By Kayla Lee

President Yoon Suk-yeol, who is in New York to attend the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly, held his first summit with Bulgarian President Rumen Radev on the afternoon of September 20.
 

During the meeting, President Yoon requested Bulgaria's support for the 2030 Busan World Expo and exchanged views on ways to develop bilateral relations.

The two leaders praised the comprehensive and forward-looking partnership (established in 2015) that the two countries have developed in all fields, and expressed their hope that the summit will further revitalize high-level exchanges between the two countries.

President Yoon expressed encouragement at the recent expansion of Korean enterprises in Bulgaria in the fields of auto parts and transportation infrastructure, and suggested that the two countries identify specific cooperation projects in various fields, including IT, high-tech, energy, and tourism. 

President Radev expressed his hope to expand practical cooperation in areas where both countries have strengths and common interests. President Radev also expressed his desire to strengthen cooperation with South Korea, especially in the areas of space, artificial intelligence, automotive batteries, defense, and autonomous driving.

At the beginning of the meeting, Yoon expressed his sympathy for the damage caused to Bulgaria's Black Sea coastal areas by storms in southeastern Europe in early September and wished for a speedy recovery.