President Lee Jae Myung unveiled his policy vision for the Middle East, the “SHINE Initiative,” which stands for stability, harmony, innovation, network and education.

Speaking at Cairo University on Thursday, Lee said the initiative, covering peace, prosperity and culture, aims to foster a mutually beneficial future for the Korean Peninsula and the Middle East.

Lee vowed to build peace in both regions based on “stability and harmony” through collaborative engagement, citing South Korea’s long-standing contributions to Middle East peace, including troop deployments to Lebanon since 2007 and humanitarian aid in conflict zones.

He also pledged an additional ten million U.S. dollars to the Egyptian Red Crescent Society to help address the Gaza crisis.

Lee expressed his intent to expand bilateral cooperation into new areas, such as artificial intelligence and hydrogen, as well as to strengthen it in traditional sectors, including construction and energy.

The president also said that South Korea will expand university exchanges with Egypt, including Cairo University, and create additional scholarships and training programs to welcome more Egyptian students.