South Korea's President Lee Myung Bak said he supported the suggestion made to him by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong when they met earlier in the day. -- PHOTO: ZAOBAO
SOUTH Korea is in favour of setting up a Korean Culture Centre in Singapore to showcase its movies and pop culture to Singaporeans as well as the wider South-east Asian region.
South Korea's President Lee Myung Bak said on Wednesday night he supported the suggestion made to him by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong when they met earlier in the day.
GRC change 'to ensure good govt'
THE controversy over the size of a Group Representative Constituency (GRC) was addressed by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Wednesday.
He said its purpose is to produce the right incentives on voters, candidates and political parties to ensure a good government.
A Korean Culture Centre could enable Seoul to ride the 'Korean wave' to deepen its relationship with the region, PM Lee said, when asked by reporters.
'Korean movies are very popular, (so too) pop songs,' he noted.
Other ideas that the two leaders exchanged when they met at the presidential palace, the Blue House, included those on promoting free trade, expanding air services, and collaboration in research and development.
Speaking to the Singapore media after the hour-long bilateral meeting, PM Lee said they had a good meeting. This stemmed from excellent bilateral relations, and relations forged via Asean and Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) get-togethers.
Apart from the culture centre, the Singapore leader also suggested that South Korea consider joining the Trans-Pacific Strategic Partnership (TPP), a free trade arrangement between Singapore, Brunei, New Zealand and Chile.
Australia, Vietnam, Peru and the United States, are considering joining, PM Lee added.
The TPP was a 'constructive way' to further free trade among nations while waiting for the stalled Doha round of World Trade Organisation talks to resume, he noted.
Bilaterally, Mr Lee said he also suggested reviewing the three-year-old free trade agreement between Singapore and Korea, with a view to 'set a new marker for trade cooperation in the Asia-Pacific'.
President Lee asked his officials to approach the review in this spirit, he said.
Read the full story in Thursday's edition of The Straits Times.
