President vows stronger diplomatic engagement as he arrives in Canada for G7 Summit

President Lee Jae-myung speaks during a press briefing aboard Air Force One, Monday, after the plane departed Seoul as he heads to Calgary, Alberta, Canada, to attend the G7 Summit. Yonhap

CALGARY, Canada — President Lee Jae-myung signaled a more proactive and elevated approach to summit diplomacy and international cooperation as he began his first overseas visit to attend the G7 Summit in Canada.

Lee arrived in Canada on Monday (local time) to attend the event as a guest country. This visit came just under two weeks since he took office as president on June 4.

Speaking to reporters during an impromptu press briefing on board of Air Force One, Lee emphasized that heightened international competition, along with his administration's focus on economic livelihood and public well-being, necessitates deeper international ties, particularly through summit-level diplomacy.

“This marks my first official foreign trip as president, and I believe it’s time for Korea to conduct summit diplomacy more vigorously than we have so far,” Lee said during the press conference. “We need to strengthen our international engagement to a higher level.

President Lee Jae-myung and First Lady Kim Hea-kyung arrive at Calgary International Airport in Alberta, Canada, Monday (local time). Yonhap

“As a trade-dependent nation, Korea must strategically strengthen its global relationships so our businesses can expand overseas more effectively,” he stated. “In addition to economic diplomacy, we aim to intensify cooperation in new areas, including culture, raising our efforts to a higher standard than before.”

When asked about potential challenges in the upcoming tariff negotiations with the U.S., Lee stressed the importance of ensuring Korea does not fall into a disadvantageous position compared to other countries.

“In diplomacy, it’s not desirable for one party to gain at the expense of the other. We must strive for mutually beneficial outcomes that help all sides,” he noted. “Given the many complex factors at play, I intend to engage in discussions and do my utmost to protect Korea’s interests.”

Lee also addressed the decision to attend the G7 Summit so soon after taking office, saying it demonstrates that Korean democracy has been swiftly restored following recent political upheaval after his predecessor Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law fiasco.

“Initially, I strongly considered not attending due to pressing domestic issues,” he admitted. “But there were also views that it was important to demonstrate to the international community that Korea has returned to normal quickly. Many advisers said it was better to push forward, even if the timing was tight, and that led to my unexpected participation.”