By Lee Kap-soo

President Yoon Suk-yeol, who is currently in San Francisco for the APEC Summit, along with First Lady Kim Keon-hee, hosted a luncheon and meeting with local compatriots on November 15. The meeting was attended by more than 150 compatriots who are active in San Francisco and its neighboring areas.

In his encouraging remarks, the President said that he visited the United States for the fourth time this year, and introduced the achievements of his previous visits to the United States, including the "Washington Declaration" and the vision of a "Global Comprehensive Strategic Alliance" during his state visit in April, the launch of the trilateral cooperation system at Camp David in August, and the proposal for solidarity with the international community to bridge gaps and achieve mutual benefits in his speech to the United Nations General Assembly in September, and explained that the two countries will send a message of solidarity with the international community through innovation and inclusion at the APEC Summit.

The President noted that this year, the 70th anniversary of the U.S.-ROK Alliance, will be remembered as a historic starting point for the two countries to take the first steps toward a new 70 years of alliance as an "alliance in action." The President also recalled that Korean Americans who arrived in Hawaii 120 years ago settled in the U.S. mainland through San Francisco, and emphasized that the San Francisco diaspora, the starting point of Korean American history in the U.S. mainland, has also contributed significantly to the development of the U.S.-ROK Alliance.

The President noted that the prominence of Korean Americans in global innovation centers such as Silicon Valley will contribute to the advancement of the rights and interests of Korean Americans in the U.S. as well as the entry of Korean high-tech companies into the U.S. market, and expressed his hope that Korean Americans will continue to contribute to the development of the U.S.-Korea "Science and Technology Alliance.

In his welcome remarks, KIm Han-il, President of the Korean American Association of San Francisco, noted that this year marks the 70th anniversary of the U.S.-ROK Alliance and the 120th anniversary of U.S.-Korea immigration, and explained that San Francisco is the center of our immigration history. 

Kim vowed that the Korean American Association of San Francisco and the Korean American community in Northern California will continue to share the greatness of Korea based on the great achievements of our ancestors, the leadership of President Yoon Suk-yeol in the international community, and the efforts of Mrs. Kim Gun-hee to promote our culture.