President Lee Jae-myung will arrive in Canada on Monday to attend the G7 summit in Kananaskis. His visit, taking place just days after his inauguration, reflects South Korea’s return to stable democratic governance. National security adviser Wi Sung-lac confirmed Lee’s participation and outlined the goals of the trip. The president plans to return to Seoul by Wednesday evening.
Lee seeks to strengthen ties with global leaders during the two-day summit. He intends to meet US President Donald Trump and Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. According to Wi, these encounters will create momentum to tackle ongoing economic and trade issues. He emphasized that these talks offer a timely opportunity to rebuild international trust. However, he declined to specify which leaders would join Lee for bilateral talks.
Lee will also use the summit to promote new global initiatives. On Tuesday, he will address the importance of energy supply chain resilience through diversification. He will also highlight South Korea’s growing role in shaping artificial intelligence policy. These remarks will, as Wi described, show that “South Korea’s democracy is back.” The speech underscores Seoul’s readiness to join G7 Plus discussions on future technologies.
According to a senior presidential official, Lee’s meeting with Trump could revive working-level dialogue. That discussion may lay groundwork for broader cooperation between Seoul and Washington. Lee may also engage with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during his trip. However, South Korea has no plans to increase aid or loans to Ukraine. Seoul’s past commitments, worth $2.5 billion, remain unchanged.
Lee’s message to the world includes a firm position on the Middle East. He will base his response to the recent Israel-Iran conflict on South Korea’s existing statement. That message urges all parties to de-escalate and act with restraint. While the G7 may address the issue, Seoul does not plan to propose new measures. Instead, Lee will focus on rebuilding global trust and showcasing that South Korea’s democracy is back.
