< Table of Contents > ● President Park Attends Official Welcoming Ceremony (11.5) ● President Park attends royal banquet (11.5) ● President Park and British Prime Minister Cameron Hold Summit (11.6) ● President Park visits British Parliament (11.5) ● President Park meets British political party leaders (11.5) ● President Park attends war monument ground-breaking ceremony (11.5) ● President Park attends 8th London Korean Film Festival (11.6) ● President Park stresses creative economy cooperation (11.6)

● President Park Attends Official Welcoming Ceremony



President Park Geun-hye arrived in London on the evening of November 4, local time, for a state visit to the United Kingdom following an official visit to France. On the following morning, as the first official event of her state visit, President Park attended a ceremonial welcome on Horse Guards Parade. The ceremony was attended by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, as well as top officials of the British Government, including Prime Minister David Cameron and Foreign Minister William Hague.

After the official welcoming ceremony, President Park, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip got on a ceremonial coach for the State Drive to Buckingham Palace. President Park expressed her gratitude to the Queen for inviting her for a state visit in such a significant year marking the 130th anniversary of Korea-U.K. diplomatic relations and the 60th anniversary of the Queen's reign.



On top of this, President Park extended congratulations to the Queen on the birth of her great-grandson Prince George and wished the royal family continued prosperity.

Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh expressed their hope that the British people would gain a heightened interest in Korea on the occasion of the President's state visit and that bilateral exchanges would be further expedited in various areas. They also hoped that President Park's stay at Buckingham Palace would be very comfortable and enjoyable.

The President then attended a luncheon hosted by the Queen. Approximately 50 guests attended, including members of the royal family and high-level government officials.

After the luncheon, Queen Elizabeth personally guided the President to see a Royal Collection display of items, including records of the Queen's visit to Korea in 1999 and the gifts she received at the time as well as various records relating to Korea-U.K. relations and pieces of Korean craftwork. They also saw the badge of the Grand Cross of the Order of Bath that the President received on the occasion of this visit, having been made an honorary member of the Order by the Queen.

● President Park attends royal banquet

President Park Geun-hye attended a state banquet hosted by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace in London on November 5. The banquet was attended by over 140 people, including the Earl of Wessex Prince Edward and his spouse, Princess Anne and her spouse, the Duke of Gloucester Prince Richard, other members of the royal family, business leaders and influential figures across many sectors of the United Kingdom and high-ranking Korean government officials who were accompanying the president on her state visit to the U.K.

In her speech, the queen welcomed President Park’s state visit to the country as this year marks the 130th anniversary of the Korea-U.K. diplomatic relationship. She said she is glad that the two countries share a true partnership. She also added that both countries cooperate together based on the bonds built by British soldiers who participated in the Korean War (1950-1953).

Mentioning the traditions of innovation and creativity as the United Kingdom’s strengths and technological expertise and diligence as Korea’s assets, the queen said both countries have been creating common profit by combining the strengths of each country. She expressed satisfaction in the close cooperation and exchanges in education, scientific research, tourism and culture between the two countries. The queen added that such cooperation plays a key role in developing the strategic partnership between the two nations.



In her reciprocal speech, President Park expressed her thanks to the queen for inviting her to make a state visit to Britain and said her visit holds significance since this year marks the 130th anniversary of the establishment of Korea-U.K. diplomatic relations and the 60th anniversary of the armistice of the Korean War. The president highly valued the pivotal role of the British royal family which has shown its great responsibility for the country. The president said the U.K. is one of Korea’s true allies, as the country dispatched 56,000 soldiers to protect the freedom of Korea 60 years ago and became the first country to send a group of investors to Korea 15 years ago in the midst of the Asian financial crisis. This support has contributed greatly to Korea’s transformation into the world’s eighth largest trading economy with a dynamic democracy, said the president.

President Park emphasized that bilateral cooperation should be extended based on the trust and friendship of both countries. She also expressed her hope that Korea’s creative economy policy and the UK’s experience in leading many creative industries with its tradition and long history can be combined to create new engines of growth. Quoting William Shakespeare, “It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves,” the president expressed her hope that the two countries could have a more prosperous, happier future by combining their creative talents and experience based on the 130-year-long friendship and trust of both nations.

● President Park and British Prime Minister Cameron Hold Summit

President Park Geun-hye held summit talks with Prime Minister of the United Kingdom David Cameron on November 6 in London to discuss measures to extend Korea-U.K. cooperation.

The two leaders said that President Park’s U.K. state visit holds great significance as this year marks the 130th anniversary of establishing Korea-U.K. diplomatic relations and is the 60th anniversary of the armistice ending the Korean War (1950-1953). They also discussed ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation and exchanged opinions on a wide range of issues, including how to cooperate on joint responses to regional and global issues.

