Lee asks Italian House speaker to pay special attention to Korean diaspora

President Lee Jae Myung met Wednesday afternoon with Italian House Speaker Lorenzo Fontana in Rome, Cheong Wa Dae announced.

Presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said in a written briefing that Lee asked Fontana to deepen parliamentary diplomacy between the two countries so that cooperation could expand in ways citizens on both sides would feel, and to pay special attention to Korean diaspora communities in Italy.

Fontana said he had long taken a keen interest in Korea and expressed his intention to visit the country, saying he hoped to contribute to strengthening exchanges with various sectors of Korean society, including its National Assembly.

The speaker also praised the rise of Korean popular culture, saying the wide popularity of K-beauty and Korean drama series was captivating young Italians and demonstrating the power of South Korea's cultural influence.