State visit by President Yoon Suk Yeol of the Republic of Korea – programme
At the invitation of His Majesty King Willem-Alexander, the president of the Republic of Korea, Yoon Suk Yeol, will be paying a state visit to the Netherlands on Tuesday 12 and Wednesday 13 December. He will be accompanied by his wife, Kim Keon Hee.
This is the first state visit to the Netherlands by a president of the Republic of Korea since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1961. In 2014 the King and Queen paid a state visit to the Republic of Korea. In November 2022, Prime Minister Mark Rutte and President Yoon concluded a Strategic Partnership Agreement.
Despite the geographical distance between the countries, the Netherlands and the Republic of Korea are increasingly close partners. The state visit provides an opportunity to further expand our successful trade ties and to deepen their cooperation. Another agenda item is the prosperity and stability of East Asia and the Indo-Pacific region as a whole. The Netherlands and the Republic of Korea are logical partners with shared norms and values, collaborating in areas including sustainable energy, agriculture and the high-tech industry.
Tuesday 12 December
Morning
Welcome ceremony
In Dam Square in Amsterdam, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima will officially welcome the Korean president and his wife to the Netherlands. After the delegations have been introduced, the ceremony will feature the Marine Band of the Royal Netherlands Navy playing the national anthems of both countries, and the inspection of the guard of honour.
At the Royal Palace in Amsterdam, representatives of the Dutch authorities will be introduced to the president, after which a reception will be held. There will also be a private lunch with the King and Queen.
Wreath laying
At the national monument in Dam Square, President Yoon will lay a wreath.
Afternoon
Visit to ASML
During a visit to ASML in Veldhoven, a dialogue session will be held featuring CEOs from the high-tech industry. The discussion will focus on Dutch-Korean cooperation on innovation, and the development of the semiconductor (microchip) industry. ASML supplies technology for semiconductor manufacturing using lithography equipment, a key export product to the Republic of Korea. The King and the president will then be given a guided tour of the cleanroom where ASML’s machines are produced. The Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation will also be present for this visit.
Evening
State banquet
In the evening, the King and Queen will host a state banquet at the Royal Palace in Amsterdam. Both the King and the Korean president will deliver an address.
Wednesday 13 December
Morning
Visit to the States General
On Wednesday morning, President Yoon will visit the Dutch Parliament in The Hague. There he will meet the president of the Senate, Jan Anthonie Bruijn, and the acting president of the House of Representatives.
Government lunch
At the Binnenhof, the president will be received by Prime Minister Mark Rutte, where they will discuss various matters concerning the strategic partnership between the countries, including economic security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. After various MoUs have been signed, a government lunch will be held, attended by the King.
Afternoon
Meeting with veterans
Back at the Royal Palace in Amsterdam, the King and President Yoon will meet with Dutch veterans of the Korean War. During the meeting they will reflect on the history of the bilateral relations between the Netherlands and the Republic of Korea.
Business Forum
During the Business Forum, a CEO roundtable will be jointly hosted by the Confederation of Netherlands Industry and Employers (VNO-NCW) and the Korea International Trade Association (KITA). Another session will focus on ‘partnership through innovation’, with a view to linking sectors such as high-tech, the energy transition and agriculture and horticulture. Various MOUs between companies and the authorities will also be signed. The Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation will be present throughout the Business Forum. The King and President Yoon will attend the Forum’s closing session, where President Yoon will give a speech.
Evening
Korean music and dance event hosted by the president and his wife
In the evening, President Yoon and his wife will host a special event for the King and Queen: a classical Korean music and dance performance at AFAS Live in Amsterdam. After the King and Queen have taken their leave of the president and his wife, the state visit will come to a close.
Government Information Service no. 316