Request for Establishment of a "Korean Desk" Within the State Government
Prime Minister Kim Minseok met with Oregon Governor Tina Kotek on the 27th to discuss ways to strengthen cooperation, according to the Prime Minister's Office.
During the meeting held that afternoon at the Government Seoul Office, Prime Minister Kim welcomed Governor Kotek and the economic delegation, stating, "I hope this visit will serve as an opportunity to further enhance economic cooperation and people-to-people exchanges between Korea and Oregon."
He also noted the active trade in agricultural products and other goods between Korea and Oregon, emphasizing, "I look forward to deepened cooperation not only in trade but also in various areas such as investment and exchanges between our people."
In particular, Prime Minister Kim stated, "Ensuring smooth entry and activities for businesspeople is extremely important for deepening economic cooperation between our two countries." He requested the state government's attention and efforts, such as establishing a dedicated Korean Desk within the state government to manage relations with Korea within the possible scope.
Prime Minister Kim Minseok met with Tina Kotek, Governor of Oregon, USA, at the Government Seoul Office on the 27th, exchanging views on ways to strengthen cooperation between Korea and Oregon. Provided by the Prime Minister's Office, Yonhap News Agency.
Governor Kotek responded, "As Korea is one of Oregon's largest export destinations for agricultural products, we place great importance on our relationship with Korea, and I hope we can diversify cooperation in areas such as semiconductors, eco-friendly energy, and biotechnology in the future."
She added, "I believe that tourism and other people-to-people and cultural exchanges will further solidify the foundation for expanding cooperation," and requested the Korean government's interest and support in resuming direct flights between the two regions.
In response, Prime Minister Kim welcomed efforts to promote people-to-people exchanges between Korea and Oregon through the resumption of direct flights, and asked the state government to pay attention not only to Korean visitors to Oregon but also to the approximately 40,000 Korean residents living there.
The Prime Minister's Office also reported that Governor Kotek shared she had received the 'Ambassador for Peace' medal from the Korean government in 2023 on behalf of her father, a Korean War veteran.
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