President calls for mature Seoul-Tokyo relationship in 1st phone call with Japanese PM

President Lee Jae-myung speaks with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishaba on the phone at the presidential office in Yongsan District, Seoul, Monday. Yonhap

President Lee Jae-myung expressed his wish to build a mature Korea-Japan relationship in his first phone call with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, Monday.

According to the presidential office, the two leaders spoke for approximately 25 minutes in their first exchange since Lee took office last week. They reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations and advancing shared national interests.

"The president expressed his gratitude to the prime minister for congratulating him on his inauguration and emphasized the growing importance of the Korea-Japan relationship amid today’s strategic environment," presidential office spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said during a press briefing.

The two leaders also pledged to confront future challenges together and explore pathways to mutual prosperity based on their shared national interests, emphasizing the importance of building a mature, forward-looking partnership.

"In particular, given that this year marks the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Korea and Japan, the two leaders agreed to strengthening active exchanges between the peoples of both countries and communication between their governments," Kang added.

Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba delivers a speech in Tokyo, March 9. AFP-Yonhap

The two leaders agreed to meet in person in the future for in-depth discussions on the development of bilateral relations, while also pledging to reassess past progress in trilateral cooperation among Korea, the U.S. and Japan.

Regarding the timing of a face-to-face meeting between them — including the possibility of a bilateral discussion on the sidelines of the upcoming G7 Summit in Canada — the spokesperson said no decision was reached but both leaders clearly expressed their intention to meet as soon as possible.

Both Lee and Ishiba will attend this year's G7 Leaders' Summit to be held in Alberta, Canada, from June 15 to 17. While Korea is not a member of the G7 — which comprises the U.S., the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Japan and Canada — the host country, Canada, invites other nations it deems important to the discussions for expanded talks for this year's event. The presidential office announced last week that Lee had been invited.

This trip, coming less than two weeks after Lee’s inauguration, underscores his strong determination to swiftly restore Korea’s summit diplomacy, which had been largely stalled following the Dec. 3 martial law declaration by his predecessor, Yoon Suk Yeol. The impending overseas visit signals a clear intent to reengage actively on the international stage.

Kang Yu-jung, spokesperson of the presidential office, speaks during a press briefing at the presidential office in Seoul, Monday. Yonhap

As the leaders of Korea and Japan reaffirmed their commitment to close coordination on various geopolitical challenges, attention now turns to how the Lee administration will shape its approach toward Japan over the next five years.

Historically, the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, Lee’s party, has at times taken a confrontational stance against Japan in historical, territorial and trade disputes. Previous liberal administrations have sought to balance a firm defense of national interests with efforts to maintain dialogue.

Lee, who claims to pursue "pragmatic diplomacy," said right after his inauguration on Wednesday that the two countries need to seprate issues of cooperation from those of the past.

When asked for his stance on resolving historical disputes with Japan, Lee said, "We can seek things for mutual cooperation and avoid matters that can harm (the relations) from a pragmatic point of view. I believe we can compromise at an appropriate level."