to stage a dramatic turnaround in the Expo bidding battle in France.

President Yoon Suk-yeol and his wife Kim Keon-hee, who are making a state visit to the United Kingdom, are boarding Air Force One, their exclusive aircraft, at Seoul Airport in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province on the 20th, bidding farewell before departure. [Image source=Yonhap News]

On the same day, President Yoon and his wife Kim Keon-hee will visit London, UK, at the invitation of King Charles III. President Yoon is the first head of state to be invited as a state guest since King Charles III’s coronation this year, and the state visit will last for 3 nights and 4 days. Earlier, on the 7th, King Charles III welcomed the state visit of President Yoon and his wife during his first opening speech after ascending the throne, known as the "King's Speech."

President Yoon is scheduled to arrive in London on the 20th (local time) and immediately begin his UK itinerary with a meeting with the Korean community. On the following day, the 21st, the official state visit schedule will commence with a formal welcome ceremony. At the ceremony, the Prince and Princess of Wales, William and Catherine, will greet President Yoon and his wife at their accommodation and accompany them to the Horse Guards Parade ground, the venue for the welcome ceremony. The UK side plans to honor President Yoon with a 41-gun salute and a carriage procession, providing the highest level of hospitality. President Yoon will then deliver a speech in English at the UK Parliament, reviewing the development of Korea-UK relations and discussing the future direction of the two countries. This will be President Yoon’s second speech in English at a foreign parliament, following his joint session speech at the US Congress during his state visit in April. After the speech, President Yoon will attend a state banquet held at Buckingham Palace.

On the third day of the UK visit, the 22nd, President Yoon will begin a full schedule of economic and science and technology cooperation. First, he will attend the "Korea-UK Business Forum," which will be attended by over 200 businesspeople from both countries, where he will oversee the signing of memorandums of understanding (MOUs) in various fields such as advanced industries, energy, and finance. He will also visit the Korea-UK Future Science and Technology Forum hosted by the Royal Society to explore cooperation in science and technology between the two countries.

President Yoon Suk-yeol is shaking hands with UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak during a Korea-UK summit held in Hiroshima, Japan, where the Group of Seven (G7) summit took place on May 20.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

A Korea-UK summit with UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is also scheduled. President Yoon will visit the Prime Minister’s residence at 10 Downing Street to discuss ways to strengthen cooperation in areas including digital technology, artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, nuclear power, defense, biotechnology, space, semiconductors, offshore wind power, and clean energy. They plan to adopt the "Korea-UK Accord," a document outlining future cooperation between the two countries. Following the "Korea-UK Bilateral Framework" adopted last June, which covered five areas including political affairs, global public goods, trade and prosperity, defense and security, and shared values, the adoption of the Korea-UK Accord is expected to redefine bilateral relations. Lee Do-woon, spokesperson for the Presidential Office, stated at a briefing on the 19th, "It is unprecedented for our country, excluding the United States, to announce a comprehensive relationship document in the form of an accord."

President Yoon will then attend a dinner hosted by the Mayor of the London Financial District with the economic delegation. London, along with New York in the US, is one of the two major financial cities, and this dinner is expected to foster financial cooperation between the two countries. Choi Sang-mok, Senior Secretary for Economic Affairs at the Presidential Office, explained, "Since Brexit, the UK has established a new foreign strategy called 'Global Britain' and concluded negotiations to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) in July, strengthening cooperation with the Asia-Pacific region. Through this state visit, the first by a Korean president in 10 years, we plan to create a turning point to elevate economic cooperation with the UK, which shares universal values of liberal democracy and market economy, to a new level."

On the last day of the UK state visit, the 23rd, President Yoon will visit the Churchill War Rooms and bid farewell to the King, concluding the state visit schedule before immediately traveling to Paris, France. Until the 24th, he will hold receptions and dinner events for representatives of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) from various countries based in Paris, and host a Republic of Korea national day reception to intensify the final campaign for the Busan Expo. The vote for the 2030 Expo host city will take place on the 28th in Paris. Kim Tae-hyo, First Deputy Director of the National Security Office, said about this Paris visit, "President Yoon will express our strong will and preparedness for hosting the '2030 Busan World Expo' and devote full efforts to the final bidding negotiations. He will personally engage with BIE member country representatives who will vote on-site."

President Yoon will depart for Korea on the 25th and is scheduled to arrive at Seongnam Airport on the morning of the 26th Korea time.

President Yoon Suk-yeol delivers a welcome speech at the official reception for the 2030 Busan World Expo held at a sports center in Issy-les-Moulineaux, Paris, France, on June 21 (local time). [Image source=Yonhap News]