Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The South Korea-U.S. summit will be held on August 25. The Presidential Office announced on Aug. 12, "President Lee Jae-myung will visit the U.S. from Aug. 24 to 26 at the invitation of U.S. President Donald Trump for the summit." If the summit is held on Aug. 25, President Lee will meet President Trump for the first time in 82 days since taking office. President Lee plans to hold a summit with President Trump and a working lunch. When asked whether President Lee's visit to the U.S. constitutes a state visit, the Presidential Office spokesperson Kang Yoo-jung stat
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon-young President Lee Jae-myung met with World Council of Churches (WCC) General Secretary Jerry Pillay and a delegation from the National Council of Churches in Korea (NCCK) in his office on Aug. 11, 2025. This meeting commemorated the long history of solidarity between the WCC and the Korean church and discussed future directions for exchange and cooperation. From the WCC, General Secretary Jerry Pillay and International Director Peter Prove attended. From the National Council of Churches in Korea, General Secretary Kim Jong-saeng and President Cho Sung-am attended
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
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo During the phone conversation, the Presidents of Kazakhstan and Korea confirmed their desire to further strengthen multifaceted relations between the two countries on July 23. They thoroughly exchanged views on a wide range of bilateral cooperation. In particular, the leaders reaffirmed an interest in intensifying cooperation in the trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian spheres. The importance of effective implementation of current and promising projects in the field of industry, energy, automotive, education, and medicine was emphasized. President Lee Jae
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo President Lee Jae-myung sent invitation letters to the 20 leaders of APEC member countries to attend the APEC summit to be held in Gyeongju this year, the Presidential Office announced on July 15. Presidential Office spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said in a briefing on the same day, “President Lee sent a letter on July 14 (Korea time) informing them that this year's APEC summit is scheduled to be held in Gyeongju, South Korea, from October 31 to November 1, and inviting the member countries to the summit.” Twenty-one countries, including South Korea, the United Stat
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon-young President Lee Jae-myung talked with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte by phone and exchanged opinions on ways to deepen the partnership between South Korea and NATO on July 3. Presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jeong said in a briefing that day that this was the first time President Lee had spoken with Secretary General Rutte since taking office. Secretary General Rutte congratulated President Lee and expressed his regret at not being able to meet him at the NATO summit, but also expressed his gratitude for the South Korean government's firm commitment to coop
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon-young President Lee Jae-myung said at a press conference held on July 3, marking 30 days since his inauguration, “We are doing our best to achieve mutually beneficial and win-win results based on the principle of practical diplomacy centered on national interests in the Korea-U.S. trade negotiations, which is one of the most pressing issues.” He also said, “Based on the solid U.S.-Korea alliance, close U.S.-Korea-Japan cooperation, and the prompt improvement of relations with China and Russia, we will protect peace and the lives of our people through practical dipl
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon-young President Lee Jae-myung held his first phone call with New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon on the afternoon of July 1, and the two leaders exchanged views on ways to develop bilateral relations, according to a written briefing by Presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jeong. President Lee said that New Zealand is a grateful ally that participated in the Korean War even before establishing diplomatic relations with South Korea in 1962, and that he hopes the two countries will continue to strengthen cooperation in various fields such as economy, defense and
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon-young President Lee Jae-myung held his first phone conversation with Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), on the afternoon of July 1, according to a written briefing by Presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jeong. President Lee expressed gratitude for President Mohammed's congratulations on his inauguration and expressed hope that the two countries would work together to further strengthen the “special strategic partnership” between South Korea and the UAE, taking the opportunity of the new government's establishment. The two leade
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon-young President Lee Jae-myung had his first phone call with Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong at 11 a.m. on June 30, according to a written briefing by Presidential Spokesperson Kang Yu-jeong. During the call, Prime Minister Wong, who had sent a congratulatory message shortly after President Lee's inauguration, once again extended warm congratulations and expressed his expectations for the development of South Korea-Singapore relations and his willingness to cooperate during President Lee's term in office. In response, President Lee said, “I am pleased that
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo President Lee Jae-myung stated during a summit meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer that he hopes it will be “a good opportunity to strengthen the cooperative relationship between the two countries.” President Lee, who is visiting Canada for the G7 Summit, made the statement during a meeting with Prime Minister Starmer on the afternoon of June 17 (local time). President Lee said, “I hope this will be a good opportunity to further strengthen the existing cooperative relationship between the UK and South Korea,” adding, “I think there needs to be more
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon-young President Lee Jae-myung held a summit meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on June 17 (local time) in Kananaskis, Canada, where the G7 summit is being held. The two leaders have focused their discussions on ways to promote development in both South Korea and Japan. In particular, they agreed to bolster three-way cooperation with the United States to respond to geopolitical crises, including North Korea. During the summit, Lee and Ishiba exchanged opinions on ways to maintain regional peace and stability and agreed that the two countries should