South Korean President Lee Jae-myung chose Japan over the United States as the destination for his first overseas trip since taking office except for attending international conferences, a move seen as a break with tradition and a signal of Seoul’s intent to recalibrate ties with its neighbor before talks with U.S. President Donald Trump.
Once a strong critic of Japan on historical issues, Lee is shifting his stance as head of state, seeking cooperation with Tokyo in areas such as hydrogen energy and artificial intelligence, while also coordinating positions to counter U.S. pressure on tariffs and defense burden-sharing.
Despite the warmer rhetoric, analysts warned that deep-rooted historical disputes would remain a long-term obstacle to stable bilateral ties.
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AloJapan.com