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President Lee Jae-myung speaks with Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala by phone from his office at the presidential compound in Yongsan, Seoul, on June 11. / Courtesy of the presidential office

President Lee Jae-myung held his first phone call with Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala on June 11, discussing the recent nuclear power plant agreement and broader economic cooperation between the two countries.

According to presidential spokesperson Kang Yoo-jung, the leaders spoke for approximately 20 minutes starting at 4 p.m. from President Lee’s office at the presidential compound in Yongsan, Seoul.

The two leaders praised the final contract signed on June 4 between Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) and Czech utility CEZ's subsidiary Dukovany II Nuclear Power Plant Company as a "cornerstone for expanding bilateral economic cooperation."

They also agreed to broaden their collaboration beyond nuclear energy to include high-tech industries, infrastructure, and energy, Kang said.

The Dukovany project involves constructing two 1-gigawatt (GW) nuclear reactors in the Czech Republic, with a total estimated cost of 26 trillion won (approximately $19 billion).

President Lee also conveyed his hope that Prime Minister Fiala would visit South Korea at a convenient time in the future. Fiala expressed his appreciation in response.

A presidential office official added, “Since the launch of the new administration, congratulatory messages have been arriving from EU and European leaders,” noting that President Lee is expected to meet many of them during the upcoming G7 summit.