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President Lee Jae‑myung on the phone with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba at the presidential office in Yongsan, Seoul, on June 9. / Source: Presidential Office

President Lee Jae‑myung made his inaugural phone call to Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on June 9, at his presidential office in Yongsan. This marked the second direct outreach to a foreign leader since his inauguration, following U.S. President Donald Trump. Significantly, Lee called Japan before reaching out to China’s Xi Jinping, reversing recent diplomatic order.

Lee and Ishiba spoke for approximately 25 minutes starting at noon. According to presidential press secretary Kang Yoo‑jung, President Lee conveyed his gratitude for Ishiba’s congratulatory message on his inauguration and emphasized the growing strategic importance of South Korea–Japan relations in today’s environment .

During the call, Lee stated, “I hope South Korea and Japan can collaborate from the standpoint of mutual national interests and work together on future challenges to achieve win‑win outcomes.” Both leaders agreed to build a "stronger, more mature" bilateral relationship based on mutual respect, trust, and responsibility .

They also affirmed their commitment to trilateral cooperation with the U.S. to navigate ongoing geopolitical crises, and resolved to enhance official exchanges and communications. A face‑to‑face meeting is expected during the upcoming G7 summit in Canada from June 15 to 17 .

Prime Minister Ishiba reaffirmed Japan’s intention to advance bilateral ties built over decades and expressed openness to actively communicate and meet promptly.

President Lee’s diplomatic sequence—first calling the U.S., then Japan ahead of China—signals his intent to fortify South Korea–Japan relations. This mirrors the prior administration’s order and underscores a deliberate strategy to prioritize Japan in regional diplomacy .