Diplomacy Journal Kim Tae Yeon | Explaining the results of his tour of Europe and the Group of Seven (G7), President Lee Jae-myung emphasized his commitment to expanding national interests through pragmatic diplomacy and international cooperation for the establishment of peace on the Korean Peninsula.

During a briefing on the results of the Europe and G7 tour held at the Chunchugwan on the 19th, President Lee stated, “I requested Pope Leo XIV to visit Korea in conjunction with next year’s World Youth Day (WYD) in Seoul, and asked him to pursue the possibility of a visit to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and, if possible, a visit to North Korea during his visit.” It was reported that the Pope responded by saying, “I will actively consider them and make efforts to pursue these matters.”

President Lee stated that he attended a special Mass for Peace and Solidarity held at the Vatican and explained the South Korean government’s vision and commitment to peace on the Korean Peninsula.
In particular, referring to the spirit of reconciliation and cooperation left by the June 15 Inter-Korean Joint Declaration, he emphasized, “The spark of hope for peace is still alive and must continue.”

During this trip, President Lee assessed that attending the G7 Summit confirmed trust in the Republic of Korea’s international standing and role. He stated, “I have personally felt that the Republic of Korea’s status and the expectations of the international community have certainly risen over the past year,” adding, “We will play a greater role as a responsible nation in resolving major pending issues in the international community.”

In addition, President Lee held bilateral meetings with the leaders of the United States, Canada, Germany, and Kenya to discuss cooperation measures in various fields, including economic security, energy supply chains, defense cooperation, artificial intelligence, and development cooperation. He explained that he shared a consensus with U.S. President Trump on the importance of Korea-U.S. cooperation and Korea-U.S.-Japan cooperation, and also exchanged views on mutually beneficial cooperation measures, including in the shipbuilding sector.

At the summit with the EU, a digital trade agreement and an agreement on the transmission of passenger reservation data were concluded. President Lee expressed his expectation that this would strengthen the digital cooperation and coordination framework for national security between Korea and the EU. He emphasized that he conveyed the position that disadvantageous measures against Korean steel, particularly regarding the EU's steel tariff quota system, should not become trade barriers.

With Italy, bilateral relations were elevated to a special strategic partnership, and memorandums of understanding were signed in the fields of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), advanced science and technology, the social solidarity economy, development cooperation, and culture. During the visit to Belgium, discussions focused on cooperation among SMEs and startups, as well as measures to expand exchanges among future generations.

President Lee assessed this tour as a "journey to maximize national interests through pragmatic diplomacy," stating, "Amidst a changing international order, we will prioritize national interests and secure new growth engines for the Republic of Korea across all sectors—economy, security, technology, and culture."

Furthermore, referring to his meeting with overseas adoptees, he remarked, "Listening to the identity struggles adopted compatriots have experienced and their earnest desire to find their families, I felt a great sense of responsibility as the President of the Republic of Korea." He added that he had instructed the Overseas

Koreans Agency and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to review practical support measures.

The recent tour of Europe and the G7 is assessed to have yielded multifaceted results, including peace

diplomacy on the Korean Peninsula, economic and security cooperation, stability of energy supply chains, and the expansion of global partnerships. In particular, attention is focused on whether the possibility of the Pope visiting the DMZ and North Korea could serve as a new diplomatic opportunity for future discussions on peace on the Korean Peninsula.