Lee recognizes role of Koreans in Japan for improvement in bilateral relations

President Lee Jae Myung and first lady Kim Hea Kyung enter a luncheon meeting with Korean residents in Japan at a hotel in Tokyo, Saturday. Yonhap

TOKYO, Japan — President Lee Jae Myung on Saturday recognized the challenges faced by Korean residents in Japan, while praising their role as a bridge between the two nations.

He met around 200 Koreans there during his two-day visit to Japan, which is his first stop for bilateral talks since his June 4 inauguration.

“This is said to be the first time in history that a Korean president has chosen Japan as the first destination for a bilateral visit,” Lee said during the meeting at a hotel in Tokyo. “Meeting all of you as the opening event makes this visit especially meaningful.”

President Lee Jae Myung speaks during a luncheon meeting with Korean residents in Japan at a hotel in Tokyo, Saturday. Yonhap

Lee paid particular tribute to the sacrifices of Korean residents there, specifically referencing the country celebrating the 80th anniversary of liberation from the 1910-45 Japanese colonial rule earlier this month.

“In every corner of Tokyo, you can see the traces of the intense lives our compatriots have lived. The hardships, struggles, perseverance and triumphs of Korean residents in Japan are inseparable from the turbulent history of our nation. I feel deep respect whenever I hear about how you endured grueling labor while steadfastly carrying on with life," the president noted.

Reflecting on Korea’s history of colonial rule and division, Lee emphasized the resilience of the Korean community in Japan.

“After the suffering of colonial rule came the pain of national division. The joy of liberation was short-lived, and many of you endured the sorrow of living in a foreign land. Yet despite these hardships, you have always been a strong supporter and pillar of your motherland.”

He said, through the long years of hardship, Korea and Japan have moved forward for cooperation, with people in the two nations enjoying each other's culture. Currently, Korea and Japan see around 12 million people traveling between the two countries each year. Bilateral trade, which stood at $202 million in 1965, has surged more than 350-fold to $77.2 billion in 2024.

Lee said Koreans in Japan have contributed to the improved relations between Korea and Japan.

"Thanks to you who are playing the role of bridge, I'm confident that Korea and Japan can increase their cooperation based on strong trust."

President Lee Jae Myung and first lady Kim Hea Kyung stand next to children at a luncheon meeting with Korean residents in Japan, at a hotel in Tokyo, Saturday. Yonhap

Lee also acknowledged that nine out of 10 Korean diplomatic missions in Japan were built with donations from Korean residents. He further addressed the darker chapters of Korea’s past, underscoring that many Koreans in Japan were unjustly victimized during fabricated espionage cases under past authoritarian governments.

“As president of the Republic of Korea, I offer my sincere condolences and officially apologize once again to the victims of state violence and their families,” he said, drawing applause from the audience.

Following the luncheon meeting, Lee is scheduled to hold a one-on-one and expanded summit with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, followed by a private dinner later in the evening. This will be the two leaders’ second meeting, 67 days after their first encounter at the G7 Summit in Canada on June 17.

President Lee Jae Myung and first lady Kim Hea Kyung arrive at Haneda Airport in Tokyo, Japan, Saturday. Yonhap

Meanwhile, Japanese media have taken note of the significance of Lee’s decision to visit Japan before his visit to the U.S.

Kyodo News highlighted that since the normalization of diplomatic ties in 1965, this is the first time a Korean president has chosen Japan as the first destination for a summit, outside of multilateral meetings. The Yomiuri Shimbun also emphasized the historic nature of the visit, pointing out that a Korean leader prioritizing Japan over the U.S. for a bilateral meeting is unprecedented.

The Nikkei also reported that the summit had been swiftly arranged following the leaders’ June meeting in Canada, stressing that the visit took place just 80 days after Lee took office. The paper interpreted the decision as a reflection of Lee’s pragmatism, stating, “Rather than being bound by precedent or ideology, the president appears to have prioritized practical benefits in determining his first destination.”