Seoul: President Lee Jae Myung is preparing for a significant five-day visit to New York, where he will participate in the U.N. General Assembly and engage with global leaders and investors. This marks Lee's inaugural attendance at the annual U.N. gathering since assuming office in June, coinciding with South Korea's role as the rotating chair of the U.N. Security Council this month as a non-permanent member.
According to Yonhap News Agency, during his trip, President Lee is scheduled to address the U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday. In his speech, he will announce the return of "democratic Korea" following political unrest under former President Yoon Suk Yeol's failed martial law attempt and will detail his government's foreign policy strategy.
As the chair of the Security Council, Lee will lead an open debate on artificial intelligence (AI) and its impact on global peace and security on Wednesday. This session will be a historic first for a South Korean president. Additionally, Lee's agenda includes economic diplomacy, aimed at attracting new capital to South Korea.
On Monday, Lee plans to meet with BlackRock CEO Larry Fink to discuss AI and energy transformation. He will also host an investor relations session on Thursday to outline his government's economic policies. Alongside these engagements, Lee is set to meet U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and hold bilateral discussions with leaders from France, Italy, Uzbekistan, the Czech Republic, and Poland.
While a one-on-one meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump is not scheduled, National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac noted that an informal meeting between the two leaders could occur during the assembly. Meanwhile, Seoul and Washington continue to negotiate a trade agreement aimed at reducing U.S. tariffs on South Korean goods from 25 percent to 15 percent, in return for a $350 billion investment.