President Lee Jae-myung of the Republic of Korea is about to embark on a "diplomatic super week," hosting and engaging in a series of high-stakes summits with the leaders of the United States, China, and Japan on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders' Meeting in Gyeongju, Gyeongbuk. This series of meetings, following his attendance at the ASEAN Summit, will see President Lee tackle a range of complex foreign policy challenges, including trade disputes with the US, managing the relationship with China, and strengthening cooperation with a new, right-leaning Japanese government.

Trilateral Summits at APEC 

The APEC Leaders' Meeting, which the ROK is chairing, officially kicks off on October 29. President Lee will deliver a special address at the APEC CEO Summit opening ceremony that morning. The main diplomatic action begins that afternoon with a summit with US President Donald Trump, who will be on a state visit to South Korea.

The bilateral discussions are fraught with economic tension, as the two nations are in a tug-of-war over trade negotiations, specifically regarding a proposed $350 billion US investment fund. Despite the trade disagreements, the two sides are expected to make headway on security issues. A joint statement is anticipated to include an expansion of South Korea's rights for spent nuclear fuel reprocessing and uranium enrichment, alongside language concerning the "strategic flexibility of US Forces Korea" and an increase in defense contributions. However, National Security Advisor Wi Sung-lac noted that the US might prefer to announce all agreements simultaneously, potentially linking the security deals to a resolution on the tariff dispute.

President Lee's diplomatic marathon continues with his first summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping on November 1st. This marks President Xi's first visit to South Korea in 11 years, with related state events also scheduled in Gyeongju. The agenda for the Han-Sino summit is expected to focus on coordinating North Korea policy and enhancing economic cooperation. Advisor Wi expressed that the meeting would be an opportunity to discuss the future of the partnership, issues concerning the Korean Peninsula, and regional affairs.

Completing the trilateral round, a summit with Japan's new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is being coordinated for October 30. Following a proactive effort to build rapport with the previous Japanese administration, including being the first Korean president to visit Japan before the US during his tenure, President Lee faces the task of maintaining this cooperative momentum with the staunchly right-wing Takaichi. Additionally, President Lee will hold a summit with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on October 30, with discussions expected to include Canada's next-generation submarine acquisition project.

ASEAN Engagement Precedes APEC 

In preparation for the APEC duties, President Lee departed for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on October 26 for a two-day visit to attend the ASEAN Summit. The trip includes a bilateral meeting with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet on October 27, where they are scheduled to discuss joint efforts to combat online scam crimes affecting Korean citizens in Cambodia. Following the ROK-ASEAN and ASEAN+3 (ROK, China, Japan) Summits, President Lee will meet with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim before returning to Korea to preside over APEC.

The government views the APEC chairmanship as a vital opportunity to elevate South Korea's diplomatic stature. Advisor Wi highlighted the extensive preparations for adopting the 'Gyeongju Joint Declaration,' emphasizing the effort to bridge differing views among member economies. This packed week, taking place amidst a global tariff war and a rapidly shifting security landscape, will be a crucial test of President Lee's diplomatic leadership in his first year in office.

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