Yoon Meets with UK Deputy Prime Minister Dowden... "Looking Forward to Discussing the Promotion of Democracy"

Dowden Visits Korea to Attend Democracy Summit
United in Commitment to Faithful Implementation of Downing Agreement

President Yoon Suk-yeol met with UK Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden on the morning of the 20th during Dowden's visit to Korea to attend the 3rd Democracy Summit, expressing his expectation for active discussions on the summit's theme, "Promoting Democracy for Future Generations," according to the presidential office.

President Yoon welcomed the active participation of the UK, the origin country of parliamentary democracy, in this Democracy Summit.

He especially noted that the "Downing Agreement," signed last November during President Yoon's state visit to the UK alongside UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, has become a new milestone in the development of bilateral relations, and requested Deputy Prime Minister Dowden to take special interest in ensuring the faithful implementation of this agreement.

President Yoon Suk-yeol is shaking hands and taking a commemorative photo with UK Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden, who visited Korea to attend the 3rd Democracy Summit, at the Yongsan Presidential Office building in Seoul on the 20th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Deputy Prime Minister Dowden responded, "Following the Downing Agreement, the Korea-UK relationship has been elevated to a 'global strategic partnership,' with close cooperation in advanced science and technology fields including security, economy, finance, climate, environment, artificial intelligence (AI), bio, brain science research, space, and quantum technologies." He added, "The UK places great importance on strengthening relations with Korea, a country that shares values of freedom, human rights, and the rule of law, and is emerging as a global hub while expanding cooperation with the Indo-Pacific region."

In response, President Yoon said, "The UK is one of the three countries, along with the US and Australia, with which Korea has agreed to hold regular '2+2 meetings' between foreign and defense ministers. Through these 2+2 meetings, let us further concretize cooperation between Korea and the UK in defense, security, and other areas."

President Yoon and Deputy Prime Minister Dowden also exchanged views on the situation on the Korean Peninsula and major regional issues, agreeing to continue close cooperation to contribute to the promotion and protection of democracy between the two countries.

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