Yoon pays tribute to Korean diaspora, pledges to expand global 'playing field'

Social Affairs

Published: 05 Oct. 2023, 16:38

Yoon pays tribute to Korean diaspora, pledges to expand global 'playing field'

President Yoon Suk Yeol, center right, and first lady Kim Keon Hee greet leaders of overseas Korean communities at a ceremony celebrating the 17th World Korean Day at Lotte Hotel World in Jamsil, southern Seoul, Thursday. [PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE]

President Yoon Suk Yeol pledged Thursday to expand the "playing field" of Korean companies and people, including the diaspora around the world, and better cater to the needs of the overseas community.

Yoon reflected on 120 years of Korean emigration overseas, contributing to the country's economic growth, in his address at a ceremony celebrating the 17th World Korean Day at Lotte Hotel World in Jamsil, southern Seoul.

"Our government will carefully look after all our compatriots around the world, centered on our Overseas Koreans Agency, which was launched last June," Yoon said. "Through strengthening our global network, we will expand the playing field where our companies and people, including our 7.5 million overseas compatriots, can join together and run in."

The new Incheon-headquartered Overseas Koreans Agency was established to streamline tasks related to overseas Koreans' affairs as a sub-ministry under the Foreign Ministry.

The event was attended by some 450 people, including first lady Kim Keon Hee, Lee Key-cheol, head of the Overseas Koreans Agency, lawmakers and more than 360 leaders of Korean communities around the world.

"Our compatriots' overseas entry was initially arduous and insignificant, but through your hard work, you have written the history of immigration and the economy of the great Korean people," Yoon said. "We once again ask all of you to join together and help to realize our vision of becoming a global hub that contributes to freedom, peace and prosperity around the world."

Yoon stressed that the country's 120-year history of immigration has "been a great force in the development of Korea's capabilities."

He recalled the first batch of Korean immigrants who worked in sugar cane fields in Hawaii in the early 1900s and the miners and nurses sent to Germany in the 1960s and 1970s to earn foreign cash, noting that remittances and donations made by overseas Koreans more than the decades have contributed to South Korea's economic development, industrialization and diplomacy.

Yoon said that nine out of 10 Korean diplomatic missions in Japan, including the embassy and consulate general, were built through donations from overseas Koreans.

South Korea has "risen from the ruins of war and is aiming to become a global pivotal state that fulfills its responsibilities and role in the international community," Yoon said.

"The international community's trust and expectations for South Korea are growing," he continued. "We will contribute to and cooperate more with the international community so that our compatriots can be proud of their homeland."

Actor Sohee Park, also known by his Japanese name Soji Arai, who starred in the 2022 drama series “Pachinko,” speaks of his experience as an ethnic Korean with American nationality, born and raised in Japan, at a ceremony celebrating the 17th World Korean Day at Lotte Hotel World in Jamsil, southern Seoul, Thursday. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

Soji Arai, a Korean-Japanese actor also known by his Korean name, Sohee Park, who starred in Apple TV+'s hit 2022 drama series "Pachinko," spoke at the ceremony of his experience as an ethnic Korean with American nationality, born and raised in Japan.

Park recalled struggling with his identity growing up as a third-generation Zainichi, or ethnic Koreans living in Japan, having to use a Japanese name to continue to pursue an acting career and moving to the United States to find a global stage.

"The existence of a Zainichi is not accepted anywhere in the United States or Japan," Park said. "A marginalized person who doesn't belong anywhere."

He said he learned more about his homeland through filming "Pachinko," based on Korean-American author Min Jin Lee's 2017 bestselling novel covering four generations of Koreans living in Japan.

"I am a proud Zainichi, someone who owns both Korea and Japan 200 percent," Park said.

"I want to say this to Koreans around the world. It is only when we live without losing our identity as Koreans that we truly become 200 percent ourselves."

He said he hoped Korea would become "a strong fence for me."

Yoon also granted government awards to five individuals in recognition of their services to Koreans living overseas.

The ceremony came during the four-day World Korean Community Leaders' Convention, a forum that kicked off in Seoul Tuesday, bringing together heads of overseas Korean communities to strengthen bonds with their home country and build a network of Koreans around the world.

Over the past week, Yoon has been engaging in a series of activities to reach out to the Korean diaspora. He invited Korean survivors of the 1945 atomic bombing in Hiroshima, Japan, to Seoul for a Chuseok harvest festival luncheon last Friday for the first time and met with former miners and nurses dispatched to Germany in the 1960s and 1970s Wednesday to mark the 60th anniversary of the first batch of Korean workers sent to the European country.

BY SARAH KIM [kim.sarah@joongang.co.kr]