Korea's role at G7 summit in Evian

Kim Hee-sang

On the plane heading home from Evian, France, I reflected on a flurry of meetings of the past few days. As a Sherpa preparing the 2026 G7 Summit for the leaders, I could feel the shifting dynamics of global governance. This year’s gathering, hosted by France, included not only the G7 members but also pivotal global actors, such as Brazil and India. Watching the intensive debates among these leaders, it became very clear that Korea’s presence carried a distinct strategic weight.

When French President Emmanuel Macron extended his invitation to President Lee Jae Myung to attend the summit in Evian, it reminded me of the recent assertion by Marc Julienne, director of the Center for Asian Studies at the French Institute of International Relations. He noted in an article in November 2025 that opening up the G7 to like-minded democracies such as Korea is essential to protect multilateralism and strengthen global cooperation.

We were not there merely to occupy a seat or join a commemorative photo. I felt that the international community now actively seeks Korea's participation to find a common solution to complex and interlocking global challenges. Following the invitation from Canada last year, the two consecutive invitations from different G7 host nations signal institutional trust in Korea as a reliable geopolitical and economic partner.

Korea justified this trust through concrete contributions to the summit's core agendas such as energy, artificial intelligence (AI) and development cooperation. Addressing global energy security, Lee delivered a sharp, realistic diagnosis of the vulnerabilities the recent Middle East conflict has exposed, drawing urgent attention to the precarious nature of energy supply chains for oil-importing nations, particularly in Asia.

He seized the initiative by proposing stronger cooperation with the International Energy Agency (IEA) and a robust solidarity framework among Asian oil-importing nations. Lee proposed a close dialogue among world leaders to discuss how to expand and strengthen the existing global energy security system established by the IEA, particularly utilizing platforms such as the IEA Regional Cooperation Center in Singapore.

Furthermore, Korea took center stage by introducing its pioneering domestic initiatives in AI governance and emphasizing the need to enhance the effectiveness of development cooperation. By bridging solutions for the challenges of AI technology and development cooperation, Lee provided a timely and practical blueprint for sustainable and inclusive growth. Lee pointed out that while AI technology holds immense potential to accelerate innovation and productivity, it could also exacerbate the development gap between nations, unless its benefits are diffused evenly.

Based on Korea’s domestic “AI for all" initiative, he emphasized that global leaders must work together to establish frameworks to enable every country and all people to use and benefit from this emerging technology. This argument carried profound weight, coming from a nation that has successfully navigated the unique historic journey from an aid-recipient country to a high-tech donor.

The G7 is no longer just a club for rich nations. As the premier forum for the world's leading countries with advanced economies, the G7 plays an important role in shaping global norms and managing shared risks. Some critics may point to the declining share of the G7 in the global economy since the 2000s due to the rise of emerging markets. Nevertheless, the group remains an effective body capable of responding to urgent global crises in Ukraine and the Middle East, while managing complex challenges like AI and critical minerals supply chains.

For Korea, institutionalizing its partnership with this group is vital to protecting its national interests and economic security in an era of geopolitical turbulence. Moving forward, Korea must maintain this momentum by deepening coordination with the incoming G7 presidencies, the United States next year and the United Kingdom the following year. By continuing its constructive contributions, Korea can cement its status as an indispensable partner within the G7 network.

Importantly, this enhanced partnership with the G7 does not mean distancing Korea from the developing world. Continued engagement with the Global South is of great importance for diversifying Korea’s global supply chains and markets as well as for strengthening regional cooperation. This will also empower Korea to fulfill its upcoming responsibilities as the Chair of the G20 in 2028, especially when rising polarization between advanced and emerging economies threatens to paralyze global collective action. As the host, Korea’s mission will be to revitalize a forum that has increasingly been strained by geopolitical fragmentation.

In Evian, we saw the possibility that Korea could serve as a diplomatic bridge, forging the consensus needed for cooperative global action. By leveraging our unique historical position as a country that accomplished both democracy and development while operating at the cutting-edge of industrial and technological advancement, Korea can inject real pragmatism into the global dialogue. It is time for Korea to execute its intricate G20 diplomacy by striking a balance between a firm footing in the G7 partnership and the steady expansion of cooperation with the Global South.

Ambassador Kim Hee-sang is the G20 Sherpa of the Republic of Korea.