Lord McFall's vote of thanks to the President of the Republic of Korea

This is the text of Lord McFall's speech:

Your Excellency, Mrs Kim, my Lords, distinguished guests, ladies, and gentlemen. 
 
On behalf of both Houses, it gives me great pleasure to thank you for those kind words about the strong relationship which our two countries enjoy.  
 
Your visit comes during a year of anniversaries. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the end of fighting in the Korean War, in which over 80,000 members of the British Armed Forces fought alongside their Korean allies. We remember those who did not return. We are privileged to have with us a veteran of that war, Chelsea Pensioner Colin Thackery, whom I had the pleasure of hearing sing Arirang at the Festival of Remembrance last weekend. 
 
This year also marks 35 years since the Seoul Olympics and Paralympics where two sporting members of the House of Lords, Baroness Grey-Thompson and Lord Holmes of Richmond, won the first of their many medals.  
The Seoul Games showed us a vibrant, modern Korea and, since then, the cultural impact of your nation has developed with great momentum. 
 
Just a few stops by Underground train from here is the renowned Victoria and Albert Museum. Its recent exhibition ‘Hallyu! The Korean Wave’ showcased the colourful and dynamic popular culture of your country and the global impact it has had on so many of the creative industries.  
 
The recent rise of online streaming services means millions of UK homes are now enjoying Korean dramas, such as Squid Game, and Extraordinary Attorney Woo, which highlights the strengths that neurodiverse people can bring to the workplace. And UK movie lovers applauded the film Parasite when it made history as the first non-English language film to win the Oscar for best picture.  
 
I’m a little too old for the K-Pop music scene myself, but my grandchildren are among huge numbers of young Britons who have taken Korean bands like BlackPink and BTS to their hearts and into the charts.  
Even in the older generations, some of us have learnt how to dance Gangnam Style. Mr President, I hear that you too are an accomplished singer, having performed at the White House with President Biden earlier this year. I’m only sorry there wasn’t time to invite you to sing for us today. 
 
Our countries share a passion for football, and a number of Korean stars currently grace the English Premier League. Across north London children wear Tottenham Hotspur shirts with the name of their captain, Son Hueng-Min emblazoned on the back. The global stardom of Son reminds us of the earlier success of Manchester United’s Park Ji-Sung, the first Asian player to win the European Champions League. My own team, Glasgow Celtic, were sadly eliminated from this year’s Champions League which followers of Scottish football will recognise as a familiar story. But we recently signed three Korean players so – who knows – perhaps we might enjoy greater success next season? 
 
Your nation enjoys huge cultural and sporting prominence here in the UK. But the economic and trade relationship between our countries must also be emphasised.  Over the last four decades, the global economic position of South Korea has shifted enormously. The UK finds itself enriched in so many ways as a result of this, and of the advances in technology and innovation that have fostered and sustained it. I’m sure many here today drive Kia and Hyundai cars and some are likely to remember the excitement of the first MP3 players. Korea is recognised as an international leader in science, industry and technology.  
 
Crucially, we also have many shared values. The building we are gathered in today stands as a symbol of the United Kingdom’s decision to take the path of democracy. Your country made a similar choice in the last century, at the cost of considerable struggle and sacrifice. That choice has borne fruit in the most spectacular way.  
 
 
Over the past seven decades, the Korean people have seen their nation develop from a recipient of international aid to an OECD donor country and a worldwide beacon for prosperity, stability and openness. This transformation is exceptional in global economic history. 
 
Today we stand side by side in our shared commitment to uphold international security, democratic principles and the rule of law. Since the signing, last year, of the Bilateral Framework for Closer Cooperation, collaboration between our nations has broadened and deepened on key policy areas. We also benefit from the establishment of greater links in health, environment, science, trade – and crucially - people to people engagement. Your visit is an important milestone in developing and enhancing this key relationship in the years ahead.  

Mr President, it has been a great honour to welcome you to Parliament, and I hope that your visit to the UK is an enjoyable one. I wish you and the people of the Republic of Korea well for the future.  

Thank you.