President Lee: "Korea-Kazakhstan Trust Deepened with Hong Beom-do's Remains Repatriation"...Bilateral Ties Upgraded

Korea-Kazakhstan Summit Held on September 15
"Kazakhstan Is a Key Partner in Korea's Economic Security"

President Lee Jae-myung stated at the Korea-Kazakhstan summit on the 15th, "We remember that five years ago, with your active cooperation, the remains of Korea’s independence hero, General Hong Beom-do, were returned and the trust between our countries deepened."

President Lee, meeting with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, who is on a state visit to Korea, added, "We have not forgotten General Hong Beom-do, who fought in the independence movement." In response, President Tokayev said, "The people of Kazakhstan are well aware of General Hong and have great respect for him. He is known as a patriot who loved his hometown and a historical figure of strong character."

President Lee Jae-myung is seen guiding President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev after a commemorative photo at the Korea-Kazakhstan Expanded Summit held at the Blue House on the 15th. 2026.9.15 Yonhap News Photo by Yonhap Reporter

President Tokayev paid a state visit to Korea from August 16, 2021, for two days, holding a summit with then-President Moon Jae-in. During the visit, the remains of General Hong Beom-do, which had been interred in Kyzylorda, Kazakhstan, were also repatriated. In gratitude, former President Moon personally expressed his appreciation to President Tokayev at that time.

President Lee remarked, "The international community is currently facing a multi-layered crisis marked by geopolitical conflict, the restructuring of supply chains, transnational crime, energy security, and instability." He continued, "In such circumstances, having reliable international partners is more important than ever to bolster resilience against external shocks and to secure a foundation for sustainable growth."

He went on to say, "Korea and Kazakhstan share similar diplomatic outlooks in that both aim to expand international cooperation and pursue pragmatic diplomacy that prioritizes national interests and tangible outcomes." He added, "Kazakhstan is not only rich in energy and resources but also possesses significant potential as a key partner for Korea in the future of advanced industry and economic security."

President Lee further stated, "I believe the Republic of Korea is also a capable partner that can contribute to the advancement of Kazakhstan’s industrial technology through our advanced manufacturing and digital technologies. This summit will serve as an opportunity to elevate our bilateral relationship to a future-oriented, comprehensive strategic partnership, and to further deepen cooperation between the two countries."

Additionally, President Lee expressed hope that "our two countries will strengthen cooperation amid the uncertain international climate, combining our respective strengths and potential to discover new opportunities for mutually beneficial growth." He added, "I expect our deepened partnership will create a virtuous cycle, not only enhancing cooperation between Korea and Kazakhstan but also at the level of relations between Korea and the Central Asian region as a whole."

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