WNAM REPORT: President Yoon Suk Yeol will make an official state visit to the Czech Republic from Sept. 19 to 22, aiming to establish a nuclear alliance between the two countries, the presidential office said Thursday.
This visit marks the first official trip by a South Korean president to the Czech Republic in nearly nine years. The last visit was made by former President Park Geun-hye in December 2015.
“Through this official visit to the Czech Republic, President Yoon will convey Team Korea’s firm commitment to successfully completing the nuclear power project to the Czech Republic,” Kim Tae-hyo, the first deputy director of the National Security Office (NSO), said during a briefing at the presidential office in Seoul, Thursday.
Yoon’s visit to the Czech Republic follows the Czech government’s decision in July to select Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power as the preferred bidder for the $17.3 billion Dukovany nuclear power plant project.
“As South Korea’s top salesperson, President Yoon will actively engage in sales diplomacy to ensure that our companies secure the nuclear power project,” the NSO First Deputy Director Kim added.
The South Korean president’s visit aims to strengthen the strategic partnership between South Korea and the Czech Republic, extending beyond the nuclear power project.
During the two-day itinerary in the country, Yoon will engage in discussions with Czech leaders to establish a comprehensive cooperative relationship encompassing nuclear power, science and technology, education and human exchange.
On the first day of the visit, Yoon will hold a one-on-one summit with Czech President Petr Pavel, where they will explore ways to strengthen bilateral ties, followed by a joint press conference.
Later that evening, the South Korean president and the first lady will attend an official dinner hosted by President Pavel, which will include representatives from both nations, along with prominent political and business figures.
The following day, Friday (local time), Yoon will participate in a Korea-Czech Business Forum alongside President Pavel. This forum is co-hosted by the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), the Czech Chamber of Commerce, and the Confederation of Industry of the Czech Republic.
Yoon is also scheduled to visit a nuclear power facility in the country and is expected to sign several MOUs to institutionalize cooperation across various sectors between the two countries.
Accompanying him is a South Korean economic delegation of approximately 50-60 companies, including large corporations, medium-sized enterprises and small businesses. Conglomerate moguls like Doosan Chairman Park Jeong-won, Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Euisun Chung are said to be joining the business delegation to the Czech Republic.
In the afternoon of the second day of the visit, Yoon is slated to hold a small-group meeting and a working luncheon with Prime Minister Petr Fiala.
“Following this, President Yoon and Prime Minister Fiala will attend a signing ceremony for MOUs aimed at institutionalizing cooperation between the two countries in various fields, including nuclear power, trade, investment, advanced technologies, and supply chains. They will also make a joint press statement,” Kim Tae-hyo, the first deputy director of the National Security Office, told reporters at the presidential office in Seoul, Thursday.
Yoon will also meet with Markéta Pekarová Adamová, speaker of the Czech Chamber of Deputies, and Milo? Vystr?il, president of the Senate, to deepen Korea-Czech relations at the parliamentary level.
In the evening, the South Korean president and the first lady will attend a dinner and meeting with the Korean community, concluding the second day of their visit to the Czech Republic. They will depart for South Korea on Saturday, September 21.
The NSO’s First Deputy Director Kim highlighted that the Czech Republic is an important ally of South Korea that shares the same values of freedom, human rights and the rule of law, and has been closely cooperating on international security issues, including the North Korean nuclear issue, and support for Ukraine.
“As we approach the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations and the 10th anniversary of the strategic partnership between South Korea and the Czech Republic next year, this visit will serve as an opportunity to elevate bilateral cooperation to a new level,” NSO First Deputy Director Kim further noted.
Kim added that this visit is expected to firmly establish a nuclear alliance between South Korea and the Czech Republic, and could pave the way for a global nuclear alliance partnership between the South and the U.S. in the international nuclear market.
