President Lee Jae-myung poses for a photo with the leaders of five Central Asian nations — Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan — at the Korea-Central Asia Summit held in Seoul on Nov. 16. From left: Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President Lee, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Nurgojoevich Japarov and Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov. Kwon Wook
President Lee Jae-myung delivers the opening address at the first 2026 Korea-Central Asia Summit held at a hotel in Seoul on Nov. 16. 2026 Korea-Central Asia Summit
President Lee Jae-myung speaks at the first Korea-Central Asia Business Summit held at a hotel in Seoul on Nov. 16. 2026 Korea-Central Asia Summit
President Lee Jae-myung and Central Asian leaders listen to a welcoming address by SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won at the first Korea-Central Asia Business Summit held at a hotel in Seoul on Nov. 16. From left: Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President Lee, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov and Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov. 2026 Korea-Central Asia Summit
President Lee Jae-myung said on the 16th that "if we walk together, the road opened 1,500 years ago will reopen as a new Silk Road," in a keynote speech at the Korea-Central Asia Business Summit held at a hotel in Seoul.
The event drew leaders and business delegations from South Korea and five Central Asian countries: Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.
Lee cited exchanges dating to the Silla Dynasty and the history of ethnic Koreans who settled in the region, then pointed to the growth in trade since diplomatic ties were established in 1992 and the popularity of Korean content such as the television dramas "Jumong" and "Dae Jang Geum."
"Young people in Korea and Central Asia now watch the same dramas and listen to the same songs," he said. "A relationship in which only goods moved back and forth is broadening into sweeping cooperation in which culture and people move as well."
"That is also the direction in which we should move forward together," he said, expressing his intention to build a new Silk Road with the five Central Asian countries.
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