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President Lee Jae-myung and first lady Kim Hye-kyung wave to well-wishers before boarding Air Force One at Seoul Air Base in Seongnam on June 9 for a European trip and attendance at the G7 Summit. / Yonhap News

President Lee Jae-myung departed Monday on an eight-day trip to Europe centered on the G7 Summit, marking his first European tour since taking office.

The trip is expected to focus on securing international support for peace on the Korean Peninsula through a visit to the Vatican and strengthening economic security cooperation with European partners. Attention is also focused on whether Lee will hold a third summit meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump.

With key bilateral issues—including tariffs, U.S.-bound investment, the transfer of wartime operational control and the possible introduction of nuclear-powered submarines—remaining unresolved, a potential meeting between the two leaders is drawing considerable interest.

Lee departed aboard the presidential aircraft from Seoul Air Base at around 9:20 a.m. for Brussels, the first stop on his trip. Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, who recently announced his intention to resign, personally saw him off.

Also present at the departure ceremony were Interior Minister Yoon Ho-jung, presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik, senior political secretary Hong Ik-pyo and the ambassadors of three European countries to South Korea.

The president is scheduled to arrive in Brussels late Monday and begin his itinerary with a dinner meeting with Korean residents.

On Tuesday, he will hold summit talks with Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever and meet with King Philippe.

He will also meet Antonio Costa and Ursula von der Leyen to discuss expanding South Korea-EU cooperation and strengthening economic security ties.

As global protectionism intensifies under the Trump administration, cooperation with the EU is viewed as increasingly important for reducing trade barriers and stabilizing supply chains. The presidential office said the trip aims to broaden relations with major European countries and address shared challenges in trade, industry and supply chains.

Lee will then pay a state visit to Italy from Sept. 11 to 13, his first state visit to a European country as president.

During the visit, he will hold talks with Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and meet the speakers of both houses of parliament.

A Korea-Italy business roundtable is also scheduled, with participants expected to include Lee Jae-yong, chairman of Samsung Electronics, and Choi Soo-yeon, chief executive of Naver.

The two countries are expected to discuss expanding cooperation in advanced industries, digital technology and manufacturing.

Following the Italy visit, Lee will travel to the Vatican from Sept. 14 to 15.

On Sept. 14, he will attend and deliver remarks at a special Mass for peace and solidarity at Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls.

The following day, he is scheduled to meet Pope Leo XIV and Cardinal Pietro Parolin. Lee is expected to seek the Vatican's continued support and interest in peace efforts on the Korean Peninsula.

The Vatican visit is regarded as one of the symbolic highlights of the trip's peace diplomacy agenda.

Lee will conclude the tour by attending the G7 summit in Evian, France, from Sept. 16 to 17.

Having attended the summit shortly after taking office last year, he is participating as an invited guest for the second consecutive year. The presidential office said the invitation reflects South Korea's growing international standing.

The possibility of an informal pull-aside meeting between Lee and Trump during the summit has also been raised, although no meeting has been confirmed.

Should the two leaders meet, discussions could cover tariffs, revisions to the Korea-U.S. nuclear cooperation agreement, the introduction of nuclear-powered submarines and the transfer of wartime operational control.

Regional security issues, including developments in the Middle East and the situation on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia, may also be discussed.

                                                                                                     Park Young-hoon