SEOUL – In a strategic move to fortify South Korea’s diplomatic and technological ties with Southeast Asia, President Lee Jae-myung departed for Singapore on Sunday, marking the beginning of a high-stakes state visit that will also include a stop in the Philippines.
President Lee, accompanied by First Lady Kim Hye-kyung, boarded the presidential aircraft, Code One, at Seoul Air Base in Seongnam. The departure ceremony was attended by key political figures, including Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik, Senior Secretary for Political Affairs Hong Ihk-pyo, Democratic Party Leader Jung Cheong-rae, and Minister of the Interior and Safety Yun Ho-jung.
Focus on AI and Future Growth in Singapore
The Singaporean leg of the trip is centered heavily on the digital economy and cutting-edge technology. On March 2, President Lee is scheduled to hold a summit with Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. The two leaders are expected to engage in deep discussions regarding bilateral cooperation in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other future growth engines.
Beyond the formal summit, President Lee will attend the "AI Connect Summit," where he plans to emphasize the necessity of private-sector collaboration between the tech talents of both nations. Singapore, a global financial and tech hub, serves as a critical partner for South Korea’s ambitions to lead the global AI landscape.
The itinerary also includes a meeting with President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and a state dinner, providing ample opportunity for the leaders to build personal rapport and align their visions for regional stability.
Strengthening the ASEAN Partnership
Following his engagements in Singapore, President Lee will fly to Manila on March 3 for a summit with Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. This visit underscores the administration's commitment to the ASEAN region.
Before his departure, President Lee shared his personal reflections on social media (X, formerly Twitter), stating:
"The affection of the Korean people for ASEAN is special. South Korea and ASEAN have grown together based on deep trust and friendship over many years. Starting with this visit, I hope to visit every ASEAN nation. I am also looking forward to meeting the leaders at the 2029 Korea-ASEAN Special Summit."
Blue House Spokesperson Kang Yu-jung highlighted the practical goals of the trip, noting that the administration aims to "promote strategic cooperation in areas of mutual interest to produce results that citizens can actually feel, while strengthening cooperation on the international stage."
Managing Geopolitical Volatility
Despite the diplomatic focus abroad, President Lee remains vigilant regarding escalating tensions in the Middle East. Following reports of U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iran, the President instructed the Prime Minister and relevant ministries to maintain an emergency response system.
He specifically directed the government to provide frequent reports on the situation in the Middle East and its potential impact on the domestic economy, while stressing that the safety of South Korean expatriates must be a top priority.
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