(Unofficial Translation)


Honorable ASEAN leaders, their spouses and national delegation members,

Some truly invaluable guests have come to Busan today. I’ve met them while visiting all 10 ASEAN member nations since taking office two years ago, and I’ve been looking forward to meeting all of you here in my hometown. I’m delighted that it has now become a reality. Let me welcome you all on behalf of the Korean people.   

This ASEAN-Republic of Korea Commemorative Summit is being held to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the dialogue partnership between ASEAN and the Republic of Korea. Korea has become the first among ASEAN’s dialogue partners to hold three commemorative summits in its own country. ASEAN’s heads of state and government chose to hold this third Commemorative Summit in the belief that our cooperation would lead to shared prosperity.

I am sincerely grateful to the ASEAN leaders for their friendship. To His Majesty Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei Darussalam, the Country Coordinator for Dialogue, as well as Thai Prime Minister Prayut, the Co-chairman of this Summit, I express special thanks for their great assistance.

Here in Busan, a sea route to ASEAN begins, and a continent and ocean, Asia and the Pacific, meet as well. I hope the hearts of ASEAN and Korea will meet together, further deepening our friendship tonight.

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen,

Yesterday and today, we have successfully concluded the Busan Eco Delta Smart City groundbreaking ceremony, the ASEAN-ROK CEO Summit and the ASEAN-ROK Culture Innovation Summit. Tomorrow, the ASEAN-ROK Startup Summit, the ASEAN-ROK Innovation Showcase and other events will be held.

Cooperation between ASEAN and Korea is becoming more diverse from economic and cultural fields to the Fourth Industrial Revolution, helping further deepen our connectivity.

Over the past 30 years, ASEAN and Korea have emerged as “optimal partners” based on friendship and trust, and we now face a new opportunity to make a fresh leap forward.

ASEAN-Korea cooperation gives humanity hope for a sustainable world, going beyond mutual prosperity. At our roots lies the “Asian spirit” of sharing and mutual respect.

ASEAN’s dream is Korea’s dream. This ASEAN-ROK Commemorative Summit will demonstrate that we share the same dream of becoming a single community.

Honorable ASEAN leaders, their spouses and distinguished national delegations from the various countries,

I believe that rice cultivation is the oldest tradition connecting ASEAN and Korea.

For today’s welcoming dinner, jars were completely filled with rice that farmers from the 10 ASEAN member states and Korea harvested with utmost care. Rice grown with water from the Mekong River and rice grown with water from the Hangang River have been mixed and made into a dessert for this evening.

Our identities are diverse but, as we’ve seen here, they spring from the same root. Thus, we can work closely together while respecting diversity.

Autumn is beautiful in Korea. Leafy trees and pines harmoniously paint the mountains in five different colors. Winter in Korea is severe, and therefore, it is a season for sharing warmth with each other.

I hope that you will find even the cold weather in Korea a pleasant experience, and I would like to propose a toast for the eternal friendship between ASEAN and Korea and for the health and happiness of ASEAN’s leaders and their spouses.

Geonbae!