President Lee to Visit Belgium, Italy, and the Vatican from June 9-18... Attending G7 Summit for Second Consecutive Year (Comprehensive)

Wi Seongrak: "An Opportunity to Broaden Diplomatic Horizons to Europe"

Discussions with the EU on the Korean Peninsula, Middle East Situation, and Energy Security

Korea-U.S. Summit on the Sidelines of the G7 in France Not Yet Confirmed

President Jaemyung Lee will visit Belgium, the European Union (EU), Italy, and the Vatican consecutively from June 9 to 18, and attend the Group of Seven (G7) summit in Evian, France. The trip aims to expand the stage for summit diplomacy, which has been built up during his first year in office, to Europe, and to strengthen the foundation for cooperation with the G7.

Seongrak Wi, Director of the National Security Office, announced this European tour and G7 summit schedule at a briefing at the Blue House on June 5. Director Wi stated, "This trip and G7 attendance will mark the start of a full-fledged expansion of our diplomatic horizon to Europe, based on the achievements made during the first year of the Jaemyung Lee administration."

Seongrak Wi, Director of the National Security Office, is explaining President Jaemyung Lee’s schedule for the European tour, including attendance at the G7 summit, at the Blue House press conference room on June 5, 2026. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

President Lee will arrive in Brussels, Belgium, on June 9 and begin his tour with a dinner meeting with overseas Koreans. On June 10, he will hold a summit meeting with the Prime Minister of Belgium and have an audience with the King. Belgium is a center for logistics in Europe and has a developed chemical and bio industry. The two countries are scheduled to discuss ways to expand cooperation between small and medium-sized enterprises and to broaden the foundation for Korean companies to enter the European market.

Later on the same day, he will hold talks with EU leaders and attend a signing ceremony for agreements. The EU, with its 27 member states and a market of 450 million people, is the world's largest trading bloc and a major trading partner for Korea. Director Wi said, "Through the summit with the EU, we will broaden export opportunities for Korean companies and create a more favorable environment for Korean companies operating in Europe."

Discussions will also cover issues such as the situations on the Korean Peninsula and in the Middle East, energy security, key supply chains, and responses to transnational crimes like narcotics and terrorism. President Lee plans to expand cooperation with the EU to the realm of economic security, in response to the spread of protectionism and instability in the Middle East.

President Lee will then travel to Rome, Italy, on June 10 for a state visit until June 13. On June 11, he will attend an official welcoming ceremony hosted by the President of Italy, hold a summit and a joint press conference, meet with the speakers of the upper and lower houses, lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and attend a state banquet.

On June 12, he will hold a small-group and expanded summit meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The two countries are expected to adopt the Korea-Italy Strategic Action Plan for 2026-2030 during this visit. Cooperation in cutting-edge industries and science and technology—including semiconductors, aerospace, energy, bio, defense industry, and basic sciences—will be key agenda items.

Regarding the visit to Italy, Director Wi explained, "This is symbolically significant as it is the first state visit to Europe since the launch of the administration," and added, "Amid rapidly changing international circumstances, such as the war in the Middle East, this will be an opportunity to comprehensively strengthen bilateral relations and present a vision for mutually beneficial strategic cooperation."

President Lee will visit the Vatican from June 14 to 15. After attending a peace mass at St. Paul's Basilica on the 14th, he will meet separately with Pope Leo XIV and the Secretary of State of the Holy See on the 15th. The key agenda for the Vatican visit is expected to include peace on the Korean Peninsula and around the world, as well as cooperation in preparing for the 2027 World Youth Day in Seoul. In response to questions about a possible invitation for the Pope to visit North Korea, Director Wi said, "The main issues we wish to address during our visit to the Vatican are peace and reconciliation on the Korean Peninsula and in the world," but added, "It is difficult to comment on specific details."

President Lee will attend the G7 summit in Evian, France, from June 16 to 17. Topics expected to be discussed at the expanded session and working luncheon, attended by invited countries, include development cooperation, global economic imbalances, artificial intelligence (AI), critical minerals, and energy security. This marks President Lee's second consecutive attendance at the G7 summit, following last year.

Director Wi stated, "Attending the G7 summit for the second consecutive year demonstrates the high level of trust and expectation the G7 has in our government," and added, "We intend to express our willingness to play an active role as a bridge between advanced and developing countries."

However, a Korea-U.S. summit on the sidelines of the G7 has not yet been confirmed. A senior Blue House official commented on the possibility of a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, stating, "If possible, we plan to hold a bilateral summit and discussions are ongoing," but added, "Nothing has been specifically agreed upon."

Regarding Korea-U.S. security consultations, a goal of achieving concrete outcomes by the end of the year was presented. A senior Blue House official mentioned the recent resumption of security negotiations between Korea and the U.S., saying, "Issues discussed included enrichment and reprocessing, as well as nuclear-powered submarines." The official further stated, "Although no exact deadline has been set, we aim to move quickly and achieve concrete results by the end of the year." As for the location of nuclear-powered submarine construction, the official reaffirmed the existing stance, saying, "There is no major change in the plan to build nuclear submarines in Korea," and added, "Discussions have been based on that premise."

On the issue of the transfer of wartime operational control, the Blue House official said there was no need to overinterpret differences between Korea and the U.S. The official stated, "In reality, the differences in views between Korea and the U.S. on wartime operational control are not significant," and added, "Both the conditions and timing can be adjusted, so it is unlikely to become a major issue."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.