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.
Seoul, Tokyo look to ‘new 60 years’ of partnership at Nara summit
President Lee Jae Myung shakes hands with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in front of their summit venue in Nara prefecture, Japan, Tuesday. Joint Press Corps
By Anna J. Park
Leaders of Korea, Japan meet for summit in ancient capital
NARA, Japan — President Lee Jae Myung and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi met for a summit in Nara prefecture Tuesday, reaffirming bilateral cooperation as the two countries mark 60 years since normalizing diplomatic relations in 1965.
In his opening remarks, Lee acknowledged a shared history shaped by Japan’s 1910-45 colonial rule of Korea, which continues to affect relations between the two countries, while emphasizing the significance of more recent history and the importance of future cooperation.
“While we share painful experiences from the past, it has now been 60 years since the normalization of Korea-Japan relations,” Lee said. “As we begin a new chapter toward the next 60 years, today’s meeting carries special meaning.”
Takaichi echoed the sentiment, underscoring the two countries’ decadeslong cooperation and the need to elevate bilateral ties to a new level.
“We would like to make this year, beginning with the president’s visit to Japan, a year in which Korea-Japan relations advance to a higher dimension,” Takaichi said.
President Lee Jae Myung shakes hands with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi ahead of their summit in Nara prefecture, Japan, Tuesday. Yonhap
Both leaders stressed the importance of strengthening cooperation in an increasingly complex global environment. Lee said close coordination between Seoul and Tokyo was more critical than ever.
“In this complicated and unsettled international order, Korea-Japan cooperation is more important than anything else as we move toward a better future,” Lee said. “There are complex, difficult and uncomfortable aspects, but also positive ones. By nurturing what works well and carefully managing challenges, I believe we can move forward hand in hand toward a better future.”
The Korean president added that cooperation between the two governments and their peoples would be essential in shaping a new future for bilateral relations.
The Japanese prime minister also highlighted the strategic importance of Korea-Japan ties, calling on both countries to work together to promote regional stability.
The summit, held Tuesday afternoon, was followed by an expanded session and a joint press conference. The meeting marked their third encounter since Takaichi took office in October 2025. They previously met on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, last October and briefly at the G20 summit in South Africa last November.
President Lee Jae Myung and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi attend an expanded meeting following their summit meeting in Nara prefecture, Japan, Tuesday. Yonhap
Nara holds special significance as the Japanese prime minister’s hometown and political constituency. Lee proposed meeting there during Takaichi’s visit to Gyeongju for the APEC summit last year.
It is rare for a Japanese prime minister to invite a foreign head of state to their own electoral district. The meeting was the first-ever summit between a Japanese prime minister and foreign leader in Nara.
As the oldest of Japan’s former capital cities, Nara also holds importance as a symbolic site of historical exchange between Korea and Japan, reflecting cultural and diplomatic ties that date back more than 1,500 years.
On Wednesday, the two leaders are set to visit Horyu-ji, a Buddhist temple that is one of the region’s most prominent cultural heritage sites. Lee will then conclude his two-day visit to Japan by meeting with ethnic Koreans in the Kansai region, including Osaka, before returning home.