President Lee Attending G7 Summit for Second Year: Will He Meet Trump?

Attending Again as an Invited Nation After Last Year
Expanded Session with Leaders of Five Invited Countries
Reflecting Strong Trust and Expectations Toward Korea
Third Korea-U.S. Summit Possible If Meeting Takes Place
Senior President

President Lee Jae-myung will attend the Group of Seven (G7) summit on the 16th (local time). There is considerable attention on whether he will meet with U.S. President Donald Trump, who is also attending the summit.

President Lee Jae-myung and Pope Leo XIV are conversing on the 15th (local time) at the Apostolic Palace of the Vatican while looking at the 'Papal Audience Room Catalog' prepared by the Pope for President Lee. 2026.6.15 (Photo by Vatican Media) Yonhap News

President Lee is participating in the G7 summit held in Évian, France, from today until the 17th, as an invited nation. He also attended last year's G7 summit in Canada. In this regard, Wi Sung-lac, policy chief at the Presidential Office, stated, "This demonstrates the high level of trust and expectations the G7 has for our government," adding, "Based on this, we aim to continue cooperation with the next host countries of the G7, such as the United States in 2027 and the United Kingdom in 2028, and further strengthen the G7 partnership."

The main focus of this summit is whether President Lee will meet with President Trump. Since President Trump is also participating in the G7 summit, a meeting between the two leaders is possible. If a Korea-U.S. summit is held during this event, it will mark their third meeting since President Lee's inauguration. However, a senior official from the Presidential Office explained, "If the timing aligns, a summit could take place, but it is not something we are prioritizing or actively pursuing," adding, "We are keeping options open as the situation remains fluid."

President Lee will also participate in an expanded meeting with the leaders of five invited countries, including Brazil, India, Kenya, and Egypt. The sessions that include the G7 invited nations are: the first expanded session on the opening day; the second expanded session and a working luncheon on the morning of the 17th. President Lee is also scheduled to attend various welcome events, such as the official dinner hosted by the French side on the first evening.

During the expanded sessions, key agenda items are expected to include development cooperation, alleviating global imbalances, and topics related to artificial intelligence (AI) and digitalization. President Lee is anticipated to share Korea's experiences and express his commitment to serving as a bridge between developed and developing countries. With the news that a ceasefire agreement has been reached between the United States and Iran, the issue of securing passage through the Strait of Hormuz may also be discussed. There is speculation that President Trump may ask participating countries to join in mine-clearing operations.

President Lee Jae-myung is giving an encouragement speech at a Korean community meeting held at a hotel in Rome, Italy, on the 15th (local time). 2026.6.15 Yonhap News Agency.

Meanwhile, on the 15th, President Lee paid an official visit to the Vatican and held a one-on-one meeting with Pope Leo XIV for 30 minutes. President Lee invited the Pope to visit Korea on the occasion of the 2027 World Youth Day in Seoul. The 2027 World Youth Day in Seoul will be a major international event bringing together Catholic youth from around the world. The Presidential Office explained that if the Pope's visit to Korea is realized, it could provide an opportunity to deliver a message of peace on the Korean Peninsula.

During the meeting, the two discussed peace on the Korean Peninsula and the resumption of inter-Korean dialogue, and the possibility of the Pope visiting North Korea was also mentioned. In response to a question about whether there was an official request for the Pope to visit North Korea, a senior official from the Presidential Office said, "We discussed World Youth Day and inter-Korean relations, and various options may have been mentioned during the process," adding, "When meeting with the Cardinal Secretary of State, the topic was raised but was not discussed in detail."

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