Lee unveils ‘SHINE’ initiative to expand Korea’s ties across Middle East
President Lee Jae Myung waves to students after delivering a speech at Cairo University in Egypt, Thursday. Yonhap
CAIRO — President Lee Jae Myung on Thursday unveiled a comprehensive initiative for cooperation in the Middle East that aims to promote regional peace, deepen economic partnerships and expand cultural and people-to-people exchanges, as he was in Cairo on a multinational trip to the region.
Speaking at Cairo University, Lee outlined the "SHINE" initiative, which stands for stability, harmony, innovation, network and education, as he underlined his administration's commitment to strengthening ties with the region — crucial for energy security, trade and other areas of cooperation.
Stability and harmony — the two elements of the initiative — will serve as key principles for efforts to establish peace on the Korean Peninsula and in the Middle East, Lee pointed out.
"Our government aims to end the era of hostility and confrontation between the two Koreas and open a new era of peaceful coexistence and shared growth," Lee said.
"We will gradually expand inter-Korean exchanges and cooperation, support North Korea's efforts to normalize relations with the United States and the international community, and pursue a phased and pragmatic approach to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula," he added.
Since taking office in June, Lee has sought to resume inter-Korean dialogue and proposed a three-phase roadmap to halt, reduce and dismantle North Korea's nuclear program, though it remains unclear whether the recalcitrant regime would accede to dialogue overtures.
Lee said Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi expressed "firm support" for his peace initiative during their summit earlier in the day.
He highlighted South Korea's contributions to Middle East peace, including the deployment of its peacekeeping contingent in Lebanon in 2007 and its backing for a constructive resolution to the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Lee also pledged $10 million in aid to the Egyptian Red Crescent, hoping to support humanitarian relief and recovery efforts in the Gaza Strip.
Innovation is another key element of the Middle East initiative, underlining the Lee administration's desire to expand cooperation to cover new areas, such as artificial intelligence and hydrogen technologies, while cementing collaboration in traditional sectors, including construction and energy.
He vowed to strengthen the "institutional foundation" of economic ties with Egypt by pushing for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement between the two nations — a pact that would lower trade barriers and deepen economic engagement.
Lee noted that South Korea's rapid economic rise — often called the "Miracle of the Han River" — would not have been possible without the Middle East's support through large-scale energy and infrastructure projects.
"It is now our turn to contribute to the 'Miracle of the Nile,'" he said.
In addition, he called for expanding people-to-people exchanges through education and human-network building. To that end, he said Seoul will increase support for bringing more Egyptian students to South Korea and training Middle Eastern professionals.
"The scope of cultural exchanges will be expanded," Lee said, suggesting exchanges between the recently opened Grand Egyptian Museum and the National Museum of Korea.
The regional initiative reflects the Lee administration's push for pragmatic diplomacy, aimed at strengthening multilateral engagement and diversifying export markets amid rising protectionism and shifting geopolitical dynamics.
His visit to Egypt is the second leg of a four-nation tour of the Middle East and Africa, following his stop in the United Arab Emirates. The trip will also take him to South Africa for the Group of 20 summit and to Turkey.