ZURICH, Switzerland/DUBAI -- President Yoon Suk Yeol, who arrived in Switzerland on Tuesday evening, met with Koreans living in Zurich, vowing to make greater efforts for a new 60 years with Switzerland based on the trust and cooperation the two nations have built, before leaving for Davos. Upon arriving in the city, Yoon and first lady Kim had dinner with around 80 Korean residents in a hotel. An estimated 4,000 Koreans live in Switzerland. In an opening speech, Yoon said South Korea “sol

Politics Jan. 18, 2023

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- Touting himself as the “salesman of South Korea,” President Yoon Suk Yeol wrapped up his four-day state visit to the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday, sending home $30 billion of business agreements with the lucrative economy, before heading to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, to talk international affairs. The presidential office viewed Yoon’s visit to the UAE as “the first step toward the first year of the new Middle East bo

Foreign Affairs Jan. 17, 2023

The presidential office said South Korea is seeking to export nuclear power plants to the UK in cooperation with the United Arab Emirates on the occasion of President Yoon Suk Yeol’s visit to the UAE. A senior official of the presidential office told reporters on Monday evening (local time) on the condition of anonymity that President Yoon said during his visit to the Barakah nuclear power plant, "Team Korea"’s technological experience led to the success of the Barakah nu

Politics Jan. 17, 2023

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates -- President Yoon Suk Yeol and Emirati leader Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan adopted a joint declaration to deepen the special strategic partnership between the two countries on Monday. It stated the Middle East country’s promise to invest $30 billion to Asia’s fourth-largest economy, the presidential office said. Under the declaration, the two countries agreed to strengthen strategic cooperation in areas, including economy, energy, nuclear ener

Politics Jan. 17, 2023

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates -- President Yoon Suk Yeol visited the Barakah nuclear power plant in the United Arab Emirates, accompanied by Emirati leader Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Monday, reconfirming close energy ties with the UAE on the third day of his state visit. The Barakah nuclear power plant was the first nuclear power plant in the country and the first overseas nuclear power plant designed and built by Korea. The nuclear power plant is being jointly constructed by Hyu

Foreign Affairs Jan. 16, 2023

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates -- First lady Kim Keon Hee went on her solo events, attending a dinner invitation by Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Al Ketbi, mother of the Emirati leader Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and meeting Minister of Culture and Youth Noura Al Kaabi, the presidential office said Monday. On Sunday evening, Kim had the dinner at the presidential palace Qasr Al Watan with the UAE leader's mother who is also the widow of the late President Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Foreign Affairs Jan. 16, 2023

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — President Yoon Suk Yeol visited Korean troops stationed in the United Arab Emirates to encourage the soldiers, telling them the UAE is “our brother” and that its security was the security of South Korea, the presidential office said Sunday. President Yoon and first lady Kim Keon Hee visited the Akh unit, which has been dispatched by South Korea since 2011 to train UAE special forces at the request of the UAE government. Yoon told the troops the

Defense Jan. 16, 2023

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates -- President Yoon Suk Yeol received the highest level of courtesy during his visit to the United Arab Emirates, where he was invited for the first state visit by a Korean leader. Before the summit with Emirati President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan for closer economic cooperation, Yoon was received in a large-scale official welcoming ceremony Sunday morning, the second day of his visit to the nation. At the beginning of the ceremony, seven UAE fighter jets

Foreign Affairs Jan. 15, 2023

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — The United Arab Emirates has decided to invest $30 billion (37 trillion won) in South Korea at a summit held between South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Emirati leader Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Sunday, during which the leaders agreed on stronger strategic cooperation, the South Korean presidential office said. “We decided to make the investment with confidence in the Republic of Korea that keeps its promises under all circumstances,

Foreign Affairs Jan. 15, 2023

Despite opposition pressure for first lady Kim Keon Hee to keep to a more supporting role, eyes are on whether she would continue to strike out on her own when she accompanies Yoon Suk Yeol on his first presidential trip this year Saturday. She and Yoon will go on a state visit to the United Arab Emirates and attend the annual World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, for six days. “There is a high possibility that Kim will take an independent step (as she did in Cambodia) during the tri

Politics Jan. 12, 2023

First lady Kim Keon Hee visited community centers and a local market in Daegu on Wednesday, expanding her public service activities ahead of President Yoon Suk Yeol's state visit to the United Arab Emirates and Korea's Lunar New Year holiday next week, according to the presidential office. She visited Seongseo Social Welfare Center in Daegu and served meals with college student volunteers of the Korea Saemaul Undong Center, the office said. The trip was planned at the invitation of the

Politics Jan. 11, 2023

President Yoon Suk Yeol will make a state visit to the United Arab Emirates as his first overseas trip this year and will attend the annual World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, putting an emphasis on economic diplomacy and all-out efforts to attract the 2030 Expo. “President Yoon will make a state visit to the UAE at the invitation of President Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan during Jan. 14-17, and he will attend the annual World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland during Jan. 18-19

Foreign Affairs Jan. 10, 2023

Former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger stressed solid cooperation between South Korea and the US for the denuclearization of North Korea in a luncheon held with Chung Mong-joon, honorary chairman of the Asan Institute for Policy Studies in New York on Thursday (local time), according to the organization on Friday. During the meeting, the two exchanged views on the recent international situation and issues on the Korean Peninsula. Kissinger said that South Korea and the US must deal with

Foreign Affairs Jan. 6, 2023

President Yoon Suk-yeol ordered the nation's spy chief to consider suspending an inter-Korean military agreement signed in 2018 to reduce military tensions if North Korea commits provocations again. The commander in chief also instructed the military to establish a joint drone unit capable of mass-producing small, undetectable drones, the presidential office said Wednesday. Yoon's instructions came after he was briefed about the response strategy to North Korea’s drones by the

Defense Jan. 4, 2023

Na Kyung-won, a four-term lawmaker and the chief of the Presidential Committee on Aging Society and Population Policy, said young Koreans are reluctant to get married and have children because their lives are “very difficult” with “no expectation that their lives will be any better and happier.” Young Koreans living in a highly competitive society have low expectations for their futures, with the thought that they might not live happier lives than their parents. This

Politics Jan. 3, 2023