President Lee Jae Myung pledged to more actively support overseas South Koreans amid heightened concerns about security and visa requirements.

The president made the statement on Thursday morning during a ceremony marking the 19th World Korean Day at the Grand Walkerhill Hotel in Seoul.

The presidential office said that Lee had attended the event to encourage the 50 million South Korean citizens living in South Korea and seven million living overseas to join forces for the sake of the nation's future.

Following the recent detention of hundreds of South Korean workers in Georgia, Lee promised to better protect the rights and safety of overseas Koreans. 

World Korean Day, observed on October 5, was designated a statutory commemorative day in 2007. 

The government holds events around this day each year to honor the contributions of overseas South Koreans and help them strengthen their ties with their home country.