South Korean President Lee Jae Myung begins 11-day trip to US, South America for tech and resource talks
Quick Look
- South Korean President Lee Jae Myung commenced an 11-day overseas trip, starting in San Francisco to meet global tech leaders like Sam Altman and Jensen Huang for AI investment talks and to issue an AI declaration.
- He will then visit Brazil, Chile, and Argentina to expand diplomatic and economic outreach, focusing on resource and security partnerships.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
President Lee Jae Myung is undertaking his first South American trip since taking office in June 2025, aiming to boost South Korea's AI industry and secure economic and security partnerships with resource-rich nations.
By Park Boram
SEOUL, July 24 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Jae Myung left Friday for San Francisco, where he will begin his 11-day overseas trip that includes visits to three South American countries, his first visit to the region since taking office in June 2025.
During a two-day visit to San Francisco from Friday (local time), the president will meet with the heads of four global tech giants, including OpenAI Chief Executive Officer Sam Altman and Nvidia chief Jensen Huang, to discuss investment and cooperation plans. The other tech firms are Anthropic and Broadcom.
In a high-level event on artificial intelligence (AI) later in the day, the president plans to issue a "San Francisco AI declaration," outlining South Korea's vision for advancing the AI industry and enhancing global cooperation, according to presidential officials.
From Sunday through Wednesday, Lee will pay a state visit to Brazil as part of broader efforts to expand South Korea's diplomatic and economic outreach in South America.
The trip will include a summit with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in the capital, Brasilia, and a business roundtable involving South Korean and Brazilian companies in Sao Paulo.
On Thursday and Friday, the South Korean president will visit Chile and Argentina, respectively, for summit talks with Chilean President Jose Antonio Kast and Argentine President Javier Milei.
The planned engagements with the three South American countries, which are rich in natural resources, are expected to help establish economic and security partnerships, National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac said earlier.
On Sunday, the president will make a stopover in Frankfurt, Germany, where he will meet with South Korean residents there before returning home the following day.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
South Korea will issue a 'San Francisco AI declaration' outlining its vision for AI and global cooperation.
Very likely · Within days
South Korea will establish economic and security partnerships with Brazil, Chile, and Argentina.
Likely · Within weeks
Open Questions
- What are the specific outcomes of the tech meetings?
- What are the detailed contents of the 'San Francisco AI declaration'?
- What is the exact nature of the economic and security partnerships?
