President Moon Jae-in and State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi of Myanmar held a summit in Busan this afternoon. She is visiting Korea to attend the ASEAN-Republic of Korea Commemorative Summit.

At their summit, President Moon explained that the number of Koreans who visited Myanmar in the first half of this year alone jumped 80 percent year-on-year, thanks to Myanmar’s visa wavier program. The President also expressed the hope that Myanmar would step up cooperation to protect the Korean people there.

The State Counsellor requested considerations for Myanmar’s male idol group Project K, who continue their career after being awarded a prize at a K-pop cover dance competition held in Korea, so that they can receive proper training related to K-pop here.

In reply, President Moon said that if the popularity of Project K continues to grow, it could become a symbol of cultural cooperation and exchanges between Myanmar and Korea. The President added that he would check whether there is any program to support foreign idol groups.

Project K is currently active in Myanmar by combining K-pop with traditional Myanmar dances and has been invited to numerous important events in Myanmar since the State Counsellor spoke highly of the group’s talent.

State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi expressed her gratitude for the smooth progress of the school bus donation project initiated during President Moon’s visit to Myanmar in September and for the construction of a solar power facility in Manaung Island, Rakhine State, which is being supported by Korean companies.

President Moon praised the fact that the follow-up measures are well under way since the signing of an MOU for development of the Dala New City in the Yangon region. The President also asked for government support to help more Korean banks receive banking licenses in Myanmar.