President aims to cement South Korea's standing as a 'G7 Plus' global power

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 the G7 summit and a European tour. [Yonhap]
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 the G7 summit and a European tour. [Yonhap]

President Lee Jae Myung departed Tuesday from Seoul Airport, kicking off a European tour.

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

Over the 8-night, 10-day trip, Lee will visit Belgium, EU institutions, Italy and the Vatican before attending the G7 summit in Évian, France.

Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, Minister of Interior and Safety Yun Ho-jung, Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik, Senior Political Secretary Hong Ik-pyo, First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Kim Jin-a, French Ambassador to South Korea Philippe Bertoux and Belgian Ambassador to South Korea Bruno Jans were among those at Seoul Airport to see off the president and first lady.

Lee wore a dark navy suit with a blue tie, while first lady Kim Hye-kyung wore a jade-green two-piece outfit.

The trip builds on the diplomatic groundwork laid during the first year of the Lee administration — broadening South Korea's diplomatic reach beyond the United States and Japan into Europe, and solidifying the country's standing as a "G7 Plus" global power.


sang@heraldcorp.com