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Dubai (AFP) – As South Korean President Moon Jae-in kicks off his Middle East tour on Sunday, he is expected to focus on trade and business opportunities, as South Korea’s soft power matched its economic achievements.
During his visit to the Expo in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, during his first tour of the country, which included Saudi Arabia and Egypt, the South Korean president said the K-pop stars had “charmed the world.”
Moon noted South Korean music, television and film production, which became hugely popular in many parts of the world, including the Middle East.
“(The Koreans) longing for mutual happiness has enhanced their soft power as well as their economic power,” he said in a speech following taekwondo and traditional dance performances.
“Under the desert sky shining with stars this evening, the dazzling show of K-pop music that captivated the world will begin,” he added.
South Korean culture thanks to the success of K-pop groups such as “BTS” and films such as the Palme d’Or in Cannes and the four Oscar-winning films “Parasite”. The TV series “Squid Game” has become one of the most watched works in the world on Netflix.
South Korean influence reached the Gulf, where BTS was the most listened band on Spotify in Saudi Arabia.
Moon’s schedule in the United Arab Emirates includes meetings with Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Saeed Al Nahyan of Abu Dhabi.
According to South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency, Moon is expected to discuss cooperation in the hydrogen industry, a promising field for the post – fossil fuel era, and cooperation in security, infrastructure and climate change.
Yonhap said Moon would meet with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh on Tuesday, as well as Yasser al-Rumayan, governor of the Saudi Public Investment Fund and head of the oil company Aramco.
The agency added that Moon would announce the resumption of free trade talks with the Gulf states before meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in Cairo after meeting with General Secretary of the Gulf Cooperation Council Naib al-Hajraf. Thursday.
© 2022 AFP
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