The South Korean president is arriving in Japan for the first time since he took office in June.

A week ago, Lee publicly shared his intention to promote renewed and constructive cooperation with Japan, with a pragmatic and strategic approach.

Regarding this visit, he underscored that South Korea will seek “future-oriented collaboration based on mutual benefits,” given the importance of establishing strong and open diplomatic ties to address current regional and global challenges.

The two nations are celebrating the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations in 2025, and Lee described Japan as “an indispensable partner” for South Korea’s economic development at this time.

Lee’s visit represents a notable effort to put old historical disputes behind them and prioritize shared present and future challenges on the Asian continent.

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