Lee embarks on 8-night, 10-day European tour after local elections and press conference

Departs Tuesday morning through Seoul Airport

To visit Belgium, EU, Italy and the Holy See before G7 summit in France

Diplomacy broadened beyond US, Japan ties

Lee to convey Korea's commitment to global peace in papal meeting

President Lee Jae Myung and first lady Kim Hye-kyung wave to well-wishers from Air Force One at Seoul Airport in Seongnam on Tuesday before departing for a European tour and the G7 summit. [Yonhap]

President Lee Jae Myung departed Tuesday through Seoul Airport, kicking off a European tour that will take him across five stops over 10 days.

Having wrapped up major domestic matters — including local elections and a press conference marking his first year in office — Lee is now shifting his focus to foreign affairs and security as he enters his second year in power.

Over the eight-night, 10-day trip, Lee will visit Belgium, the EU, Italy and the Holy See before attending the G7 summit in Évian, France.

The tour is designed to build on a year of diplomatic groundwork and extend South Korea's engagement beyond its traditional US- and Japan-centered orbit into Europe, cementing the country's standing as a "G7-plus" global power.

Lee's first stop is Brussels, where he arrived Tuesday evening for a dinner meeting with the Korean diaspora. On Wednesday, he is scheduled to hold summit talks with Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever and meet with King Philippe.

The visit coincides with the 125th anniversary of diplomatic ties between South Korea and Belgium. The meetings — the first between Lee and Belgian leaders since he took office — are expected to yield concrete steps to elevate bilateral cooperation.

Also on Wednesday afternoon, Lee will hold talks with EU leaders and attend an agreement-signing ceremony. It will be the first bilateral visit by a South Korean president to the EU in eight years.

President Lee Jae Myung speaks with Prime Minister Kim Min-seok as he walks to Air Force One at Seoul Airport in Seongnam on Tuesday before departing for a European tour and the G7 summit. [Yonhap]

National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac, briefing reporters on the tour ahead of departure, said the EU is the world's largest trading bloc and South Korea's third-largest trading partner. "Through the summit with the EU, we will work to open up new export channels for our companies and create a more favorable environment for Korean businesses operating in Europe," he said.

Lee also plans to broaden security cooperation with the EU, building on the Security and Defence Partnership the two sides adopted in 2024. The aim is to deepen intelligence sharing and strengthen joint efforts against transnational crimes such as drug trafficking and terrorism.

With global uncertainty on the rise, the two sides will also hold close consultations on key regional situations — including the Korean Peninsula and the Middle East — and explore ways to coordinate on energy, supply chain stability and critical minerals.

Lee will arrive in Rome on Wednesday evening and conduct a state visit to Italy from Thursday through Saturday. He will hold summit talks with President Sergio Mattarella and a third official meeting with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

Italy is South Korea's fourth-largest trading partner within the EU and a key member of the EU, G7 and G20. The two countries share much in common — a geography bridging sea and land, and export economies anchored in manufacturing — making Italy a central partner as Seoul extends its pragmatic, national-interest-driven diplomacy into Europe.

During the visit, Lee plans to adopt the "2026–2030 Korea-Italy Strategic Action Plan," a roadmap for the bilateral relationship. He will also host a business roundtable bringing together companies in the semiconductor, aerospace, energy and biotech sectors to broaden the foundation for economic cooperation.

Cooperation in basic science, space and defense industries will also be on the agenda. Wi said the visit would "lay the groundwork for elevating an advanced technology partnership with Italy, a country with a storied tradition in science."

President Lee Jae Myung and first lady Kim Hye-kyung walk to Air Force One at Seoul Airport in Seongnam on Tuesday before departing for a European tour and the G7 summit. [Yonhap]

On Saturday, Lee will visit Florence — the cradle of Renaissance culture — as a special gesture of honor extended to a state guest. He will meet with the governor of Tuscany and the mayor of Florence to discuss expanding cultural exchanges and lay the groundwork for spreading Korean culture in Europe.

The Holy See leg of the tour begins Sunday. Lee will attend a special Mass at the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls before meeting separately with Pope Leo XIV and Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin on Monday.

Through the visit, Lee intends to express South Korea's commitment to peace and solidarity around the world and secure the Holy See's support for that cause.

The trip will also serve as an opportunity to strengthen the cooperative framework between South Korea and the Holy See ahead of the 2027 World Youth Day in Seoul.

The final leg of the tour is the G7 summit in Évian, France — Lee's second consecutive year attending the gathering.

Lee is scheduled to take part in expanded sessions and working lunches. He also plans to convey South Korea's intention to actively serve as a bridge between developed and developing nations as the G7 pursues international progress through mutually beneficial cooperation.

South Korea's second consecutive appearance at the G7 summit is expected to solidify its standing as a "G7-plus global responsible power."

A bilateral meeting with US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the G7 has not yet been confirmed, however. A senior Cheong Wa Dae official said talks with Trump remained a possibility, noting that "there are plans to hold bilateral talks if possible and consultations are under way," but added that "nothing has been specifically agreed upon."

sang@heraldcorp.com
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