President Yoon Suk Yeol addresses the United Kingdom Parliament at the Palace of Westminster in London, Tuesday (local time). Yoon is in London as part of his state visit to the U.K. Yonhap

LONDON -- President Yoon Suk Yeol said, Tuesday, that the friendship between South Korea and the United Kingdom will turn challenges into opportunities, as he pledged to deepen the strategic partnership between the two countries during an address to both houses of Parliament.

Yoon is in London as part of his state visit to the U.K., on the occasion of the 140th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties. The state visit came as the U.K. seeks to expand economic and security partnerships with Asian countries to consolidate its international status after exiting the European Union.

In an address delivered in English, Yoon stressed the importance of the comprehensive relationship between the two countries in the future, which will be outlined in the Downing Street Accord that he and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will unveil on Wednesday.

“Our bilateral relations will be reborn as true global strategic partners,” Yoon said. “Together, we will build a free and open international order. Together, we will cultivate sustainable growth and prosperity for all of humanity.”

Yoon said both countries face geopolitical risks, citing the war in Ukraine, the Israel-Hamas conflict and the North Korean nuclear threat.

“Arnold Toynbee said, ‘civilizations come to birth and proceed to grow by successfully responding to successive challenges,'” Yoon said. “The Republic of Korea and the United Kingdom are authors of dynamic and creative histories. We must stand in solidarity and respond to many of the world's challenges.”

President Yoon Suk Yeol receives applauds after addressing the United Kingdom Parliament at the Palace of Westminster in London, Tuesday (local time). Yonhap

The president pledged that the two countries will stand united to fight against illegal aggression and provocations, and will uphold established norms and international order to bolster political and economic security in the Indo-Pacific region.

Yoon also noted that there are economic difficulties, such as supply chain disruptions, climate change and inequalities that pose common challenges, and the two countries will broaden their cooperation to digital, artificial intelligence, cyber security, nuclear energy, defense, outer space, semiconductors, green energy and other fields to overcome those difficulties.

Yoon also proposed to expand cultural and human exchanges between the two countries, saying that South Korea and the U.K. share cultural assets. He compared British icons such as the Beatles, Queen, Harry Potter and David Beckham with South Korea's BTS, BLACKPINK, Squid Game and Tottenham Hotspur star Son Heung-min.

“It is time for us, as innovative partners, to contribute to a better future for humanity,” Yoon said. He ended his speech by quoting a line from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, saying, “for this friendship may so happy prove, to turn our challenges to pure opportunity.”

An official at Seoul's presidential office said Yoon's speech was aimed at describing "the future that the two countries will shape together as partners sharing common values" and "will serve as the goal of [South] Korea-U.K. relations."

President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife Kim Keon Hee, right to Yoon, listen to King Charles III during a special exhibition in the Picture Gallery of items from the Royal Collection related to Korea, Tuesday (local time). Yonhap

During the address, Yoon recalled the 140 years of bilateral ties and expressed gratitude for the U.K.'s support that helped South Korea attain its current political and economic status.

“Thanks to the support from the nations of the free world like the United Kingdom, [South] Korea has since written a history of miraculous success,” Yoon said. “[South] Korea was one of the least developed countries. Now it is an economic powerhouse leading the semiconductor industry and technology sector.”

Yoon also noted that the U.K. sent 80,000 troops to fight in the Korean War, which was the second largest among the foreign contingents, while more than 1,000 British men and women sacrificed their lives to defend the freedom of South Korea.

Yoon asked the lawmakers to applaud Colin Thackery, a Korean War veteran and Seoul's honorary veterans minister. Thackery was the winner of “Britain's Got Talent” in 2019, and he sang the Korean folk song, “Arirang,” during a ceremony to mark the 70th anniversary of the Korean War armistice in Busan, earlier this year.

President Yoon Suk Yeol listens to King Charles III as they ride the Diamond Jubilee State Coach to Buckingham Palace in London for an official luncheon, Tuesday (local time). Yoon is in London as part of his state visit to the U.K. Yonhap

Before addressing parliament, Yoon and his wife Kim Keon Hee received a ceremonial welcome from King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Buckingham Palace.

The Prince and Princess of Wales greeted Yoon at his hotel and they traveled to Horse Guards Parade, where the King and Queen formally welcomed the presidential couple.

While inspecting the guard of honor during the welcome ceremony, the honor guard reported using the Korean language to express the U.K.'s hospitality. The presidential couple joined the king and the queen in a carriage procession along the Mall to Buckingham Palace.

President Yoon Suk Yeol listens to U.K. King Charles III during the ceremonial welcome at Horse Guards in London, Tuesday (local time). Yonhap

After the welcome ceremony, Yoon and Kim attended a luncheon hosted by the king at the palace, and viewed a special exhibition in the Picture Gallery of items from the Royal Collection related to South Korea.

Yoon and Kim then attended a wreath-laying ceremony at the Korean War Memorial, to mark the 70th anniversary of the armistice. At the the ceremony, Yoon met Korean War veterans Brian Parritt and Thackery. Parritt is known to Koreans for his appearance on a famous YouTube channel called Korean Englishman in 2021.

The presidential couple also visited Westminster Abbey and laid a wreath at the Grave of the Unknown Warrior.

President Yoon Suk Yeol vows to the Grave of the Unknown Warrior at Westminster Abbey in London, Tuesday (local time). Yonhap