During his recent overseas trip, President Yoon Suk Yeol, as the Republic of Korea’s No. 1 salesperson, reaffirmed that Korea’s future vision lies in science and technology and remained focused on the economy as his 1st, 2nd and 3rd priorities.

“We are now in need of a new map. Science and technology can completely change the future, depending on what kind of science and technology are developed and how they are used.”

This is an excerpt from remarks President Yoon made during his eight-day trip to the UAE and Switzerland.

As a follow-up to his first overseas trip of the year, the President hosted a luncheon with young leaders in artificial intelligence, cutting-edge biohealth as well as space and quantum science and discussed ways to foster world-class talent, identify competitive research institutes and provide strong government-level support for international cooperation. His discussion with young scientists today about the future of the Republic of Korea was arranged as part of his belief that only through a combination of science and technology as well as innovation can a nation step forward and grow in ways meant to reduce social divides and conflicts.

ETH Zurich, the university visited by the President, has over 700 researchers working on quantum science when all of its affiliated organizations are included, and it has produced as many as 22 Nobel laureates. Quantum science and technology is a core strategic technology that is directly impacting national security. Scientific and technological innovation will be made possible through cooperation and solidarity with those countries that have already achieved progress in that field. From this perspective, the President believes that the government must make its utmost efforts to lay the foundation where our researchers can work together with and learn from the world’s top research institutes in quantum science and other areas, so they will be able to distinguish themselves later. At today’s luncheon, the President tried to better connect with young researchers – the future of science and technology for the Republic of Korea – while expressing such opinions.

President Yoon embodies the responsibility to pass down a better future to the Republic of Korea’s next generations and to achieve sustainable peace and prosperity while working in solidarity with others. This visit to the UAE and participation in the World Economic Forum are prime examples.

Shortly after the President and the First Lady arrived in Abu Dhabi, the UAE’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan greeted them by saying that his government saw the visit as auspicious. The Minister is the younger brother of UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. In addition to the above harbinger of goodwill, the massive official welcoming ceremony offered by the UAE – which included a 100-member honor guard on camels – showed the tremendous respect with which the state guests from the Republic of Korea were received.

Above all, the trust and bonds formed between the leaders of the two countries were the forces that led to the achievements of the state visit to the UAE. The Yoon Administration’s stated objectives for state affairs – the pursuit of breakthroughs in nuclear power plant, defense industry, energy and other cutting-edge technology exports – is in line with the UAE’s own goals for exploring new opportunities through its post-oil policy. This is well demonstrated by the meetings with Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, CEO of Mubadala Investment Company, who visited Korea as the UAE’s presidential special envoy to attend President Yoon’s inauguration in early spring. The two also met last September in the fall and during a desert winter in January this year.

At a meeting between President Yoon and the CEOs of leading global companies, Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak said that over the past 14 years, Korean companies have prevailed over adversities and hardships and achieved many things. Before world leaders and representatives from various countries, he affirmed Korea’s elevated status, calling it a country that keeps its promises and expressing the hope that the UAE would have more opportunities to work with Korea.

Business diplomacy has united the public and private sectors and attracted a US$30-billion investment and 48 MOUs worth US$6.1 billion. At the same time, Denmark’s Vestas, the world’s leading wind turbine manufacturer, announced that it is going to invest US$300 million in Korea and move its Asia-Pacific headquarters here as well. This marks one of the greatest achievements in economic cooperation. Beyond the traditional areas like energy and the defense industry, opportunities have risen for economic cooperation in new industries such as hydrogen, bio-health, smart farms and digital transformation.

The delegation of business leaders from over one hundred companies that accompanied Korea’s No. 1 salesperson are the main players in making Team Korea known across the world. The government will establish a Korea-UAE investment cooperation platform in a bid to promptly implement the investment agreements made between the leaders of the two countries as planned. It will execute follow-up measures so that the results of the visit can be translated into tangible accomplishments for the people’s livelihood.

From desert to Davos, we will again build a Republic of Korea where everyone prospers.