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President Lee Jae-myung, departing to attend the UN General Assembly and pay a state visit to Mexico, greets Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik before boarding Air Force One at Seoul Air Base in Seongnam on the 21st. / Yonhap News

President Lee Jae-myung departed on the afternoon of the 21st for a tour of the U.S. and Mexico.

President Lee is scheduled to deliver a keynote address at the high-level General Debate of the UN General Assembly in New York on the 22nd (local time), outlining directions for UN reform to address global challenges, South Korea's contributions, and his vision for peace and coexistence on the Korean Peninsula. He will then pay a state visit to Mexico to expand practical cooperation in sectors including energy and mineral supply chains, artificial intelligence (AI), aerospace, and defense industries.

President Lee was seen off at Seoul Air Base by Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik, Senior Presidential Secretary for Political Affairs Hong Ihk-pyo, Democratic Party of Korea Leader Kim Min-seok and Floor Leader Han Byung-do, as well as Minister of the Interior and Safety Yun Ho-jung, among others.

Cameras notably captured President Lee conversing with a smile with Chief of Staff Kang, who tendered his resignation earlier that day. Kang bowed with a smile in response to President Lee's remarks.

On the first day, the 22nd, President Lee will attend the UN General Assembly high-level session, followed by a meeting with UN Secretary-General António Guterres, where he plans to request the UN's attention and cooperation for peace on the Korean Peninsula.

The possibility of a separate engagement with U.S. President Donald Trump to discuss pending bilateral issues also remains open. National Security Advisor Wi Sung-lac stated, "Separate engagements of various formats are scheduled with leaders of major countries, including the U.S. and Australia."

On the 23rd, President Lee will attend the "Korea Investment Summit 2026," a gathering of business and financial leaders from South Korea and the U.S., where he plans to highlight South Korea's AI policies, future vision, and capital market reforms to global investors.

Later that day, following his schedule at the UN General Assembly, President Lee will make a state visit to Mexico. The visit comes at the invitation of Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, marking the first state visit by a South Korean president to Mexico in 16 years.

On the 24th, President Lee will hold back-to-back bilateral talks with President Sheinbaum—both in a one-on-one and expanded format—and participate in an MOU exchange ceremony, an official luncheon, and a joint press announcement. On the 25th, he will attend a business forum held at the World Trade Center Mexico City and visit the K-Expo venue before departing for home on the 26th.

National Security Advisor Wi noted that the visit will serve as an opportunity to reinforce practical cooperation with Mexico in trade, investment, and supply chains, while actively exploring cooperation measures in energy, mineral supply chains, and the defense industry.

                                                                                                              Hong Sun-mi