South Korean President Lee Jae Myung speaks during a meeting with members of the South Korean media in Shanghai, China, Jan. 7, 2026. (Han Sang-kyun/Yonhap via AP)
SEOUL (Kyodo) — South Korean President Lee Jae Myung will visit Japan next week and hold a summit with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in her home prefecture of Nara, their governments said Friday.
Lee’s two-day stay from next Tuesday in the western Japan prefecture comes at the invitation of Takaichi, according to the South Korean presidential office, as part of leader-level reciprocal visits dubbed “shuttle diplomacy” by the two nations to maintain the momentum of improved bilateral ties.
Lee’s office said he is set to hold a summit and a dinner on Tuesday with Takaichi, at which they are expected to discuss regional and global issues, along with cooperation in sectors “directly affecting people’s livelihoods, including the economy, society, and culture.”
On Wednesday morning, the two leaders are slated to take part in a friendship event, followed by Lee’s meeting with Korean residents in Japan, according to the office.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara told a regular press conference in Tokyo that the two countries’ bilateral ties as well as trilateral collaborations involving their common ally, the United States, have become more important in the current strategic environment.
The top Japanese government spokesman said he expects Lee’s trip to be an opportunity to develop Tokyo-Seoul ties “in a future-oriented and stable manner.”
Japan and South Korea have maintained good relations in recent years after recovering from their lowest point in decades due to wartime history and territorial issues. Lee last visited Japan in August.
In late October, Takaichi held her first face-to-face meeting with Lee since she took office earlier that month. The leaders met on the fringes of an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in South Korea.
Lee’s second trip to Japan since he became South Korea’s leader in June also comes after his visit to China and meeting with President Xi Jinping earlier this week, amid Tokyo-Beijing tensions over Takaichi’s remarks in parliament on a Taiwan contingency in November.
In December, Lee told foreign media that his country wants to help lower tensions between Japan and China, instead of siding with one or the other.
Kihara also said that Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni will visit for three days from next Thursday to hold the first official in-person talks with Takaichi since she became Japanese prime minister.
The two conservative female leaders exchanged greetings when they attended the Group of 20 summit in South Africa in November.
As this year marks the 160th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Japan and Italy, Kihara said he hopes that their “friendly and cooperative relationship will further deepen.”
AloJapan.com