Anna Jiwon Park has been covering the politics at The Korea Times since the summer of 2024, when she joined the press pool for the Office of the President in Korea. Prior to that, she spent about five years reporting extensively on financial markets, regulatory authorities and the financial industry. She joined The Korea Times in 2019 after spending eight years as a broadcast journalist at Arirang TV, Korea’s leading global broadcaster, covering politics, defense and culture.
New president vows stronger ties with Vietnam, Australia
President Lee Jae-myung talks on the phone with Vietnamese President Luong Cuong at the presidential office in Seoul, Thursday. Courtesy of the presidential office
By Anna J. Park
President holds first phone calls with leaders of two countries
President Lee Jae-myung held his first official phone call with Vietnamese President Luong Cuong, Thursday, pledging to strengthen the bilateral partnership between Korea and Vietnam.
According to the presidential office, the conversation began around 9:30 a.m. and lasted about 25 minutes.
The Vietnamese president, who had previously sent a congratulatory message following Lee’s election victory, extended warm congratulations once again and expressed hope for significant achievements during the Korean leader’s term in office.
Vietnam's President Luong Cuong speaks during a meeting with Hungary's President Tamas Sulyok at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi, May 28. AFP-Yonhap
“President Lee Jae-myung expressed his high regard for the remarkable progress in bilateral ties with Vietnam since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1992, highlighting advancements in trade, investment and people-to-people exchanges,” Kang Yu-jung, spokesperson for the presidential office, said during a Thursday press briefing.
She added that the president expressed a strong desire to work closely with his Vietnamese counterpart, pledging to deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.
During the phone call, the Vietnamese president expressed agreement with Lee’s vision and his desire to enhance ties with Seoul as a trusted partner in its economic growth and modernization efforts.
The two leaders also agreed on the importance of expanding bilateral cooperation, particularly in strategic sectors such as high-speed rail and nuclear energy.
Additionally, Lee requested special attention and support for Korean companies operating in Vietnam to ensure smooth business operations. Cuong responded positively to the request.
The presidential spokesperson added that Cuong extended an invitation to Lee to visit Vietnam.
“In response, the president expressed his eagerness to make a visit and hold in-depth discussions on advancing bilateral ties. He also proposed that the two countries promote more frequent high-level exchanges on the sidelines of international forums such as APEC,” Kang said.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese reacts during a joint press conference with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta, May 15. AFP-Yonhap
Later in the day, at 5 p.m., Lee held another phone call with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for about 15 minutes.
Lee expressed gratitude for his Australian counterpart's congratulations on his inauguration and acknowledged the continued bilateral cooperation between Korea and Australia as comprehensive strategic partners in promoting regional and global stability and prosperity.
"The two leaders reaffirmed that, building on the long-standing trust and solidarity forged since Australia's participation in the Korean War, the two countries have been actively cooperating in various fields, including defense and the defense industry, clean energy and critical mineral supply chains. They agreed to further strengthen this cooperation moving forward," the presidential office stated.
The two leaders also agreed to bolster communication and cooperation to make meaningful progress toward peace on the Korean Peninsula and the resolution of North Korean nuclear issues.
"In addition, as founding members of APEC, the two leaders pledged to actively work together to ensure the successful hosting of the 2025 APEC Summit, scheduled to be held in Gyeongju later this year," the presidential office highlighted.
The two phone calls marked the fifth and sixth conversations Lee has had with foreign leaders since his inauguration last Wednesday, following earlier talks with U.S. President Donald Trump, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala.