Yoon to visit Saudi Arabia, Qatar amid regional turmoil

Diplomacy

Published: 19 Oct. 2023, 18:05 Updated: 19 Oct. 2023, 18:17

Yoon to visit Saudi Arabia, Qatar amid regional turmoil

Principal Deputy National Security Adviser Kim Tae-hyo announces the details of President Yoon Suk Yeol's upcoming trip to Saudi Arabia and Qatar at the presidential office in Yongsan District, central Seoul, on Thursday. [YONHAP]

President Yoon Suk Yeol will make a five-day trip to Saudi Arabia and Qatar later this week, his office announced at a press briefing held Thursday.

Yoon will visit Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from Saturday to Tuesday before proceeding to Doha, Qatar, where he will stay from Tuesday to Wednesday, according to Principal Deputy National Security Adviser Kim Tae-hyo.

During his stay in Riyadh, Yoon will hold talks with Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, Kim said.

The Korean president will also hold talks with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani during his visit to Doha.

Yoon’s visit to the two Gulf states takes place during extreme turmoil in the Middle East.

Kim said that the Korean president would likely discuss the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas with the leaders of Saudi Arabia and Qatar during his trip.

“Given that the conflict between Israel and Hamas is directly connected to peace in the Middle East and the regional order, we expect there to be discussions on the security situation during the summits in Saudi Arabia and Qatar,” Kim said.

Saudi Arabia and Israel were working to normalize diplomatic relations before Hamas, a paramilitary group that governs the Palestinian enclave known as the Gaza Strip, launched a coordinated attack on Israel on Oct. 7.

Hamas militants killed an estimated 1,400 Israeli civilians and soldiers and abducted approximately 200 Israeli and foreign nationals in the attack, while Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip in retaliation has killed more than 3,400 Palestinian residents and wounded over 12,500.

The former head of the Hamas Politburo, Khaled Mashal, has resided in Qatar since 2011.

While Qatar maintains friendly relations with Hamas and Hezbollah, another paramilitary group aligned against Israel, the country has also played a role in negotiating cease-fires between the two sides in previous conflicts.

According to Kim, the president will also attend business meetings in Saudi Arabia and Qatar before returning home early next Thursday.

Yoon will be accompanied on the trip by first lady Kim Keon Hee.

The heads of 129 Korean companies, including Samsung Electronics, Hyundai Motor and Hanwha Corporation, will also accompany Yoon, the Federation of Korean Industries announced Thursday.

The delegation, which consists of representatives from Korean tech and construction companies mainly interested in Saudi’s NEOM smart city project, will participate in events such as the Korea-Saudi Arabia investment forum, Korea-Qatar business forum and a trade show hosted by the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (Kotra) to promote economic ties with Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

Samsung Electronics Executive Chairman Lee Jae-yong, Hyundai Motor Executive Chair Euisun Chung, Hanwha Corporation Vice Chairman Kim Dong-kwan and GS Group Chairman Huh Tae-soo will head to Saudi Arabia, but not as part of the delegation for Qatar.

HD Hyundai CEO Chung Ki-sun will visit both Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

Construction companies Hyundai Engineering & Construction and Samsung C&T are also part of the delegation for both countries. The two companies are currently collaborating with Saudi Arabia on the NEOM project.

Kwak Noh-jung, CEO of chipmaker SK hynix, will fly to Saudi Arabia, while Ji Dong-sub, CEO of EV battery maker SK On, will visit Qatar.

Mobile carrier KT and tech giant Naver will visit Saudi Arabia in a bid to partner up with the country to build the IT infrastructure for the NEOM project.

Hana Financial Group will also visit Saudi Arabia, as it formed last month a business agreement with the Saudi Export-Import Bank to discover joint global projects in the Middle East.

BY MICHAEL LEE, LEE JAE-LIM [lee.junhyuk@joongang.co.kr]