New york: President Lee Jae Myung on Monday met with Korean Americans ahead of his attendance at the U.N. General Assembly in New York and pledged to expand support for overseas compatriots. Lee held the meeting during his trip to attend the annual gathering, his first since taking office in June after a snap election prompted by former President Yoon Suk Yeol's failed martial law bid.
According to Yonhap News Agency, President Lee emphasized the importance of the homeland taking responsibility for its people living abroad, rather than the other way around. "It should originally be the homeland that worries about its people living abroad, but for quite some time it seems overseas Koreans have been the ones worrying about the Republic of Korea," he stated, referring to South Korea's official name. He assured the attendees that Korea would now focus on thinking of and caring for them.
Lee highlighted Korea's remarkable journey from liberation from colonial rule to becoming an economic powerhouse through industrialization and into a democratic nation. He expressed that it is time for Korea to return to normalcy and make strides in economy, military, diplomacy, and other areas so that Koreans both at home and abroad can take pride in their nationality. "Though the world once worried, Korea has returned as an exemplary democratic nation, a cultural powerhouse, and a military and economic power," he affirmed.
Additionally, President Lee acknowledged the challenges faced by Korean nationals abroad in exercising their right to vote and pledged to improve the system to ensure that overseas Koreans can fully participate in the electoral process.