President Lee Meets Korean Residents in Belgium: "We Will Present a Better Korea"

President Lee Jae-myung, who has begun his tour of Europe, met with local Korean residents in Belgium on the 9th (local time) and pledged, "From now on, I will show you a better Korea, one that is different from what you have seen so far."

On this afternoon, President Lee held a meeting with Korean residents at a hotel in downtown Belgium and remarked, "You must have been quite concerned as you watched Korea go through dramatic changes, but the country is recovering quickly." He made these comments while reassuring the attendees.

President Lee Jae-myung is giving a greeting at a Korean community dinner meeting held at a hotel in Brussels, Belgium, on the 9th (local time). 2026.6.10

President Lee stated, "It is often said that people become patriots when they go abroad. Being away from home naturally makes you more interested in domestic issues, and since you are inevitably compared with people from other countries, the way you are treated depends on the status and credibility of Korea in the world." He then added, "I'm sure you have felt this very acutely over the past two to three years."

President Lee also said, "Korea has changed dramatically, transforming itself from a poor country that struggled while receiving aid to a nation that now leads economically and is even regarded as a center of global culture. This is a remarkable leap forward," adding, "I believe you, too, must feel a sense of pride in your homeland."

Additionally, President Lee called on local embassies and diplomatic missions, stating, "You must go beyond your current roles and also serve as platforms for the advancement of the cultural industry and for overseas Koreans." He urged, "I hope you, as members of the Korean community abroad, will actively use these overseas spaces."

In particular, President Lee said, "I have instructed the heads of overseas missions to meet and communicate more often with overseas nationals and Korean communities, to thoroughly learn what they want, what inconveniences they face, and what proposals they wish to make." He continued, "I believe the role of the head of an overseas mission is similar to that of a community center leader in Korea."

He emphasized, "Korea is destined to live through exchanges with the world as a trading nation. Not only intergovernmental exchanges but also private exchanges are important." He continued, "Depending on the actions of each and every one of you, the image of Korea can change completely. You are all great civilian diplomats who make Korea shine."

Meanwhile, upon hearing that he is the first president, among both former and current presidents who have visited Belgium, to hold a meeting with Korean residents, President Lee expressed surprise, saying, "That's amazing."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.