The two leaders reaffirmed that both countries are good partners for shared growth as each of them push forward to realize their visions for the creative industries and cultural enrichment. They also agreed that the two countries have developed a comprehensive, creative partnership by extending the level of bilateral cooperation to a regional and global level.





After the Korea-U.K. summit, they adopted the Republic of Korea-United Kingdom Joint Statement to show their shared vision and will to strengthen bilateral cooperation. In the joint statement, the two leaders reconfirmed the broad and creative partnership for peace and prosperity, and agreed to raise the ROK-UK Strategic Dialogue to a ministerial level dialogue. This, they said, would further strengthen cooperation and allow them to address key global issues and cooperate in the creative industries, including culture, IT, science and technology, and to cooperate in the economic and financial sectors. The statement also contains London’s support for Seoul’s stance on Pyongyang, including the denuclearization of North Korea, the Korean Peninsula trust-building process and the Northeast Asian peace visions, and Korea-U.K. cooperation on global issues including climate change, human rights, the international economy, cyber security and development.

Korea, U.K. to boost economic cooperation

Both leaders positively valued the contribution the Korea-EU FTA has made to the amount of trade and investment between Korea and the United Kingdom. They agreed to double both the volume of bilateral trade and the volume of bilateral foreign direct investment by 2020. To achieve this goal, they agreed to carry out joint cooperation projects such as investing in infrastructure.

The two leaders agreed that both Korea and the United Kingdom are the best partners with whom to pursue cooperation in the creative economy and to share growth. In this regard, the two countries agreed to bolster cooperation in a substantial and mutually beneficial manner. The joint statement said, “The ROK and the UK agree to work closely in order to realise a common vision of developing the creative economy by combining science and technology with IT and promoting convergence between different industries as well as between industry and culture.”

President Park hailed the signing of a series of memoranda of understanding (MOUs) involving financial authorities, state-run organizations and private financial institutions of the two countries, saying that the United Kingdom is considered the heart of the financial world. The president said the signed MOUs would lay the groundwork for cooperation between financial firms of the two countries. She hoped that the two countries could strengthen their financial cooperation in both Korea and the U.K. as well as in third markets.

Seoul, London to strengthen cooperation in culture, science

The president and the UK prime minister welcomed the signing of MOUs between the two countries on cooperation in culture and the creative industries, basic sciences, energy technology, information and communication technology (ICT) and nuclear energy, including nuclear energy research and development and nuclear plant construction. The two leaders agreed to continue their “win-win cooperation” by cooperating on a wide range of sectors.

London supports Korean Peninsula trust-building process, Northeast Asian peace vision

In regard to North Korean issues, both leaders shared a common understanding that Pyongyang’s possession of nuclear weapons is unacceptable under any circumstances since it is a grave threat to not only the Korean Peninsula but also to the peace and stability of the international community. They reaffirmed that the North should faithfully keep its obligations and promises, including the United Nations Security Council resolutions and the September 19 joint statement for denuclearization. They also expressed concern about the seriousness of human rights conditions in North Korea and agreed to cooperate to improve human rights in the North.

Prime Minister Cameron expressed his support and willingness to help with the Korean Peninsula trust-building process and the Northeast Asian peace vision, saying that Britain will continue to play a leading role in the international community to help lead Pyongyang to make the right choice and follow down the path toward true change.

The president praised the United Kingdom’s lead role in dealing with global issues, as the country is one of permanent members of the UN Security Council and a key member of the G8 and G20. She proposed that she and her British counterpart form a global partnership to work together closely to jointly respond to global issues such as human rights, conflicts, sexual violence, development, climate change, cyber security and issues in the Middle East. The president welcomed the adoption of a joint statement on climate change and told the British leader to actively respond to climate change issues by focusing on green buildings and on Korea’s Emissions Trading Scheme, and carbon capture and storage plan.

The British prime minister welcomed Korea’s bigger role on the global stage and the strengthened cooperation between Korea and the United Kingdom. He also expressed his hope that the two countries could closely cooperate on issues in the Middle East and on development cooperation.



● President Park visits British Parliament

President Park Geun-hye visited the British Parliament and talked with its members in the Royal Robing Room in the Palace of Westminster in London on November 5 during her three-day state visit to Britain.

Among the 100 members present at the meeting, from both the upper and lower houses, were Speaker of the House of Lords Baroness D'Souza, Speaker of the House of Commons John Bercow, Chairman of the Britain-Republic of Korea Parliamentary Group John Stanley and Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Richard Ottaway.



President Park said she is glad to visit the British Parliament, which she described as, "the cradle of parliamentary democracy,” and which has led efforts to realize the universal values of humanity, such as freedom, democracy and human rights. The president also said she is happy to have a chance to talk to its members.

