President Lee Jae‑myung inspects Brazil‑made C‑390 transport aircraft on state visit

South Korean President Lee Jae‑myung arrived in Brasília on 26 July for a three‑day state visit at the invitation of Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The first official activity was a tour of the Brazilian Air Force base where an Embraer C‑390 transport aircraft, destined for the Republic of Korea Air Force, was on display. The C‑390, part of a contract worth 8.83 trillion won, will be delivered in three units between December 2023 and December 2024.

During the inspection Lee emphasized that the delivery marks “the first step of defence cooperation with Brazil” and expressed openness to expanding collaboration, including joint development of civilian aircraft. Brazilian officials echoed the sentiment, noting the project’s significance for both nations’ industrial ties. The visit will continue with a summit meeting with President Lula, a round‑table with Korean‑Brazilian business leaders, and subsequent trips to Chile and Argentina.

Both sides view the agreement as a foundation for deeper defence and industrial partnerships across the region.