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South Korean President Lee Jae-myung, U.S. President Donald Trump, and other world leaders attend a welcoming ceremony for invited nations at the G7 summit venue in Évian-les-Bains, France, on June 16. / Photo courtesy of Yonhap News Agency

President Lee wraps up first European tour, heads home after 9-night, 10-day trip

President Lee Jae-myung departed for South Korea on June 17 after concluding his first European tour since taking office. Over a grueling 9-night, 10-day itinerary, President Lee visited the European Union (EU), Belgium, and Italy for summit meetings, and attended the Group of Seven (G7) summit held in France, effectively kickstarting his administration's diplomacy toward Europe.

During the tour, President Lee focused primarily on laying the groundwork for South Korean companies to actively expand into the EU, the world's largest single market. The presidential office evaluated that securing partners for close cooperation amid mounting international uncertainties—driven by the war in the Middle East and intensifying protectionism—stood as a key achievement of the trip.

Wi Sung-lac, director of national security at the presidential office, noted the 'Joint Statement of the South Korea-EU Summit,' which encompasses 36 articles of cooperation across security, defense, trade, investment, and science and technology. "Through this, both sides agreed to explore ways to cope with the decline of multilateralism and newly emerging economic and trade shifts," Wi stated.

Other major achievements included conveying the positions of South Korean enterprises regarding the EU's newly pursued initiatives, such as the tariff-rate quota (TRQ) on steel imports and the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). The signing of a digital trade agreement and the commencement of negotiations for a bilateral agreement on the protection of classified information were also highlighted as key outcomes.

An anticipated bilateral summit with U.S. President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the G7 summit did not materialize. However, the presidential office shared that President Lee conversed with President Trump across various venues, including a group photo session and official dinners, exchanging views on diverse topics such as the South Korea-U.S. alliance, the security situation on the Korean Peninsula, and establishing peace in the Middle East.

In particular, President Lee approached President Trump to request that he take a leading role in a peaceful resolution to North Korean issues, saying, "Just as you resolved the war in the Middle East, please lead the peaceful resolution of the North Korean issue." President Trump responded that he would make efforts to resolve the issue, according to a written briefing from senior presidential spokesperson Kang Yoo-jung.

The presidential office further revealed that President Lee sat directly next to President Trump during the official dinner on the day, fostering goodwill and friendship while holding close discussions on mutual interests.

President Lee's standalone meeting with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican, where he emphasized his commitment to peace on the Korean Peninsula by requesting visits to both South and North Korea, was also evaluated as leaving a strong impression on the international community.

Meanwhile, the presidential office announced that leaders of the Democratic Party, including Representative Jung Cheong-rae and floor leader Han Byung-do—who had been absent from the departure send-off on June 9—are scheduled to attend the welcoming ceremony for President Lee's return on June 18.

                                                                                                          Hong Sun-mi