Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I travelled to the Republic of Korea between 1 and 3 November, to participate in the team Ireland trade mission week, with the Ministers, Deputies Coveney, Harris, and McConalogue. This was the first team Ireland trade mission under the Government’s new trade and investment strategy and is a part of the Government’s commitment under the global Ireland strategy to increasing Ireland’s global presence and impact.

This year is especially significant for Irish-Korean relations as it marks 40 years of diplomatic relations. During my visit, I had the opportunity to meet with CEOs and chairpersons of major Korean conglomerates, some with existing investments in Ireland and others looking for suitable locations in which to invest. In these meetings, I highlighted Ireland’s strong track record in securing and maintaining foreign direct investment, our access to the EU Single Market and the pro-enterprise approach of successive Irish Governments. I also highlighted strengths in our third-level institutions and our strong commitment to research and development. I had the opportunity to highlight Ireland’s attractiveness as a place to visit and to invest in, as well as the strengths of our exporters in agrifood and other sectors when I addressed a trade Ireland networking reception in Seoul. I met with representatives of the small but active Irish community in South Korea and was really impressed by how they have created a vibrant cultural community in their new home and very much fly the flag for Ireland.

In addition to 2023 being the 40th anniversary of Ireland-Korea diplomatic relations, it also marks the 70th anniversary of the signing of the armistice that suspended conflict in Korea. I took the opportunity to witness the extraordinary efforts that continue on a daily basis to ensure that peace is sustained, visiting the demilitarised zone and the joint security area that stands at the line between North and South Korea. My visit was a timely reminder of the importance and value of peacekeeping as Irish and Korean peacekeepers serve side by side, working to maintain peace in south Lebanon at this exceptionally difficult time.

I was honoured to lay a wreath at the Irish memorial within the Korean war memorial complex, in remembrance of those who lost their lives in the conflict, including over 150 Irish nationals and many more of Irish heritage. I also had a warm and positive bilateral meeting with President Yoon at which we discussed how we can deepen our political, economic, educational and cultural ties. On the trade and investment side, I raised efforts underway to gain access for Irish beef to the Korean market, on which President Yoon expressed confidence that the necessary parliamentary procedures in Korea could be completed by the end of the year. We also discussed our shared commitment to multilateralism and the rules-based international order. I congratulated the President on Korea’s election to the United Nations Security Council for the 2024 to 2025 term and offered Ireland’s assistance, given our own recent term on the council.

As like-minded countries and given our commitment to shared values, I spoke to President Yoon about the transformation in Irish society with regard to gender equality and equality for the LGBTQI+ community. I extended an invitation to President Yoon to pay a return visit to Ireland as soon as he can.

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