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| President Moon Jae-in offers a traditional greeting upon arriving in Bangkok, Sunday. Yonhap |
By Kim Yoo-chul
BANGKOK, Thailand ― South Korean President Moon Jae-in is seeking to broaden Seoul's partnership with Southeast Asian nations in order to diversify the country's revenue channels.
The South Korean leader arrived at a military airport in Bangkok, Thailand, Sunday evening (KST) as the first destination of his six-day trip to three ASEAN member nations including Myanmar and Laos.
This trip would make President Moon the first South Korean leader to visit Thailand and Myanmar in seven years and the first-ever Korean head of state to visit Laos, Cheong Wa Dae said in a press release, Sunday. Earlier, Moon vowed to visit all 10 ASEAN member states during his presidency in accordance with his concerted efforts to up South Korea's ties with the ASEAN bloc.
On Sept. 2, the President will hold a summit with Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha. Cheong Wa Dae said the bilateral summit will cover areas of mutual interest and explore ways to boost Seoul-Bangkok ties in the areas of economy, society, culture, national defense and arms development. A joint press conference is scheduled after the summit.
"With the bilateral trade volume totaling around $14 billion, it's no question Thailand has great potential for one of South Korea's next spots for a key trading partner," Joo Hyung-chul, an economic affairs advise at the presidential office, told reporters, adding Moon is set to participate a business forum in announcing Seoul's detailed plans on how to strengthen mutual partnerships in emerging business sectors such as those related to digital life, bio-health, smart factories and future vehicles.
President Moon will hold a much-anticipated meeting with Myanmar's state councilor and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi on the evening of Sept. 3 (KST).
Given Myanmar's richness in national resources, the South Korean leader plans ask high-profile government officials to provide more administrative and financial assistance for South Korean firms operating in the country. Over 200 South Korean firms are doing businesses there.
On his visit to Laos, the final leg of Moon's trip, the President plans to sign several memoranda of understanding (MOUs) with Laotian President Bounnhang Vorachith to help South Korean firms better penetrate into the hydroelectric power and ICT business sectors. Given rich water resources from the Mekong River, Laos is nicknamed the "battery of Southeast Asia."
Moon's visits to Thailand, Myanmar and Laos came two months ahead of the planned South Korea-ASEAN special summit event to be held in South Korea's largest port city of Busan in November.
Other than the specifics of Moon's visit, attention was on whether or not the President would approve Cho Kuk, his top pick for justice minister, for the post. Cho is facing allegations of favoritism and hypocrisy over his daughter's schooling in a scandal highlighting the country's deep class division.
The President, who himself is a former human rights lawyer, nominated Cho for the position with a mission to reform the prosecutor's office. But opposition parties and critics say Cho's daughter's alleged unfairly given admission to one of the country's leading universities hurt the President's aim of creating a fair society.
Cho is set for a confirmation hearing in the National Assembly scheduled for this week. Moon can appoint Cho without the confirmation hearings as the reports don't have any legal binding.
