"Trade Agreement Needed Between Korea and Mexico"... President Also Attends 'K-Pop Concert'

[Anchor]

President Lee Jae-myung, on a state visit to Mexico, has effectively formalized the push for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between South Korea and Mexico. He also visited a K-pop concert venue in Mexico, the largest market for K-content in Latin America.

Kang Min-u reports from Mexico City.

[Reporter]

At a business forum attended by business leaders from South Korea and Mexico, President Lee Jae-myung highlighted the remarkable cooperation between the two nations in cultural and high-tech industries, among others, and noted the necessity of a "trade agreement."

["Despite these remarkable achievements in cooperation, economic ties between our two countries have not yet advanced to a comprehensive trade agreement. I hope both governments will promptly resume related discussions..."]

An official from the presidential office stated that the "trade agreement" mentioned by President Lee refers to a CEPA, or Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, and that both nations have agreed to conduct a joint study on the agreement's effects.

At the "K-Expo" event, also attended by South Korean business leaders, recent tariff barriers were cited as a business challenge.

[Kim Seung-hwan / CEO of Amorepacific: "(Tariffs) have gone up by about 10% or more. Our competitors are mainly from the United States, Japan, and Europe, but as it happens, those countries already have FTAs in place..."]

Observers anticipate that President Lee's visit to Mexico will accelerate efforts to pursue a trade agreement encompassing tariffs as well as trade, investment, and supply chains.

President Lee and First Lady Kim Hea-kyung met with Mexican youth who love K-pop and emphasized the importance of cultural exchange.

["I believe culture truly connects not only people to people, but also countries to countries."]

Holding light sticks together, they also briefly watched a performance by the K-pop idol group 'Stray Kids.'

["Corea! Corea!"]

Having concluded his five-night, seven-day tour of the United States and Mexico on the occasion of the UN General Assembly, President Lee Jae-myung will head back to South Korea tomorrow (September 27) via Anchorage, Alaska.

(Video Reporting by Jeong Sang-bo | Video Editing by Won Hyeong-hee | Graphics by Kim Han-gil)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.