President Park said that earlier that day ground was broken for a Korean War (1950-1953) memorial which will, "serve as a lasting testament of a grateful nation to the noble sacrifice of young British soldiers who fought for freedom and democracy in the Korean War.” She wanted to express heartfelt gratitude to the United Kingdom and to the British people for coming to Korea’s aid.

Quoting the British proverb, “a smooth sea never made a skilled mariner,” President Park said that could well apply to Korea. The president explained that Korea rose from war-torn ashes to become a contributor both to fighting poverty and to maintaining peace globally, and that Korea received strong support from Britain during the process.

President Park said the partnership between the two nations has been critical to the successful holding of the G20 Summit and the Cyberspace Conference, both of which serve the causes of peace, freedom and shared prosperity around the world. The president said the two countries will announce a joint statement on climate change as a way of cooperating with each other and to strengthen global governance.



President Park also said Korea and Britain can become ideal partners in the quest for new engines of growth as Britain has made a great deal of achievements in science and technology ever since the Industrial Revolution and as Korea has high-quality human resources. The president suggested that the two countries cooperate in science, technology, industry and culture and continue to make efforts in international development cooperation and in promoting and protecting human rights so as to help people everywhere enjoy happiness throughout their lives.

President Park said North Korea must cast off its nuclear ambitions and uphold the fundamental rights of its people to become a responsible member of the global community. “We will be steadfast in pushing forward a trust-building process on the Korean Peninsula,” said the president. “As we do so, we will make sure that even in inter-Korean relations, common sense and international norms can prevail.”



The members of parliament, including House of Lords Speaker D'Souza and House of Commons Speaker John Bercow, said that once in the past South Korea was a distant nation, since it was a remote country, but that now the nation is an important ally which shares fundamental values and has been cooperating with Britain very closely in nonproliferation, environmental protection and sustainable development. They also said South Korea accounts for a large portion of British trade and they hoped that they could further develop their relation as important regional and global partners.

They also hoped that President Park’s visit would help the two countries cooperate in developing the creative industries and said that the British Parliament supports the South Korean government’s Korean Peninsula trust-building process.

● President Park meets British political party leaders

President Park Geun-hye met leaders of Britain’s Labour Party and Liberal Democratic Party in London on November 5 as part of her official itinerary during her state visit to the United Kingdom.

During the meetings, President Park expressed her gladness to be making a state visit to the country, mentioning that 2013 marks the 130th anniversary of the Korea-U.K. diplomatic relationship. She said that her visit holds great significance as she attended the groundbreaking ceremony earlier that day to mark the construction of Britain’s first Korean War (1950-1953) memorial, commemorating the sacrifices of U.K. soldiers who participated in the war.





President Park praised the contribution made by former prime ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown to the overall development of the United Kingdom by expanding the country’s welfare policy and leading discussions on climate change. She expressed her hope that Korea and Britain could expand bilateral cooperation not only in trade, investment, science and technology but also on global issues such as human rights, development, the environment and cyber space, all of which the Labour Party holds as its strengths.

The president praised the leadership of Nick Clegg, head of the Liberal Democrats, who also serves as deputy prime minister, during a meeting with him. She exchanged opinions on issues such as parliamentary reform, tax reduction and reform in state healthcare services, issues on which his coalition government takes the lead. President Park highly valued the mature political culture of forming a coalition of the two parties in order to overcome the current economic crisis in Europe, despite the two parties’ political differences concerning the European Union. She expressed her hope that Korea and the United Kingdom could cooperate on issues like climate change and the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), an environment-focused international organization.

● President Park attends war monument ground-breaking ceremony

President Park Geun-hye attended the groundbreaking ceremony for Britain’s first Korean War (1950-1953) memorial and laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on November 5 during her three-day state visit to Britain.

In attendance were British war veterans, President Mike Swindells of the British Korean Veterans Association, the Duke of Cambridge Prince William, the Duke of Gloucester Prince Richard, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State John Astor of the British Defense Ministry, Minister of State for the Foreign Office Hugo Swire and Sir David Brewer, Her Majesty’s representative in Greater London.



At the ceremony held to mark the 60th anniversary of the Korean War armistice, President Park expressed her sincere thanks on behalf of her people to the British war veterans for their noble sacrifice and dedication they had shown to pursue democracy and peace in Korea.

Mentioning that Britain had sent more than 56,000 soldiers to fight in the Korean War, more than 1,000 of whom sacrificed their lives, the Korean president welcomed that after all these years ground is finally being broken in London to erect the first monument in tribute to the fallen heroes. She said that now is the right time as this year marks both the 130th year of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries and the 60th year of the armistice.



She also said that this monument will symbolize the special bonds and the further development of the relationship between the two nations, thanking the British Monarchy and government for their keen interest in and support for the new monument.

