President Lee Jae-myung Holds Meeting with Korean Residents in Abu Dhabi, UAE… “Korea Will Be Your Steadfast Support”
President Lee Jae-myung, currently on a tour of the Middle East and Africa, hosted a dinner and dialogue session with Korean residents in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), on the 17th (local time). The gathering was attended by about 150 members of the Korean community, including representatives of Korean associations, business leaders, members of the National Unification Advisory Council, Korean language school officials, cultural figures, and staff of international organizations.
As President Lee and the First Lady entered, Jang Gwang-deok, President of the Korean Association in the UAE, warmly welcomed them, saying he feels great pride whenever he hears locals say that “Koreans are trustworthy.” Jang added that he would do his best as a civilian diplomat for the prosperity of both countries, in line with the vision of “a nation where the people are the owners—an innovative and inclusive Republic of Korea.”
President Lee expressed his pleasure in meeting the vibrant Korean community in the UAE. He praised the UAE as a “base camp” for Korea’s expansion into the Middle East and Arab regions, noting that the country is opening a new era with advanced science and technology. He also highlighted the contributions of the Korean community and the growing potential of K-culture, promising, “The Republic of Korea will be a strong and dependable support so that you can feel proud to be Korean.”
The toast was offered by Noh Hyung-joo, director of Beauty for Life Abu Dhabi Center and the first Korean plastic surgeon to practice locally in the UAE. Throughout the event, several Korean residents who have worked in the UAE for many years shared their experiences.
Lee Yoon-jin, principal of the Dubai Korean School, said that despite various challenges, the school is committed to preserving Korean heritage education and serving as “a small beacon” that carries Korea’s dignity into the world.
Kim Gwi-hyun, head of the 22nd UAE chapter of the National Unification Advisory Council and a 1.5-generation immigrant who has lived in the UAE for more than 30 years, spoke about the rising status of Korea in the region. He remarked, “Through this gathering, I was once again reminded that even though we live far away, Korea is always by our side.”
Oh Joo-hyun, director of the Sharjah King Sejong Institute—located in one of the UAE’s three major emirates—explained that local residents now often recognize Koreans and even greet them in Korean, showing great interest in Korean culture. She added, “I will continue to do my best every day with the mindset that I represent the ‘face of Korea’ in the UAE.”
After listening to the attendees, President Lee stated that relations between Korea and the UAE would expand even further in the future, and he pledged to work toward making Korea a country that all overseas Koreans can take pride in.
The event concluded with a warm celebration performance, featuring a quintet ensemble of Korean students performing “Salut d’Amour” and “Island Baby.” This was followed by a traditional fan dance presented by Lee Soo-hyun, bringing the evening to a graceful close.
