Which summits will Lee Jae Myung attend in Manila and Shenzhen next week?

Lee is scheduled to attend the ASEAN summit in Manila through Tuesday, then travel to Shenzhen on Wednesday for the APEC summit. His trip to China is planned to last two days.

What regional issues will Lee Jae Myung raise at the ASEAN and APEC summits?

Lee plans to highlight South Korea’s contributions to addressing energy supply chains, transnational crimes and food security. National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac said Lee would also seek to strengthen mutual trust and cooperation through bilateral and multilateral meetings with other leaders.

Are North Korea-US talks expected at the APEC summit in Shenzhen?

A presidential official said North Korea is unlikely to attend the summit and that the chances of talks between North Korea and the United States there are slim. The official said the possibility could not be ruled out completely, but was not considered high.

Lee to attend ASEAN, APEC summits in Philippines, China next week

Listen

Summary

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung will travel to Manila and Shenzhen next week to attend the ASEAN and APEC summits, National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac said Thursday. Lee will leave Monday for the ASEAN summit, which runs through Tuesday, then travel to China on Wednesday for a two-day APEC visit. He plans bilateral and multilateral meetings to build trust and cooperation and highlight South Korea’s contributions to regional challenges. A presidential official said North Korea is unlikely to attend APEC and that North Korea-US talks there are unlikely.

Key Facts

Wi said Lee will address regional challenges including energy supply chains, transnational crimes and food security.
The presidential official said it was not possible to rule out North Korea-US talks entirely, but assessed their likelihood as low.
Lee’s China trip is scheduled to begin Wednesday and last two days.

By Yonhap

Published Nov 12, 2026 9:57 am KST
Updated Nov 12, 2026 10:06 am KST

President Lee Jae Myung, right, and first lady Kim Hea Kyung leave Mexico City to return home to Seoul, Sept. 27. Yonhap

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung will attend summits of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) next week, his national security adviser said Thursday.

The South Korean president will depart Monday first for Manila where he will attend the ASEAN summit until Tuesday, followed by a two-day trip to China's Shenzhen beginning Wednesday, where he will attend the APEC summit, National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac told a briefing.

At the upcoming events, Lee plans to strengthen mutual trust and cooperation with other heads of state through bilateral and multilateral meetings while highlighting South Korea's contributions to resolving regional challenges, including energy supply chains, transnational crimes and food security, according to Wi.

A presidential official separately said that North Korea is unlikely to attend next week's APEC summit to hold talks with the United States.

"It would be difficult to say there is zero possibility of talks (between North Korea and the US), but I think the probability might not be high," the official said on condition of anonymity.

The North is, in particular, unlikely to attend next week's APEC summit, the official said, adding that the chances of talks between the two sides during the summit are slim.

Explore More