Yoon to wrap up diplomatic year with visits to U.S., Britain, France and the Netherlands
![Principal Deputy National Security Adviser Kim Tae-hyo gives a press briefing on President Yoon Suk Yeol’s year-end overseas diplomacy at the presidential office in Yongsan, central Seoul, on Wednesday. Yoon will attend the APEC leaders’ summit in San Francisco next week, followed by visits to Britain and France later this month. He will make a trip to the Netherlands next month. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2023/11/08/36d89691-745f-4972-bd9c-c8c946a77d9b.jpg)
Principal Deputy National Security Adviser Kim Tae-hyo gives a press briefing on President Yoon Suk Yeol’s year-end overseas diplomacy at the presidential office in Yongsan, central Seoul, on Wednesday. Yoon will attend the APEC leaders’ summit in San Francisco next week, followed by visits to Britain and France later this month. He will make a trip to the Netherlands next month. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]
Yoon, accompanied by first lady Kim Keon Hee, will make a three-day visit to San Francisco from Nov. 15 to 17 to attend a leaders' summit of the 21-member Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, or APEC, forum, Principal Deputy National Security Adviser Kim Tae-hyo said in a press briefing on Wednesday.
After returning to Seoul on Nov. 18, Yoon and Kim are scheduled to make a two-leg Europe tour for a state visit to Britain from Nov. 20 to 23, followed by a trip to France from Nov. 23 to 25 to make a final pitch for Busan's World Expo bid.
The four-day visit to London comes upon the invitation of King Charles III, as the two countries mark 140 years of relations this year.
Yoon's trip to Paris comes days ahead of the secret ballot conducted by the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) to elect the host city of the World Expo 2030.
On Nov. 28, the 182-member BIE will elect the host country of the World Expo during its 173rd general assembly, and Yoon's visit will be a final opportunity for the Korean president to drum up support in person for Busan's bid in a three-way race against Saudi Arabia's Riyadh and Italy's Rome.
From Dec. 12 to 13, Yoon will make a state visit to the Netherlands at the invitation of King Willem-Alexander and hold a bilateral summit with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte.
As he makes his fourth U.S. trip this year, Yoon will deliver a keynote speech on strengthening APEC's interconnectivity at the annual APEC CEO Summit, a business forum chaired by the United States, on Nov. 15. He will attend a welcome reception later that evening.
Yoon will be the first Korean president in 10 years to attend the APEC CEO Summit, to be attended by more than 1,000 business leaders and experts.
On Nov. 16, Yoon will attend the first session of his APEC debut and emphasize Korea's contributions to clean energy transition and overcoming the climate crisis, said Kim. The second "retreat" session on Nov. 17 will be an opportunity for Yoon to share opinions with leaders on topics such as restoring multilateral trading systems, strengthening regional supply chain connectivity and establishing digital ethical standards.
He will also attend an investment declaration ceremony for high-tech industrial companies investing in Korea.
Yoon is arranging bilateral meetings with heads of state and business leaders on the sidelines of the APEC gathering. There is a possibility that he could meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the summit, following their last talks on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Bali in November 2022.
Later this month, Yoon will become the second state guest of the King Charles' reign and the first since his coronation in May. King Charles hosted South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in November 2022 as his first state guest.
On Nov. 21, Yoon will be received by Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, in an official welcome ceremony, and observe a 41-gun royal salute at the Horse Guards Parade. Yoon will proceed by carriage to Buckingham Palace with King Charles, followed by a state luncheon. Yoon will also lay wreaths at the Korean War Memorial in London and visit Westminster Abbey.
Yoon is set to deliver a speech likely in English at the British parliament later that afternoon on the history and growth of Korea-Britain relations and present the future vision of bilateral ties, said Kim.
A state banquet will be held at Buckingham Palace later that evening.
On Nov. 22, Yoon will have a bilateral summit with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to strengthen strategic cooperation in various fields, including digital, artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, nuclear power, defense industry, space and semiconductors.
Yoon will conclude his London visit on Nov. 23 by touring the Churchill War Rooms, where former Prime Minister Winston Churchill commanded World War II, and later bid King Charles goodbye.
The two countries are set to adopt a Korea-Britain accord detailing the future direction of bilateral cooperation.
Various economic events will occur during the visit, including a Korea-UK business forum attended by about 200 businesspeople from both countries.
The visit will also focus on expanding bilateral cooperation in advanced science and technology fields such as AI, digital, advanced bio, quantum, and space with Britain, which has produced 137 Nobel Prize winners, the second highest in the world. Korea and Britain plan to sign several memorandums of understanding (MOU) for cooperation in high-tech industries, clean energy and finance.
Yoon will discuss ways to improve the Korea-UK FTA and build a foundation for Korean companies to enter the British market more easily following Brexit.
The Federation of Korean Industries is finalizing the Korean business delegation to Britain.
On Tuesday, King Charles, in his first King's Speech to parliament since his coronation, referred to Yoon and Kim's trip and said, "I look forward to welcoming his excellency, the president of the Republic of Korea, and Mrs. Kim Keon Hee for a state visit later this month."
King Charles was scheduled to visit New Malden, London's Koreantown on Wednesday, ahead of Yoon's visit, and meet with local council representatives and the Korean ambassador to Britain.
New Malden is home to the largest population of Koreans in Europe. Koreans have been flocking to the area since the 1970s after the South Korean embassy and Samsung's European headquarters moved nearby.
Yoon will then return to Paris after his previous visit five months ago, when he delivered an English-language presentation at the BIE general assembly in June to promote Busan's Expo bid.
This time around, Yoon will host luncheon and dinner events and a Korea National Day Reception for BIE representatives from each country.
"The entire nation of Korea, including the central and local governments and the private sector, have come together as one to host the 2030 Busan Expo," Kim said. "Since taking office, President Yoon has met with leaders of 82 BIE member states and shared the vision of a Busan World Expo and requested summit-level support for hosting the Expo."
On the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in September, Yoon spent 40 hours over four days meeting with the leaders of 47 countries to promote Busan's Expo bid, and Korea has been following up on such efforts.
"We expect that strategic outreach at the summit level will be effective in turning the votes of those who have not yet decided," Kim said.
The presidential couple returns from Paris on Nov. 26.
BY SARAH KIM [kim.sarah@joongang.co.kr]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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