By Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon-young

President Lee Jae-myung met with former Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, chairman of the Japan-Korea Parliamentarians' Union (JKPU), the counterpart of the Korea-Japan Parliamentarians' Union (KPU), on July 30, 2025.

Former Prime Minister Suga has served as chairman of the JKPU since March 2023. He was accompanied on his visit by Akihisa Nagashima, Secretary-General of the JKPU.

Joining the KPU were Vice Speaker Joo Ho-young, who serves as the KPU's chairman, and Secretary-General Min Hong-chul of the Democratic Party of Korea.

President Lee expressed gratitude for former Prime Minister Suga's visit to Korea despite his busy domestic political schedule and welcomed the JKPU's first visit to Korea since the inauguration of the new administration.

He also expressed his hope that Korea and Japan, like neighbors sharing the same front yard, would develop into a future-oriented relationship of mutual benefit.

After congratulating President Lee on his inauguration, former Prime Minister Suga expressed his appreciation for the bipartisan consensus among the Japanese political community, including the Japan-Korea Parliamentarians' Union, that Korea-Japan relations would steadily develop under the leadership of the two leaders in this significant year marking the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations.

He added that he would spare no effort in supporting the advancement of bilateral relations at the level of the Japanese Parliament.

President Lee and former Prime Minister Suga agreed that the two countries need to expand and deepen exchanges and cooperation across various fields, including economy, society, and culture.

They agreed to continue close communication at all levels so that both countries can jointly advance their national interests amid the current critical international situation.