After the ceremony, President Park laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier dedicated to the fallen British soldiers of the First World War (1914-1918).

● President Park attends 8th London Korean Film Festival

President Park Geun-hye attended the special screening of the eighth London Korean Film Festival on November 6 during her state visit to Britain and talked with people from both Korean and British cultural circles. Some 400 people involved in the film industry showed up at the event at Cineworld Haymarket Cinema in downtown London.

The opening film of the festival, “Hide and Seek,” is the first feature-length film by director Huh Jung, who has swept short-film festivals such as the Mise-en-scene Short Film Festival, the Seoul International Youth Film Festival and the Seoul International Family Film Festival. Despite a small budget of KRW 2.5 billion, the film caused a huge sensation in Korea in last summer. It recorded the highest rate of return on investment --292 percent-- in the season and attracted 5.6 million domestic viewers so far, beating out some real blockbusters. As the film was produced by an independent film company that does not own a chain of movie theaters, it is considered to be a notable example of good movie-making happening on its own.



Before attending the festival, President Park met with people from cultural circles of both Korea and Britain and exchanged greetings with each and every one of them. The president stressed the importance of communication and empathy through culture and the exchange of human resources involved in such cultural and art projects and asked that those both play key roles in this matter.

The festival, organized by the Korean Cultural Centre in Britain, tours London and three or four other British cities every November for around two weeks. The festival usually invites Korean directors and writers and includes forums on Korean cinema and many other events. The movie screening is held in two London theaters, including Cineworld Haymarket Cinema, and in three other cities, including Oxford. A total of 45 Korean films will be screened this year and the festival runs until November 17.

Before the event, the Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the British Department of Culture, Media and Sport signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to cooperate on culture and the creative industries, and also to mark the 130th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Britain and Korea. The signing of the MOU is aimed at increasing cultural understanding and expanding markets for creative industries. The British government has promoted creative industries as one of its core strengths.



Under the MOU, Korea and Britain will take turns holding a “Korea-Britain creative industries forum” every year to exchange knowledge and information on the latest trends in culture and the creative industries. It will act as a sort of policy innovation venue, to help create jobs and to promote economic growth. Forum participants will consist of high-ranking government officials in the creative industries and leaders from businesses and public institutions. The inaugural forum will be held in the second half of 2014 in Britain.

The two nations will also encourage more business leaders from culture and creative industries to choose a common theme for their industries’ development, to share experiences on related policymaking and to pursue joint projects. As the basis for this cooperation, the two countries intend to share the results of research and analysis on culture and the creative industries and to publish joint reports.

In order to expand cooperation, the two nations plan to share successful examples of film, television, music, fashion, video games, the performing arts, visual art and literature and increase joint production and the exchange of human resources and technologies. As a first step in this effort, they decided to cooperate on organizing the London Korean Film Festival and the London Book Fair 2014, for which Korea will be the “Honour Country.”



● President Park stresses creative economy cooperation

President Park Geun-hye emphasized Korea-UK cooperation in creative industries at two economic forums in London on November 6 during her state visit to Britain.

At the Korea-UK Global CEO Forum and the Joint Economic and Trade Committee, President Park gave the keynote address in English and praised the progress made in Korea-UK economic cooperation through the 130-year-old diplomatic relationship.

“It is time for us to take our partnership to the next level,” said the president, emphasizing that the creative economy is, the "new engine that will power the next stage of our economic cooperation.” She also said the two countries should broaden the scope of their bilateral cooperation in creative industries and in new future-oriented industries, and use the Korea-EU free trade agreement (FTA), which took effect in 2011, to work together to jointly penetrate third markets.

“The creative economy. This is where we might find the answer to lifting the global economy out of its current doldrums,” said the president. She proposed that Britain and Korea collaborate in various areas, including cultural content, new digital industries and bio-industries, to realize the creative economy and to build “a new globally competitive model for growth.”



“We could further expand our economic horizons if we combine our strengths and enter third country markets together,” said the president, mentioning as an exemplary case the ongoing partnership in offshore engineering where Britain’s engineering and Korea’s shipbuilding skills collaborate to compete in the global market.



Pointing out that climate change, energy depletion and an aging society are “the challenges we face today,” President Park stressed the need to “transform challenges into opportunities, opportunities that unleash new technologies and new industries. "In the same vein, the challenges of climate change, energy and an aging society bode well for low carbon energy, the healthcare businesses and for the so-called silver industries,” said the president.

Later that day, President Park attended an opening ceremony for the Korea-UK Creative Economy and Future Science Forum at Imperial College London. At the forum, she introduced Korea’s creative economy administrative priority and stressed the need for Korea and Britain to extend cooperation.



*Source: http://www.korea.net

                http://english.president.go.kr (Cheong Wa Dae Website)