President Yoon Suk Yeol will make a state visit to the U.S. in late April for a bilateral summit with President Joe Biden. Shown is President Yoon in May last year shaking hands with President Biden at their small-scale summit held at the Office of the President in Seoul. (Office of the President) 

By Park Hye Ri

President Yoon Suk Yeol on April 26 will pay a state visit to the U.S. at the invitation of U.S. President Joe Biden.

Senior Secretary to the President for Public Relations Kim Eun-hye on March 7 said in a news release, "Marking the historic 70th anniversary of the Korea-U.S. alliance, President Yoon will be our first leader to make a state visit to the U.S. in 12 years and the second world head of state to do so since the launch of the Biden administration."

President Yoon will be the first incumbent Korean head of state to make a state visit to the U.S. since President Lee Myung-bak in 2011. Since taking office in January 2021, President Biden has had just one state guest, French President Emmanuel Macron, in December last year.

"President Yoon and President Biden are expected to celebrate the achievements of the Korea-U.S. alliance built up over the past 70 years and hold in-depth discussions on the direction of the alliance's future development through scheduled events like a bilateral summit and a state dinner on April 26," Secretary Kim said.

The upcoming summit will be third of its kind held since President Yoon's inauguration in May last year. In line with the historical symbolism of the alliance's 70th anniversary this year, the White House requested that President Yoon make a visit as a state guest, America's highest government honor.

"Based on the results of talks during bilateral summits last year in May and November, both leaders are expected to devise detailed and practical cooperation methods in a range of sectors including combined defense posture and extended deterrence; future cutting-edge technology and economic security; cultural and human exchange; and regional and global challenges," the secretary said.

"President Yoon's state visit to the U.S. will mark a historic turning point for the bilateral alliance, which is considered one of the most successful alliances in history, to evolve more actively in preparation for the rapidly changing international situation and future uncertainty."

She added, "We expect to realize a 'Korea-U.S. alliance in action' that protects the lives and safety of people in both countries, defends core values and moves forward toward the prosperity of future generations."

The White House also issued a statement on President Yoon's state visit timed with the announcement from the presidential office in Seoul.

"The upcoming visit celebrates the 70th anniversary of the U.S.-ROK (Republic of Korea) alliance, which is critical to advancing peace, stability, and prosperity for our two countries, the Indo-Pacific, and around the world," White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement.

"President Biden and President Yoon will highlight the importance and enduring strength of the ironclad U.S.-ROK alliance as well as the United States' unwavering commitment to the ROK. The Presidents will discuss our shared resolve to deepen and broaden our political, economic, security, and people-to-people ties."

hrhr@korea.kr