Yoon pledges scholarships for Saudi youths wishing to study in Korea

Yoon emphasized in his speech that Saudi Arabia must become a "pioneer" that leads in new fields, and that the driving force behind creating and implementing such changes and innovations are the youth and the future generation.

Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, center, gives a speech to some 2,000 students and faculty at King Saud University in Riyadh on Monday during his state visit to Saudi Arabia. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

President Yoon Suk Yeol promised to expand scholarship opportunities for Saudi students wishing to study in Korea as he became the first foreign leader to address students at King Saud University in Riyadh on Monday.

Yoon emphasized in his speech that Saudi Arabia must become a "pioneer" that leads in new fields and that the driving force behind creating and implementing such changes and innovations is the youth and the future generation.

The speech to some 2,000 students, faculty and government officials at the university came during Yoon's four-day state visit to Saudi Arabia, which included a bilateral summit and economy-related events.

King Saud University, a public institution, was established in 1957 as Saudi Arabia's first university. It is also the alma mater of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Yoon recalled the history of exchanges between Korea and Saudi Arabia that began more than 1,000 years ago and said that the two countries' special partnership was essential for Korea's economic growth, the so-called "Miracle on the Han River," in the 1970s.

"The special partnership between Korea and Saudi Arabia, established in the 1970s through infrastructure cooperation such as highway construction, has become an important stepping stone for Korea's economic development," Yoon said.

He highlighted how Korea has now transformed from being a country receiving aid to one that provides aid.

Yoon noted that Saudi Arabia is pursuing its "Vision 2030" and NEOM megacity project as national strategies for the post-oil era, stressing that he "respects Saudi Arabia's vision of leading such change and innovation."

He further emphasized the role of youth in both countries as agents of such change and innovation in the digital era and encouraged young people to contribute to peace and common development in the international community.

Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, center, visits King Saud University in Riyadh on Monday for a dialogue with Saudi youths during his state visit to Saudi Arabia. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

Yoon said that the friendly cooperative relationship between Korea and Saudi Arabia will deepen through opportunities for students and experts to actively interact, study and research together. He expressed hopes for more Saudi youths to visit Korea to learn the language, experience the culture and participate in education and research in various fields, including the bio and medical fields, renewable energies and female leadership.

"We will expand government scholarship support for Saudi students who wish to study at Korean universities," Yoon said.

He highlighted that the Korean government has provided some 300 billion won ($220 million) in education aid this year and is leading development and innovation in high-tech fields such as semiconductors, rechargeable batteries and artificial intelligence.

Yoon spoke on the popularity of Korean content overseas and thanked Saudi youths for their "interest in K-pop, K-drama and K-food."

Yoon also took part in a question-and-answer session with students after his speech, with participants interested in ways to partake in such Korea-Saudi exchanges and cooperation.

"Universities are very important to the development of a country," Yoon said. "On behalf of the government, I will support close exchanges and cooperation between Saudi universities, including King Saud University, and Korean universities."

On Saturday, Yoon began a two-country, six-day trip, which will also take him to Qatar.

BY SARAH KIM [kim.sarah@joongang.co.kr]