Ahead of Argentina Visit, President Lee Says "Much to Do Together...Looking Forward to Shared Prosperity"

"In Response to an Argentine Presidential Account: 'Korea Represents Freedom, Progress, and the Future'"

Official Visit to Argentina Begins on the 30th... First Bilateral Presidential Trip in 22 Years

President Lee Jaemyung, who is currently visiting San Francisco, USA, stated on the 25th (local time) to Argentine President Javier Milei, "There is much that Korea and Argentina can achieve together," adding, "I hope our two countries join hands and move forward toward a new future of shared prosperity."

President Lee Jae-myung is speaking at the Silicon Valley Venture Investment Meetup held at a hotel in San Francisco, USA, on the 25th (local time). 2026.7.26 Yonhap News Agency

On platform X (formerly Twitter) the same day, President Lee said, "I sincerely thank you for your interest in the Republic of Korea." He continued, "I am very much looking forward to our meeting, Mr. President." President Lee tagged President Milei and also shared a video referencing the economic gap between North and South Korea.

However, President Lee did not comment separately on the comparisons between the North and South Korean systems or criticisms of North Korea contained in the post. Instead, he highlighted the possibilities for cooperation and mutual prosperity between the two countries. It appears that, rather than making ideological assessments, President Lee chose to emphasize his commitment to practical cooperation in the fields of economy and trade ahead of the upcoming summit.

President Lee is currently undertaking a tour that includes visits to San Francisco, Brazil, Chile, and Argentina. He is scheduled to pay an official visit to Argentina from July 30 to August 1, during which he will hold a summit meeting with President Milei. It will be the first bilateral visit by a Korean president to Argentina in 22 years, since former President Roh Moo-hyun went in 2004.

During the summit, the two leaders are expected to discuss ways to expand trade and investment and to strengthen cooperation in supply chains. Notably, the resumption of negotiations on the Korea-Mercosur trade agreement, which both Korea and Argentina participate in, as well as collaborations in energy and food—specifically in areas such as shale gas and agricultural products—are key topics on the agenda.

The Office of the President has announced that this South American tour aims to pioneer new markets and expand trade and investment with core South American economies such as Brazil, Chile, and Argentina. Argentina, which holds the world's second largest shale gas reserves and is the number one exporter of soybean oil, is considered a country with great potential for cooperation with Korea in the fields of resources, energy, and food security.

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