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President Lee Jae-myung and First Lady Kim Hye-kyung greet well-wishers aboard Air Force One at Santiago's Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport on the 30th (local time), after concluding their official visit to Chile. / Yonhap

President Lee Jae-myung, currently on a trip to the U.S. and South America, arrived in Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina, on the night of the 30th (local time).

The next day, on the 31st, President Lee will begin his official visit to Argentina by visiting San Martín Square, dedicated to the country's independence hero, to lay a wreath.

He will then attend an official welcoming ceremony at the presidential palace, Casa Rosada, followed by a summit with Argentine President Javier Milei.

President Lee is expected to discuss with President Milei the resumption of trade agreement negotiations with Mercosur (the Southern Common Market). Argentina, along with Brazil, is one of the leading members of Mercosur.

That evening, the president will wrap up his South America itinerary with a dinner meeting with the Korean community in Argentina, before heading to Germany, the final stop on his trip.

National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac said in a pre-visit briefing, "This visit is expected to expand trade and investment with Brazil, Chile, and Argentina — key economic powers in South America — and open up new markets," adding, "It also holds significance in expanding Korea's diplomatic horizons toward the Global South."

                                                                                                              Hong Sun-mi