South Korean President Lee Jae Myung Broadens Diplomatic Outreach in Europe

By Park Boram

EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France, June 17 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Jae Myung took a major step in broadening South Korea's diplomatic outreach to Europe, as the country seeks to diversify its diplomatic profile and align with major powers in addressing protectionism and other global challenges, officials said Wednesday.

Lee wrapped up his 10-day trip to Europe aimed at widening South Korea's partnership with European nations, as well as the European Union (EU), as the international community faces shifting trade and security environments stemming from the war in the Middle East and growing protectionist trade policies.

It marked the South Korean president's first visit to the region since taking office in June last year, which was marked chiefly by the forging of partnerships with the EU and its member states.

During the first stop of the trip in Brussels, Lee held a summit with Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever last Wednesday, paving the way for companies from both countries to invest in each other's battery, energy and other strategic markets, and to use each other as footholds to expand into their respective regional markets.

The same day, Lee met with Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, and Antonio Luis Santos da Costa, president of the European Council, signing an agreement on launching negotiations for a bilateral information security pact, which would facilitate security and defense cooperation between the two sides.

On the second leg of his visit in Italy, Lee held summit talks with Italian President Sergio Mattarella, agreeing to elevate their countries' bilateral ties to a special strategic partnership, marking the second Group of Seven (G7) member state with which South Korea has established such a partnership, following France.

Seoul and Rome also agreed to explore ways to expand cooperation in the semiconductor, artificial intelligence (AI) and other strategic sectors, also pledging efforts to ensure the agreement would generate tangible outcomes.

In France, Lee attended the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains as the head of an invited country for the second consecutive year.

During the summit, Lee joined the most industrialized countries for discussions on ways to address pressing global challenges, such as the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, as well as global economic imbalances and challenges associated with the emergence of AI.

Lee also held separate bilateral talks with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, agreeing to enhance bilateral cooperation with both countries.

Lee's outreach in Europe marks South Korea's increasing alignment with the region, which is spearheading free trade and multilateralism amid rising global protectionism and regional conflicts that have disrupted supply chains and energy shipments, according to officials.

National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac, who accompanied Lee on the tour, called it "an important opportunity" that solidified South Korea's role in contributing to the resolution of pending global issues on the international stage.

"Through this, South Korea's diplomacy will expand beyond Northeast Asia to Europe and the global stage, in pursuit of wider solidarity and deeper cooperation," Wi said.

The trip also marks a major step in Seoul's efforts to diversify its diplomatic focus beyond Asia and the United States toward Europe, as the country seeks to cement its role in addressing key global challenges and defending the international order, supported by confidence from its sturdy economic growth.

"Building on the strength of the Republic of Korea made possible by our great people, I will firmly safeguard our national interests and faithfully fulfill our responsible role in contributing to global peace and prosperity," Lee wrote on social platform X ahead of his attendance at the G7 summit.

"The Republic of Korea is no longer a country that simply follows change, but one that creates change and leads the future. I will proudly convey to the world our stronger resilience and confidence, and return home," the president said.

The Europe tour also served as an opportunity to reaffirm the Lee administration's reconciliatory policy of pursuing peace with North Korea.

During his stay in Italy, Lee met with Pope Leo XIV and confirmed the Vatican's support for his peace initiative on the Korean Peninsula, and also likely discussed the possibility of a papal visit to North Korea.

Lee also invited the pope to visit South Korea on the occasion of the country's hosting of World Youth Day in 2027.

Presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said Lee's visit to the Vatican served as "an opportunity to sincerely share with the Holy See our government's commitment to contributing to peace and the stable development of the international community."