0
President Lee Jae-myung is set to depart for New York on September 22 to attend the 80th UN General Assembly, where he will deliver a keynote address and chair a UN Security Council debate. / Source: Yonhap News

President Lee Jae-myung will depart for the United States on September 22 to attend the 80th UN General Assembly, where he plans to declare the “return of democratic Korea” in his keynote address and outline a phased approach to North Korea’s denuclearization. His visit runs through September 26, featuring diplomacy centered on artificial intelligence (AI), global security, and attracting investment to South Korea.

According to the presidential office, Lee’s first stop in New York will be a meeting with Larry Fink, CEO of BlackRock and chair of the World Economic Forum, to discuss cooperation in AI and energy transition. Later that day, he will meet with members of the U.S. Congress to emphasize the strength of the Korea-U.S. alliance, followed by a town hall with Korean-Americans.

On September 23, Lee will deliver his keynote address as the seventh speaker among more than 190 heads of state, proclaiming Korea’s democratic restoration and presenting Seoul’s contributions to global peace and prosperity. National Security Office head Wi Sung-lac explained that Lee’s denuclearization initiative focuses on first halting North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs, then moving toward reduction and dismantlement, with sanctions relief considered as part of phased reciprocity.

After his speech, Lee will meet UN Secretary-General António Guterres to discuss multilateralism and peace on the Korean Peninsula, and later hold talks with U.S. opinion leaders. On September 24, he will become the first South Korean president to chair a UN Security Council debate, leading discussions on “AI and international peace and security” under the theme of “AI for All.”

On September 25, Lee will host an investment summit with Wall Street executives, introducing Korea’s economic policies and promoting the country as a prime destination for global capital. He will also hold bilateral summits with leaders of France, Italy, Uzbekistan, the Czech Republic, and Poland. However, no separate summit with U.S. President Donald Trump is planned. Wi noted, “President Lee and President Trump met recently, and given the complexity of this schedule, another meeting was not arranged.”