Malaysian compatriots meet…"If we work together, we can overcome this crisis."

"We will ensure citizens can exercise their rights without inconvenience"… Suggests improvement to overseas voting system

"Tribute to the true democracy shown by the people"… Also performing the song inserted into 'Kedeheon'

(KUALA LUMPUR=Yonhap News) Reporters Lim Hyeong-seop and Seol Seung-eun = President Lee Jae-myung, who is visiting Malaysia to attend the Korea-ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) summit, met with local Koreans on the 26th and said,"I will create a country where my heart does not flutter when I hear someone who is worried about their home country ask, 'Are you Korean?'"

The president said this at a meeting with compatriots held at a hotel in downtown Kuala Lumpur on this day under the title, “A New History We Write Together, the Real Republic of Korea,” and said, “The question, ‘Are you Korean?’ has various meanings. Depending on the time, it can mean, ‘I envy you and want to be close to you,’ but at other times, it can also mean, ‘Are you from that strange country?’”

He also emphasized,"There was a time when (our compatriots) worried about the situation in their home country and the future of the Republic of Korea from a foreign land far away," and "From now on, we will never again create a situation where our compatriots worry about their home country."

In particular, he said,"Each and every citizen of the Republic of Korea is a great being with great capabilities. I hope that even overseas, we can build good relationships where our people cooperate and rely on each other." He added,"Just like the saying, 'One by one, we can easily break, but together we cannot break,' if we join forces, we will be able to easily overcome any crisis."

He also said,"You are the face of the Republic of Korea. I am proud of you," and promised,"I will make sure to make institutional improvements in my country so that you can exercise your authority as citizens of the Republic of Korea without any inconvenience."

The president has previously mentioned several times the need to improve the system to guarantee voting rights for overseas Koreans.

In his closing remarks, he said,"As a cultural powerhouse that the entire world is paying attention to, I pay tribute to the true democracy that our people have demonstrated," and added,"I will strive to create a 'true Republic of Korea' that people around the world will want to emulate and that future generations can be proud of."

The meeting was attended by approximately 200 people from various walks of life, including representatives of Korean community organizations, businesspeople, Korean language school officials, cultural and artistic figures, and international organization workers, presidential spokesperson Kang Yoo-jung said in a written briefing.

In his welcoming speech, Kim Jong-hwa, president of the Korean Association, pledged, “We will continue to serve as a strong bridge that contributes to the promotion of friendship and revitalization of economic cooperation between the two countries.” Dr. Hong Seong-ah of the Malaysian University of Science, one of the attendees, said, “The Korean Wave is becoming a ‘thread’ that connects Korea and Malaysia.”

At the event, President Lee and Mrs. Kim Hye-kyung, dressed in traditional Korean attire, received bouquets of flowers from flower girls.

Also, the 'KSMY Youth Orchestra', consisting of about 50 local Korean youth, performed Arirang, and singer and actor Jang Han-byeol, who won a local competition program, sang 'Golden', an insert song for 'K-Pop Demon Hunters'.

On that day, there was a working dinner for the heads of state visiting Malaysia, but President Lee chose to attend a meeting with fellow Koreans.