South Korean President Lee Jae‑myung begins 10‑day European tour to attend G7 summit

South Korean President Lee Jae‑myung departed Seoul on 9 June for an eight‑night, ten‑day diplomatic tour of Europe. The itinerary includes a stop in Belgium for a dinner with the Korean community, talks with Prime Minister Alexander De Croo and King Philippe, followed by meetings with EU leaders and a bilateral agreement signing – the first South Korean‑EU summit visit in eight years.

Lee will travel to Italy for state visits with President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, where a 2026‑2030 strategic action plan and business roundtables on semiconductors, aerospace, energy and biotech are planned. He will then proceed to the Vatican for a special Mass and meetings with Pope Francis and the Vatican’s foreign minister, emphasizing Korea’s commitment to global peace and solidarity. The tour concludes in France, where Lee will attend the G7 summit in Évian‑les‑Bains.

Separately, the Blue House clarified that Prime Minister Kim Min‑seok’s attendance at Lee’s airport send‑off was purely administrative, stating “interpreting it as a political meaning is inappropriate.” The statement emphasized that the limited delegation was chosen due to domestic and international circumstances, including the protracted Middle‑East conflict.