President Yoon to Visit UK Tomorrow as First State Guest of Charles III

President Yoon Suk-yeol will depart for the United Kingdom on the 20th.

President Yoon and his wife, Kim Keon-hee, will embark on another overseas trip just one day after returning from the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit held in San Francisco, USA the previous night.

President Yoon Suk-yeol. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

The president and his wife are scheduled to visit the UK as state guests. Following the first state invitation from King Charles III, who held his coronation last May, they will stay in the UK from the 20th to the 23rd (local time) and engage in various official schedules and economic diplomatic activities.

After the state visit to the UK, they will move to Paris, France, where the headquarters of the International Bureau of Expositions (BIE) is located, and from the 23rd to the 24th, they will launch a final all-out effort targeting BIE representatives stationed locally to secure the 2030 World Expo (Expo) hosting rights for Busan.

First, on the afternoon of the 20th, President Yoon will arrive in London, UK, and start his schedule with a meeting with the Korean community. The following day after arrival, an official welcoming ceremony will be held. Since the royal family typically hosts state guests twice a year, it is reported that the highest level of hospitality has been prepared. Upon arrival, Prince William and his wife will visit the accommodation to welcome and guide the president to the ceremony venue, where a total of 41 gun salutes will be fired along with a royal guard inspection. Afterwards, a highlight is expected as King Charles III and President Yoon ride in a carriage to Buckingham Palace.

On the same day, President Yoon is scheduled to deliver a speech in English at the UK Parliament, known as the cradle of parliamentary democracy, discussing bilateral relations, growth, and future visions. Following a welcoming luncheon at Buckingham Palace, the day’s schedule will conclude with a dinner at the same location.

The schedule on the third day of the state visit, the 22nd, will focus on the economy. The UK is the second-largest economy in Europe and the sixth-largest in the world, with many advanced industries for cooperation such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence (AI), space, biotechnology, and clean energy. Accordingly, President Yoon will hold a summit with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at 10 Downing Street to discuss ways to strengthen strategic cooperation in these fields.

The agenda also includes 'sales diplomacy' such as the Korea-UK Business Forum, the Korea-UK Chief Scientists Science and Technology Future Forum, and a dinner hosted by the Mayor of the London Financial District.

On the last day of the state visit, the 23rd, President Yoon will visit the 'Churchill War Rooms,' which defended liberal democracy during World War II, bid farewell to King Charles III, and then depart for France.

In France, the focus will be on the Busan Expo hosting campaign. Ahead of the Expo host city vote scheduled for the 28th, President Yoon will promote Busan’s strengths and appeal for support through various events, including receptions and dinners, targeting BIE representatives from various countries. He plans to share South Korea’s experience of rapid growth after rising from the ruins of war to gather as many votes as possible.

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