Yoon Heads to Middle East Today for 'Sales Diplomacy'... Accompanied by Large Economic Delegation

South Korean Leader's First State Visit to Saudi Arabia and Qatar
Beyond Construction: Energy, Hydrogen, and Entertainment
Discussing Middle East Situation... Possibility of Humanitarian Aid

President Yoon Suk-yeol will make state visits to Saudi Arabia and Qatar from the 21st for a 4-night, 6-day schedule. This is aimed at expanding economic cooperation with the two countries, which have so far focused mainly on the construction sector. It is the first time that a South Korean head of state has made a state visit to these two countries.

President Yoon arrived in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, on the day and will begin the official state schedule from the 22nd. After the official welcoming ceremony, a summit and state luncheon with Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia are scheduled.

That evening, he will attend three economic events: the Korea-Saudi Investment Forum, the Korea-Saudi Future Technology Partnership Forum on the 23rd, and the 50th Anniversary Ceremony of Korea-Saudi Construction Cooperation, encouraging businesspeople from both countries. On the last day of the Saudi schedule, the 24th, he will attend the Future Investment Initiative Forum, known as the "Davos of the Desert," as the guest of honor and engage in a dialogue with the moderator on the current and future cooperation between Korea and the Middle East.

Kim Tae-hyo, the First Deputy Director of the National Security Office, is explaining the state visit schedule of President Yoon Suk-yeol and his wife to the Middle Eastern countries Saudi Arabia and Qatar at the Presidential Office building in Yongsan, Seoul on the 19th.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Next, President Yoon will move to Doha, Qatar, and continue the state visit schedule for 1 night and 2 days until the 25th. His first schedule in Qatar is to visit the Korean Pavilion and other exhibitions at the Doha International Horticultural Expo. The expo is being held under the theme "Green Desert, Better Environment," and Korea is operating the Korean Pavilion showcasing excellent smart agriculture technology.

On the following day, the 25th, he will hold a summit with Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani of Qatar and have a state luncheon together. Then, through the Korea-Qatar Business Forum attended by 300 businesspeople from both countries, he plans to encourage the participants. For the last schedule in Qatar, he will visit Education City, which claims to be the educational hub of the Middle East, and engage in dialogue with young Qatari leaders.

The main goal of this tour is to expand economic cooperation. The Presidential Office also emphasized, "Partnerships with the Middle East region are advancing to a new stage that encompasses future industries such as hydrogen, IT, automobiles, shipbuilding, renewable energy, culture, and entertainment beyond energy and construction," adding, "The main schedules, themes, and participants of the tour were organized considering the evolving partnership."

This is also why a large-scale economic delegation is accompanying the tour. The Middle East economic delegation includes Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong, Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Eui-sun, Hanwha Vice Chairman Kim Dong-kwan, GS Chairman Huh Tae-soo, HD Hyundai President Chung Ki-sun, and Doosan Enerbility Chairman Park Ji-won.

The economic delegation accompanying President Yoon's state visits to Saudi Arabia and Qatar consists of a total of 139 companies. The delegation is divided into 130 companies going to Saudi Arabia and 59 companies going to Qatar. It is composed of 35 large companies, 94 small and medium-sized enterprises and mid-sized companies, 3 public enterprises and institutions, and 7 economic and cooperative organizations, totaling 139.

There is also a possibility that President Yoon will express his position on the Middle East security situation during the tour. Following the war in Ukraine, as clashes between Israel and the Palestinian armed faction Hamas intensify, President Yoon plans to discuss security issues during the summits with Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Kim Tae-hyo, First Deputy Director of the National Security Office of the Presidential Office, said, "We have deep concerns about the rapidly increasing civilian casualties," and added, "We will actively provide support on a purely humanitarian basis regarding the refugee issue."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.