President Park Geun-hye and Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying discussed ways to promote cooperation on the creative economy, officials at Cheong Wa Dae said on Wednesday.

“I heard that the chief executive is interested in promoting cooperation between South Korea’s (vision of a) creative economy and Hong Kong’s (drive to nurture) creative industries,” Park said at a meeting with Leung at the presidential office.

“I hope you achieve a fruitful outcome by visiting related agencies during your visit to South Korea,” she said.

Leung arrived in Seoul on Tuesday for a three-day trip on the invitation of Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se. It was his first visit to the South Korean capital since taking office. His predecessor Donald Chang visited Seoul five years ago.

Park and Leung had a brief encounter on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit held in Beijing earlier this month. But this was their first official meeting, Park’s office said.

Later in the afternoon, Leung met with Choi Yang-hee, South Korea’s minister of science, ICT and future planning, to seek ways to boost cooperation in creative industries. The city leader also visited a local entertainment agency, Dongdaemun Design Plaza and the Samsung Innovation Museum, to browse South Korea’s culture industry today.

On the sidelines of Leung’s visit to Seoul, officials from two sides agreed to make joint efforts in developing cultural and creative industries such as advertising, design, publishing and digital entertainment.

Under the agreement signed between South Korean Culture Minister Kim Jong-deok and Hong Kong’s Commerce Secretary Gregory So, the two sides are to support government agencies, business organizations, private firms and nongovernmental organizations participating in global events related to creative industries.

Hong Kong has been promoting culture and creative industries as part of its six strategies plan.

South Korea and Hong Kong have had diplomatic ties since the Seoul government established a consulate in the former British colony in 1949.

Park said South Korea and Hong Kong have the potential to deepen relations following recent progress in the bilateral ties between Seoul and Beijing. Earlier this month, South Korea and Beijing announced that they had virtually concluded a free trade agreement.

It was not immediately known whether the leaders of South Korea and Hong Kong talked about the recent pro-democracy protests that have rocked the Asian financial hub.

Activists in Hong Kong have been demanding the resignation of Leung, who was appointed by the Chinese government in Beijing. Protesters have been calling for the right to nominate candidates for the city’s chief executive position in 2017.

By Cho Chung-un (christory@heraldcorp.com)