President Lee: 'Chile, Our First FTA Partner, Is a Precious Companion'

President Lee Jae-myung emphasized the ties between South Korea and Chile, stating, "Chile is not only the first Latin American country to recognize the South Korean government, but also South Korea's very first free trade agreement (FTA) partner."

President Lee, who is on an official visit to Chile, attended a dinner meeting with local Korean residents as his first schedule in Santiago on the evening of the 29th (local time).

At the event, President Lee said, "Looking at the map, Chile is one of the countries farthest from South Korea, but our deep friendship always keeps us closely connected."

Back in 1998, the South Korean government began actively pursuing FTAs with foreign nations and selected Chile as its first target.

Negotiations subsequently began in 1999, and South Korea's first FTA took effect in 2004.

President Lee remarked, "Chile is a grateful country that recognized our potential and reached out a hand when the rest of the world did not know much about South Korea. When South Korea began to open its economic doors to the world, Chile became our precious companion."

He added, "Amidst major earthquakes and social unrest, our compatriots gathered donations and lent a helping hand to recovery efforts for Chilean neighbors who suffered severe damage. I am truly proud of you, our compatriots, who have elevated South Korea's standing through constant effort and dedication while never letting go of each other's hands over the long years."

President Lee also stated, "We will protect the safety and rights of our compatriots and establish practical overseas Korean policies and consular services that you can truly feel," introducing the electronic document service for overseas Korean financial power of attorney, which goes into effect the next day.

He went on to say, "The inconveniences experienced by our compatriots are never just individual matters. They are tasks that South Korea must solve together," and added, "We will become a reliable pillar of support wherever you are in the world, doing our utmost so that you can experience the warm care and changes of your homeland even abroad."

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.