Yoon’s Diplomatic Grand Finale: APEC, UK, France, and Netherlands on the Agenda

President Yoon Seok-yeol will conclude his diplomatic schedule for the year with visits to four countries: the U.S., the U.K., France, and the Netherlands. First Lady Kim Keon Hee will accompany him.

Kim Tae-hyo, the First Deputy Director of the National Security Office, and Choi Sang-mok, the Economic Advisor, held a briefing at the Presidential Office in Yongsan in the afternoon and announced President Yoon’s remaining itinerary for the year and the expected outcomes.

First, President Yoon will attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in San Francisco, U.S., from November 15 to 17. This will be President Yoon’s first participation in the APEC summit. Deputy Director Kim described it as a “highlight of global responsibility diplomacy.”

Upon his arrival in San Francisco on the morning of November 15 local time, President Yoon will start his schedule with a meeting with Korean compatriots. He will then attend the APEC CEO Summit, deliver a keynote speech, and participate in the investment declaration ceremony. In the evening, he will attend a welcome reception hosted by U.S. President Joe Biden and conclude the first day’s schedule with a discussion with Korean future generations active in the advanced technology field in Silicon Valley.

On November 16, the first session of the APEC summit, informal discussions with leaders of member countries and invited countries, and working luncheons will take place. The theme of the first session is ‘Creating a Resilient and Sustainable Future for All.’ President Yoon plans to discuss South Korea’s contributions to the transition to clean energy, overcoming the climate crisis, and solidarity strategies with member countries. He will also participate in a dialogue with the APEC Business Advisory Council and attend the APEC Leaders’ Dinner.

The second ‘Retreat’ session of the APEC summit will take place on the morning of November 17. The Retreat is a format where opinions are freely exchanged without being bound by formality.

President Yoon also plans bilateral meetings with several countries during the APEC summit. In particular, attention is focused on whether he will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping. 

After the APEC summit, President Yoon will return home on the evening of November 18. He will receive a report on the domestic situation on November 19, and from November 20 to 23, he will embark on a state visit to the U.K., invited for the first time by King Charles III after his coronation.

President Yoon’s itinerary in the U.K. includes a carriage procession to Buckingham Palace with King Charles III, a welcome luncheon, a wreath-laying ceremony at the Korean War Memorial, a speech at the British Parliament, meetings with key politicians from the House of Lords and the House of Commons, and a state dinner.

A summit with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is scheduled for November 22. The two leaders will adopt a ‘Korea-U.K. Accord Document’ outlining future cooperation directions and discuss ways to improve the Korea-U.K. Free Trade Agreement (FTA). President Yoon will also attend the Korea-U.K. Business Forum, the Future Forum for Top Scientists and Technology at the Royal Society of the U.K., and a dinner hosted by the Mayor of London’s Financial District.

He will then move directly to Paris, France. The vote to select the host city for the 2030 Expo by the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) is scheduled for November 28 in Paris.

President Yoon and First Lady Kim will hold a luncheon for BIE ambassadors stationed in Paris on November 23 and 24. They will make a final push to host the 2030 Busan Expo through the Korean National Day Reception and other events. 

President Yoon will conclude his diplomatic schedule for the year with a state visit to the Netherlands on December 12 and 13. This is the first state visit by a Korean president since establishing diplomatic relations between the two countries in 1961, at the invitation of King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands.

By. Lee Sung Hwi