President Lee: Korea-Argentina Cooperation Has Moved Beyond Possibility to Tangible Results

   [Financial News, Buenos Aires, Argentina = Reporter Choi Jong-geun]President Lee Jae Myung, who is on an official visit to Argentina, said on the 31st local time that "economic cooperation between Argentina and the Republic of Korea has now moved beyond discussing possibilities and has reached the stage of discussing concrete results."
At a dinner meeting with overseas Koreans held that day at a hotel in downtown Buenos Aires, Lee said, "I had a summit with President Milei around lunchtime today, and he felt exactly the same way. I was also convinced that a completely new era of cooperation between Argentina and the Republic of Korea could open."
About 150 overseas Koreans attended the meeting, including representatives from major community groups such as the Argentine Korean Association, as well as figures from the business, cultural, and education sectors.
Lee identified lithium and other critical minerals, energy, and infrastructure as the key pillars of bilateral cooperation. He explained that cooperation between the two countries has been steadily expanding in areas ranging from lithium development in the vast highlands of Salta Province to critical minerals, energy, and infrastructure.
He also highlighted the achievements of cultural exchange. "There is one area that stands out in particular. That is cooperation in culture," Lee said. "In 2023, the Argentine government designated Kimchi Day as a national commemorative day, and friendship and trust between our two countries are deepening through culture."
He added, "I believe all of this was possible because of you, who have served as a strong bridge in the relationship between our two countries over the past 60 years," expressing gratitude for the contributions of the overseas Korean community.
Referring to the growth of the Korean community in Argentina, Lee said, "Those who left their homeland in search of new dreams did not have an easy path in the early days of agricultural immigration." He continued, "Because of the unfamiliar environment and farming methods, they may have put down their hoes, but they never gave up on their dreams. They left the farms, but they did not leave hope behind."
He also mentioned 'Baekguchon,' a Korean shopping district on the outskirts of Buenos Aires. Lee said, "I heard that the area around the final stop of Bus No. 109 on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, known as 109 Village, has grown into the center of Argentina's garment industry." He added, "I had planned to visit today, but it was raining, so that was disappointing."
According to Blue House Chief spokesperson Kang Yoo-jung, Lee said in his closing remarks, "At meetings with overseas Koreans, I am seeing more and more requests and a wider variety of suggestions from the community," adding that "this helps not only Korea's policies for overseas Koreans, but also other state affairs." He then said, "We will continue working to become a government that improves the lives of overseas Koreans."
[email protected] Choi Jong-geun Reporter