Lee's chief of staff departs for UAE to discuss defense, nuclear energy and AI cooperation
Published: 24 Feb. 2026, 17:25
![Kang Hoon-sik, the presidential chief of staff, departs for the United Arab Emirates from Incheon International Airport on Feb. 24. [YONHAP]](https://koreaseafood.online/data/photo/2026/02/24/39facefc-798a-465c-9122-1e56b20d8c91.jpg)
Kang Hoon-sik, the presidential chief of staff, departs for the United Arab Emirates from Incheon International Airport on Feb. 24. [YONHAP]
Kang Hoon-sik, the presidential chief of staff, outlined his plans before departing for the UAE on a three-day visit as the president's special envoy for strategic economic cooperation.
“I will seek to expand cooperation in the defense industry, AI, nuclear energy and culture, aiming in particular to deliver tangible results by combining the technology and capital of the Republic of Korea and the UAE to jointly enter other markets,” Kang wrote on Facebook, referring to Korea's official name.
Kang said he plans to hold follow-up talks with UAE officials about outcomes from Lee's November 2025 summit with UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi. Lee also held talks with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khalid bin Mohamed Al Nahyan on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Gyeongju in October last year.
The visit comes after Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, chairman of Abu Dhabi's Executive Affairs Authority, traveled to Korea last month and met Lee to discuss follow-up steps for bilateral defense industry cooperation.
The UAE, one of Korea's key defense partners, signed a contract in 2022 to purchase Korea's Cheongung II midrange surface-to-air missile system.
Yonhap
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
To write comments, please log in to one of the accounts.
Standards Board Policy (0/250자)