South Korean President Lee Jae Myung will visit Japan on January 13–14 to attend an annual summit with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, his office said on Friday.
Lee and Takaichi will hold talks in Nara City on January 13, followed by a dinner, to discuss regional and global affairs as well as economic, social and cultural cooperation, the presidential office said in a statement.
According to Lee’s office, the leaders will also attend diplomatic events together, while Lee is scheduled to meet separately with South Korean residents living in Japan.
The summit is aimed at reinforcing efforts to steer South Korea–Japan relations in a future-oriented and stable direction, the statement said, noting that the visit comes early in Takaichi’s tenure following her inauguration.
Lee’s national security adviser, Wi Sung-lac, said the talks will cover key regional issues, including the ongoing dispute between China and Japan and the possible participation of North Korean athletes in the Asian Games scheduled to be held in Japan in September.
During the meeting and dinner in Nara, the two leaders are expected to explore ways to strengthen practical cooperation across areas that directly affect people’s livelihoods, including the economy, society and culture, Lee’s office added.
This will be Lee’s second visit to Japan since last August, when he met then–Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. Lee and Takaichi, both of whom took office in 2025, last met in October on the sidelines of the APEC summit in the South Korean city of Gyeongju.
