Following the summit, President Yoon stated at a joint press conference at the Quirinal Palace, "It is an honor to visit Italy as the President of South Korea for the first time in 26 years in a state capacity." The last visit by a South Korean president to Italy was by former President Kim Dae-jung in 2000.
Yoon noted that a "Korea-Italy Business Roundtable" will take place in Rome the following day, featuring over 30 companies from both nations. He described it as a valuable opportunity for businesses to explore growth in various sectors, including semiconductors, artificial intelligence, defense, aerospace, energy, and biotechnology.
He emphasized that the "Memorandum of Understanding on Small and Medium Enterprises Cooperation" and the "Memorandum of Understanding on Social Economy Cooperation" to be signed during this visit will serve as important foundations for revitalizing the social economy ecosystems of both countries.
The discussion also highlighted the expansion of cooperation in advanced industries and science and technology. Yoon mentioned that from 2026 to 2028, South Korea and Italy will support joint research projects in eight fields, including AI, advanced biotechnology, space, marine, aerospace, and semiconductors. He noted that the two countries' space agencies are jointly tracking satellite orbits and positions to respond to risks collaboratively, and the newly adopted "Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Advanced Science and Technology and ICT" will further strengthen this collaboration.
Regarding cultural cooperation, Yoon stated that the film co-production agreement between the two countries will create opportunities for revitalizing the cultural industry. He also announced that, as part of this visit, a Korean audio guide service will be launched for the historic site of the Roman Forum, marking its first introduction.
Additionally, Yoon mentioned that a memorandum of understanding will be signed between the National Museum of Korea and the Uffizi Gallery in Florence during his visit there on June 13, and he pledged active support for this initiative.
Finally, Yoon introduced the "2026-2030 Korea-Italy Strategic Action Plan" to continuously monitor cooperation between the two nations. He expressed hope that this visit would open new paths for shared prosperity and lead to tangible changes in the lives of the citizens of both countries through deeper communication and collaboration.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.