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.
President Lee, Japan’s new PM agree to strengthen forward-looking cooperation
President Lee Jae Myung shakes hands with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi during their first summit in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings, Thursday. Joint Press Corps
By Anna J. Park
Lee and Takaichi hold first bilateral talks
GYEONGJU, North Gyeongsang Province — President Lee Jae Myung and Japan’s new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi agreed to pursue forward-looking cooperation between the neighboring countries in their first summit, Thursday.
The two leaders also agreed to maintain close communication by continuing the “shuttle diplomacy” that had been reintroduced under former Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. In Korean, shuttle diplomacy refers to frequent mutual diplomatic visits.
The summit marked the first meeting between the two leaders since Takaichi took office on Oct. 21. The 40-minute talks took place in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings.
President Lee Jae Myung shakes hands with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi during their first summit in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, Thursday. Joint Press Corps
During the talks, Lee congratulated Takaichi on becoming Japan’s first female leader.
“You are the first woman in Japanese history to serve as prime minister, and we attach special significance to that. I sincerely congratulate you," he said.
Lee also welcomed Takaichi’s remarks from her inaugural press conference last week, in which she emphasized close relations with Korea.
“You said that Korea is a very important neighbor for Japan, that the relationship between our two countries is becoming increasingly significant and that you hope to develop it in a future-oriented and stable way,” Lee said. “I fully agree with that statement and, remarkably, it is almost identical to what I’ve often said myself — not a single word differed.”
Emphasizing the need for stronger cooperation amid shifting global and trade dynamics, Lee said it was time for the two neighbors to deepen their future-oriented partnership.
“Japan and Korea share many commonalities domestically,” he noted. “By sharing our experiences and working together, we can address not only domestic challenges but also international ones.”
Lee remarked that under the current rotation of reciprocal visits, it is now Korea’s turn to visit Japan, expressing his hope to meet Takaichi not in Tokyo but in a regional city.
President Lee Jae Myung speaks during his first summit with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, Thursday. Joint Press Corps
The Japanese prime minister noted that the significance of cooperation has grown amid today’s increasingly complex strategic environment.
“Japan and South Korea are important neighbors to each other, and I believe that under the current strategic environment, the importance of Japan-Korea relations, as well as trilateral cooperation among Japan, Korea and the United States, is growing even further,” Takaichi said, according to Korea's presidential office.
Marking the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between the two nations this year, Takaichi said, “Building upon the foundation our two countries have developed over the years, we can move our relationship forward in a more future-oriented and stable manner for the benefit of both nations.”
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, left, speaks during her first summit with Korean President Lee Jae Myung in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, Thursday. Joint Press Corps
As to disputes over historical issues, Lee did not directly mention them but compared the two nations’ closeness to that of family members. "Because Korea and Japan are so close that we even share the same front yard, they sometimes end up hurting each other emotionally, much like family,” he said, and Takaichi strongly agreed with his sentiment.
She arrived in Korea earlier in the day via Busan's Gimhae International Airport, beginning a three-day visit for the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting.
Before departing from Tokyo, Takaichi told reporters that she hoped to hold a “meaningful” summit with Lee, emphasizing her desire to “build a relationship of trust for peace, stability and prosperity in the region” at the APEC forum.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi waves upon arrival at Gimhae International Airport in Busan, Thursday. Yonhap
While Takaichi is known for her conservative views, she has recently taken a pragmatic approach to bilateral ties, refraining from visiting the controversial Yasukuni Shrine, where Class-A war criminals are among those honored, and publicly expressing her fondness for Korean food and cosmetics.
No separate dinner between the two leaders was held following the summit.