President Lee and First Lady Visit 'Korea Street' in Chile, Stopping by Korean Association, Snack Shops, and Pharmacy

600 Meter Section of Santiago’s Korean Business District Recently Designated
K-Food and K-Beauty Enjoy Growing Popularity
Plans Underway to Create Korea-Themed Street Linked with 'Seoul Street'

President Lee Jae-myung, who is on an official visit to Chile, and First Lady Kim Hye-kyung visited 'Korea Street' in Santiago, the capital, on the 30th (local time) to meet with local Korean residents and citizens.

President Lee Jae-myung is speaking at a joint press conference with Chilean President José Antonio Kast held at the Presidential Palace in Santiago on the 30th (local time). 2026.7.31 Yonhap News Photo by Yonhap Reporter

'Korea Street' is a roughly 600-meter section in the Patronato district of downtown Santiago, where the Korean community center and Korean-owned stores are concentrated. The street recently received its name by officially renaming the existing road. The initiative, led by the Korean Association in Chile, came to fruition after approval from the local district office and council, and President Lee's visit to Chile provided further momentum for the designation of Korea Street.

At this meaningful time, with new street signs soon to be installed, the Korean community gave an enthusiastic welcome to the presidential couple's visit to Korea Street. At the site, Korean residents and locals carrying Taegukgi (Korean national flags) warmly greeted them, shouting "Welcome!" and applauding. One member of the Korean community even sang the Korean national anthem.

The presidential couple first visited the Korean Association in Chile, where Ha Sanguk, president of the association, gave an overview of the association's activities, its security system, and spaces used for overseas voting, among other operations.

Afterwards, President Lee and the First Lady walked through the area packed with Korean businesses, meeting local residents and Koreans along the way. They stopped by Korean-run snack shops and barbecue restaurants to encourage the local merchants. Diners rose from their seats to give the presidential couple high-fives and take commemorative photos. The couple also greeted citizens in a friendly manner, asking, "Do you like Korean food?"

Visiting a store with a Korean sign reading "Pharmacy," President Lee and the First Lady looked over the Korean cosmetics on display and asked about the popularity of K-beauty products locally. The pharmacy staff explained that the number of customers seeking out Korean cosmetic products has been steadily increasing.

Throughout Korea Street, citizens greeted the delegation with "Welcome to Chile," while descendants of Koreans approached warmly, saying, "My grandfather is Korean," and requested photos. President Lee and the First Lady shook hands and took photos with visitors until the very end, exchanging warm greetings with everyone they met.

Following the creation of 'Seoul Street' nearby in 2022, the addition of 'Korea Street' has turned this area into a symbolic space representing the friendship and exchange between Korea and Chile, as well as marking the history of the Korean community in Chile. Ahn Guyryeong, deputy spokesperson for the Blue House, explained, "The Korean Association in Chile plans to further develop the area as a hub for spreading Korean culture, by creating a Korea-themed street linking the two roads and carrying out environmental improvement projects."

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