South Korean President Embarks on 11-Day Diplomatic Journey to US and South America
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung is set to embark on an 11-day diplomatic journey to the United States and three South American countries, aiming to expand cooperation in artificial intelligence, critical minerals, and energy supply chains.
According to National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac, President Lee’s itinerary includes visits to San Francisco, Brazil, Chile, and Argentina, as well as a stop in Frankfurt, Germany, before returning to South Korea on August 3.
The president’s first stop will be San Francisco, where he will attend an AI summit on Friday, discussing cooperation with global technology companies based in Silicon Valley. This meeting is expected to advance South Korea’s strategy for AI and semiconductor development, following the government’s announcement of three major national projects.
During his visit to the US, President Lee will also attend a Silicon Valley venture investment summit on Saturday and meet representatives of US venture capital firms. The presidential office hopes to connect the South Korean and US venture investment ecosystems and expand opportunities for South Korean startups to attract international funding.
After the US leg of his trip, President Lee will embark on a tour of three South American countries, focusing on trade, investment, critical minerals, and energy security. He will begin a state visit to Brazil on Sunday at the invitation of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, where he will hold a summit, sign a memorandum, and participate in a joint news conference and state luncheon.
President Lee’s visit to Brazil will also include a luncheon with Korean residents and a South Korea-Brazil business roundtable. Brazil is a major global source of rare-earth elements, which are crucial for industries such as semiconductor manufacturing.
Next, President Lee will make an official visit to Chile from Wednesday through Thursday, where he will meet President José Antonio Kast. Chile is a major global source of lithium, a critical material used in electric vehicle batteries and energy storage systems.
Finally, President Lee will visit Argentina from Thursday through Saturday, marking the first official visit to Argentina by a South Korean president in 22 years. Argentina has significant shale gas resources and is part of South America’s ‘lithium triangle’ with Chile and Bolivia.
According to National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac, the South American tour is aimed at expanding trade and investment with Brazil, Chile, and Argentina while helping South Korean companies enter new markets. President Lee plans to discuss restarting negotiations on a trade agreement between South Korea and the South American trade bloc Mercosur during his meetings with the leaders of Brazil and Argentina.
Brazil and Argentina are leading members of the regional bloc, and President Lee will also discuss modernizing South Korea’s free trade agreement with Chile, the first country to sign such an agreement with Seoul.
