▲ Kang Hoon-sik, the presidential chief of staff, departs for the United Arab Emirates from Incheon International Airport in Incheon, west of Seoul, on Feb. 24, 2026. (Yonhap)

presidential aide-UAE

Lee's chief of staff departs for UAE to discuss defense, AI cooperation

By Kim Eun-jung

SEOUL, Feb. 24 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Jae Myung's chief of staff said Tuesday he is visiting the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to discuss economic cooperation in areas including the defense industry, artificial intelligence (AI) and nuclear energy.

Kang Hoon-sik, the presidential chief of staff, outlined the plan 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 the cultural industry, aiming in particular to deliver tangible results by combining the technology and capital of the Republic of Korea and the UAE to jointly enter third-country markets," Kang wrote on Facebook, referring to South Korea's official name.

Kang said he plans to hold follow-up talks with UAE officials on the outcomes of Lee's November 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.

The visit comes after Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, chairman of Abu Dhabi's Executive Affairs Authority, traveled to South Korea last month and met Lee to discuss follow-up steps for bilateral defense industry cooperation.

The UAE, one of South Korea's key defense partners, signed a contract in 2022 to purchase the Cheongung II mid-range surface-to-air missile system.

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