SINGAPORE — President Lee Jae-myung, on a state visit to Singapore, said Monday (local time) that "Korea and Singapore are expanding their cooperation from trade and investment into artificial intelligence, energy, and defense industries, launching future-oriented collaboration in earnest."
At a dinner meeting with Korean residents at a hotel in Singapore, President Lee said, "I hope the Korean community in Singapore will also serve as civilian diplomats for the Republic of Korea."
He noted that "this gathering is all the more meaningful as we mark the 107th anniversary of the March 1st Independence Movement," adding that "the Korean community in Singapore holds a proud history of fighting together for our homeland's independence movement."
"Diplomatic relations between the two countries were established in 1975, but the Korean Association of Singapore was founded earlier in 1963," he said. "This is in line with the spirit of self-reliance, the core principle of the March 1st Movement."
President Lee also emphasized the government's firm commitment to supporting overseas Korean communities. "I recently instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to conduct a comprehensive survey of grievances and requests from Korean communities worldwide," he said. "This is a groundbreaking and extensive undertaking never attempted by any previous administration, and approximately 1,400 requests have been submitted so far."
He noted that the annual budget for supporting overseas Koreans is "approximately 60 billion won," explaining that "this is not a large amount compared to the overseas aid budget."
"It will be difficult to resolve all grievances from our overseas compatriots, but we will do our utmost," President Lee said. "We will demonstrate the unwavering commitment of a people-sovereign government that listens to every voice of its citizens."
He emphasized, "We will firmly support our compatriots to ensure they are respected without discrimination, wherever they may be."