[Unofficial Translation]

It’s a pleasure to meet you. As-salamu alaykum.

This is my first time visiting Qatar and Doha. I feel honored and privileged that my first visit to Qatar is a state visit. Seeing the high-tech modern buildings and urban environment along the coastline from the airport to my accommodation, I found myself thinking that Doha truly is the center of the Asian and global economy, finance and digital technology as I have often been told.

Whenever I travel to other countries, I make sure to visit universities every chance I get. Indeed, the young students in those universities will not only become the professionals and future leaders of their countries but also leaders of the hyper-connected world of the future. My overseas trips have always included visits to universities. In the United States, I visited New York University and Harvard University; in Japan, Keio University; and in Viet Nam, Vietnam National University, Hanoi. During those many visits, I also spoke with young people. In fact, before I came here, I met with students of King Saud University.

My visit to Hamad Bin Khalifa University here today has me longing for my college days even though I graduated from university 40 years ago. If I could, I too would like to study abroad at this truly wonderful university in Doha.

I am sure many of you have seen BTS or BLACKPINK performances or seen "Squid Game" and other Korean dramas on Netflix. Many young Koreans also take a deep interest in Arab culture and Arabic – in fact Korean businesses have been active in Qatar, Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern countries for more than 50 years. In the Korean college admission test, English is a mandatory test subject as the first foreign language, but there are several second foreign language electives. It has already been 20 years since Arabic was added to the list of second foreign language electives. In the past, the majority of students chose Chinese as their second foreign language, but these days, Arabic is the most popular choice.

You may have many questions about why I am here in Qatar, what agenda items were discussed during the summit with His Highness Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani along with the relevant ministers and what are the major issues of interest to both countries. The President of the University has suggested that I speak to the students about the relations between Korea and Qatar, so let me give you a brief overview of our bilateral relations.

As you are well aware, Qatar is a world-class natural gas producer. And Korea’s substantial imports of natural gas and crude oil from Qatar have played an important role in our industrial development. At the same time, Korea has participated in various infrastructure construction projects, including oil field facilities, roads, subways and airports in Qatar.

For the past five decades, our bilateral relations have been primarily focused on energy and infrastructure construction cooperation. However, we are living in an era of profound global transformation, where cutting-edge science and technology is driving digitalization to a new level, prompting countries to make substantial investments in this area. It is becoming increasingly evident that a country’s national power and its people’s economic status hinge on who takes the lead in this regard.

His Highness Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Qatari government officials have devoted significant efforts to establish Doha and Qatar as not only a global economic hub but also as a hub for digital science and technology. The Republic of Korea is at the forefront of many fields related to digital and high-tech industries. Korea achieved rapid economic growth in a short period of time, transforming from a country with virtually nothing to one that has developed high-tech industries. As Qatar aspires to establish itself as a high-tech industrial country within a short span of time, there are many fields in which our two countries can cooperate.

Going forward, our bilateral cooperation will progress dynamically, harnessing cutting-edge science and technology in a wide-range of fields, including large-scale public infrastructure with hyper-efficiency, going beyond simple infrastructure construction; innovation in national defense capabilities; drawing on digital AI to provide telemedicine and other treatments in the field of healthcare and medical services; and using vertical hydroponics on smart farms in the desert with water rich in minerals and vitamins to produce an abundance of nutritious fruits and vegetables.

With the ongoing cooperation seen in these types of projects that are being jointly created and developed by Qatar and Korea, it could be said that there are limitless opportunities for you to embrace the challenges.

I have sensed how Islamic culture is being reinterpreted in very contemporary ways that achieve a harmony between aspects of traditional Islamic and modern architecture and culture. Thus, I believe that, upholding the traditions of Islamic religion and culture, it is possible to overcome and resolve many challenges and the polycrisis that is faced in contemporary society through international cooperation and youth exchanges.

Even though I am the President of the Republic of Korea, I believe that doing something solely to benefit the Republic of Korea is not possible. By joining forces with likeminded and well-suited countries – as well as transcending generations – we can put our heads together to solve not only the problems of one country alone but indeed global challenges. In this way, I believe that both the Republic of Korea and Qatar can advance and that this will bring prosperity for people around the world.

Are you familiar with the term "digital territory"? The territory and population of Qatar are not particularly large. Although Korea is larger than Qatar, our territory and population are also not that large by global standards. However, I believe that when the youth of our two countries use science and technology to join forces, the market and scope available for conducting business will expand. That means one’s digital territory can be expanded as far as imagination and dreams permit.

There are many students here from Qatar as well as other countries. There are, I trust, Korean students among you as well. Earlier, I discovered that you have at least one professor from Korea as well. I believe there are also Qatari students at Korean universities. I strongly encourage you to study in Korea - the Korean government will actively support you in multiple ways should you come to study in our country.

I believe that as young students from Korea and Qatar interact with each other and become good friends with young people from other countries, we can usher in a brighter future for our world, and peace and prosperity can take firmer root.

I strongly support you taking on challenges in the pursuit of your dreams.

Thank you for this opportunity to meet you today.