South Korean President Lee Jae Myung (L) attends a Cabinet meeting at the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul, South Korea, 02 June 2026. Photo by YONHAP / EPA
June 5 (Asia Today) -- South Korean President Lee Jae-myung will visit Europe from Tuesday through June 18 to attend the Group of Seven summit in Évian, France, and hold meetings with European leaders and Pope Leo XIV, the presidential office said Friday.
Lee's trip to Belgium, Italy and France is intended to support South Korean companies' market expansion in Europe and strengthen cooperation with European partners on security, energy and critical mineral supply chains amid global uncertainty, including the Middle East war, National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac said.
Lee will begin the trip in Brussels, where he is scheduled to meet Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever on Tuesday. On Wednesday, he will hold talks with European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Lee will make a state visit to Italy from June 12-13 at the invitation of Italian President Sergio Mattarella. He will meet Mattarella in Rome and hold separate official talks with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
