South Korean President Lee Jae-Myung has resumed state affairs after a weeklong summer break, facing a demanding political schedule. President Lee’s agenda includes high-profile summits, National Liberation Day pardons, and critical personnel appointments. He returned to Seoul from the official retreat on Jeodo Island and immediately reviewed backlogged reports from aides. He ordered ministries to report all fatal industrial accidents directly and demanded preventive measures at the next Cabinet meeting.
On Monday, President Lee will meet To Lam, general secretary of Vietnam’s Communist Party. This marks the first state visit by a foreign leader since his inauguration. The summit will focus on strengthening bilateral ties, especially in economic and cultural cooperation. Later that day, he will lead an extraordinary Cabinet meeting on special pardons and reinstatements. Former Justice Minister Cho Kuk and ex-lawmaker Yoon Mee-hyang are on the list, with pardons restoring their political rights.
The government will hold National Liberation Day celebrations on Friday at Gwanghwamun Square. The event will mark the 80th anniversary of Korea’s liberation and serve as Lee’s public inauguration. Former Presidents Moon Jae-in, Park Geun-hye, and Lee Myung-bak will attend alongside opposition leaders. However, officials excluded former President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife Kim Keon Hee due to detention and ongoing investigations.
Later this month, Lee will meet U.S. President Donald Trump, most likely on August 25. Talks will address the defense cost-sharing agreement and an “alliance modernization” plan. The plan aims to expand the Korea-U.S. partnership beyond a North Korea focus into a broader Indo-Pacific strategy. The leaders will also finalize tariff negotiations. The earlier deal cuts U.S. tariffs on Korean goods from 25% to 15% in exchange for large Korean investments.
Lee may also meet Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in Tokyo on August 23. Officials from both governments are discussing the meeting to strengthen trilateral cooperation before the U.S. summit. The talks could improve coordination among Korea, Japan, and the United States on security and trade.
Domestically, Lee will soon make key appointments. He plans to select new ministers of education, gender equality, and family. He will also appoint a new chief for the Financial Supervisory Service. These decisions will set the tone for his administration’s policy direction.
