Gyeongju: The Prime Minister of Thailand, Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul, engaged in bilateral discussions with the President of South Korea, Mr. Lee Jae Myung, during the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting held at the Hwabaek International Convention Center. The talks emphasized the importance of close ties between the two nations and included an invitation for the South Korean President to visit Thailand officially.

According to Thai News Agency, the South Korean President expressed appreciation for the Prime Minister’s participation in the APEC meeting amid Thailand’s period of mourning and acknowledged Thailand’s contribution to the Korean War. Both leaders noted their satisfaction with this being their first face-to-face meeting after a congratulatory call following the Prime Minister’s assumption of office.

The Prime Minister highlighted the potential for enhanced economic cooperation, proposing a trade target of US$30 billion facilitated by a free trade area. He assured full support for South Korean investors, mentioning initiatives by Hyundai, COSMAX, KakaoBank, and the Korea Land and Housing Corporation, which plans to develop an industrial estate in Thailand. An upcoming visit by a South Korean business delegation to Thailand was also confirmed.

Discussions also covered cultural cooperation, with the Prime Minister acknowledging the popularity of Korean culture, especially K-Pop, among Thai youth. He expressed interest in learning from South Korea’s content industry, focusing on support for startups and SMEs.

The Prime Minister reiterated Thailand’s commitment to supporting South Korea’s role as a dialogue partner with ASEAN and as a coordinator of ASEAN-South Korea relations. He concluded by requesting increased quotas for legal Thai workers in South Korea and addressing the issue of Thai nationals facing entry denials, which result in financial and time losses for travelers.