President Lee Receives Japanese Delegation to Korea-Japan Business Council: "Cooperation on Advanced Industry Supply Chains Is Essential"

Lee: "Hope People-to-People Exchanges Expand, Like South Korea-Japan Shuttle Diplomacy"

President Lee Jaemyung said on the 23rd at Cheong Wa Dae that “South Korea and Japan are important countries for which cooperation is essential in advanced-industry supply chains.”

Presidential spokesperson Kim Seongwan said in a written briefing that day that President Lee made the remarks during a meeting with Tsutsui Yoshinobu, chairman of the Japan Business Federation, where they discussed ways to expand economic cooperation.

President Lee Jaemyung greets Tsutsui Yoshinobu, chairman of the Japan Business Federation, during his visit to Cheong Wa Dae on the 23rd. 2026.10.23 Yonhap News

The meeting was also attended by South Korean representative Ryu Jin, chairman of the Federation of Korean Industries, as well as Iwata Keiichi, chairman of Sumitomo Chemical, and Higashihara Toshiaki, chairman of Hitachi.

President Lee expressed his gratitude for the efforts of business leaders, saying, “The business communities of our two countries have contributed to their economic growth through close ties and cooperation.”

He added, “Just as the two countries are actively pursuing shuttle diplomacy between their leaders to develop a mutually beneficial relationship, I hope that we will continue to expand not only economic ties between our countries but also exchanges between our people.”

Chairman Tsutsui said, “Exchanges have grown stronger, with people-to-people exchanges between our countries surpassing 13 million last year, a record high.” He added, “Amid turmoil in the international economic order, cooperation among countries with similar positions is becoming increasingly important.”

He continued, “Although relations between South Korea and Japan have gone through difficult periods, the business communities of both countries will continue to cooperate going forward through the Korea-Japan Business Council, which is being held for the 33rd time this year.”

President Lee responded, “The people of both countries are growing much more favorable toward each other. Let us work together to expand economic cooperation with a future-oriented outlook, bringing together the governments and business communities of neighboring countries South Korea and Japan.”

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