President Lee Jae Myung speaks during a meeting with Korean Americans at a hotel in New York on Monday. (Yonhap)
President Lee Jae Myung speaks during a meeting with Korean Americans at a hotel in New York on Monday. (Yonhap)

President Lee Jae Myung on Monday met with Korean Americans ahead of his attendance at the UN General Assembly in New York and pledged to expand support for overseas compatriots.

Lee held the meeting during his trip to attend the annual gathering, his first since taking office in June after a snap election prompted by former President Yoon Suk Yeol's failed martial law bid.

"It should originally be the homeland that worries about its people living abroad, but for quite some time it seems overseas Koreans have been the ones worrying about the Republic of Korea," he said, referring to South Korea's official name. "From now on, it will be Korea that thinks of you and cares for you."

Lee highlighted Korea's rise from liberation from colonial rule to an economic powerhouse through industrialization and into a democratic country.

He said that it is time for Korea to return to normalcy and leap forward again across economy, military, diplomacy and other fields so that Koreans at home and abroad can take pride in their nationality.

"Though the world once worried, Korea has returned as an exemplary democratic nation, a cultural powerhouse, and a military and economic power," he said.

Lee also acknowledged difficulties faced by Korean nationals abroad in voting and vowed to improve the system to ensure overseas Koreans can fully exercise their suffrage. (Yonhap)