Meeting with King Philippe of Belgium; 'Belgian youth fought bravely for South Korea's freedom and peace'

President Lee Jae-myung and King Philippe of Belgium pose for a photo before their meeting at Laeken Palace in Brussels on Wednesday (local time). [Yonhap]
President Lee Jae-myung and King Philippe of Belgium pose for a photo before their meeting at Laeken Palace in Brussels on Wednesday (local time). [Yonhap]

President Lee Jae-myung met with King Philippe of Belgium in Brussels on Wednesday afternoon (local time), asking the monarch to serve as a "steadfast supporter" of peace on the Korean Peninsula.

The meeting carried added significance as it offered both sides an opportunity to reflect on 125 years of friendship built on mutual trust.

Lee said he was pleased to meet for the first time with the king, whom he described as a symbol of Belgian unity, and noted that the monarch's affection for and interest in South Korea — deepened through multiple visits — had served as an important foundation for bilateral relations.

King Philippe said he had witnessed South Korea's dynamic development firsthand during five visits to the country, and expressed hope that this year would give the people of both nations a deeper understanding of each other.

Lee noted that this year marks the 75th anniversary of Belgian troops first arriving in Busan to join the Korean War. South Korea, he said, would always remember the courage of Belgian youth who fought for the country's freedom and peace, and would continue to uphold peace and democracy so that their sacrifice would not be in vain.

King Philippe said he had served in the 3rd Parachute Battalion — the Belgian unit that fought in the war — and expressed gratitude for the South Korean government's sustained efforts to keep alive the memory of that cherished history of solidarity between the two countries.

Lee also praised Belgium for hosting the internationally renowned Queen Elisabeth Competition and said he was pleased that many Koreans had achieved outstanding results there.

Lee explained that his government was pursuing a "Korean Peninsula Peace Coexistence and Co-prosperity Policy" aimed at ending hostility and confrontation between the two Koreas and moving toward a new relationship of peaceful coexistence — grounded in the belief that a peace requiring no fighting is the surest form of security. He asked for Belgium's support and interest in the initiative, and called on the king to be a steadfast supporter in ensuring that bilateral ties continue to grow strong and unshaken under his leadership.


sang@heraldcorp.com