What did President Lee Jae Myung say about South Korea’s diplomacy amid the international order crisis?

Lee said the international order is going through a tunnel of extreme chaos and argued that South Korea should build its power, expand its diplomatic landscape and solve problems through close cooperation with the international community. He also said the world order is rapidly polarizing.

What did Lee Jae Myung and Emmanuel Macron agree on during the France summit?

Lee said the summit with Macron led to an agreement to strengthen cooperation in nuclear energy, advanced industries and defense. He also described the visit as helping solidify bilateral cooperation across politics, the economy, culture and arts.

Why did Lee say his trip to France would help South Korea’s European outreach?

Lee said France is a key European nation and that tighter cooperation with it would help expand South Korea’s diplomatic outreach across Europe. He said the trip helped reinforce the bilateral partnership and widen cooperation with more regions.

Lee stresses need to expand diplomatic landscape amid 'chaos' in international order

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Summary

President Lee Jae Myung on Friday stressed the need to expand South Korea’s diplomatic landscape amid what he called extreme chaos in the international order. In a meeting with key aides a day after returning from France, he said closer cooperation with other countries is needed to solve problems. Lee said his France trip helped solidify ties with France and could broaden outreach across Europe.

Key Facts

Lee made the remarks in a meeting with his key aides on Friday, a day after he returned from a four-day trip to France.
During the trip, he held a summit with French President Emmanuel Macron.
South Korea and France agreed to strengthen cooperation in nuclear energy, advanced industries and defense.
Lee said the countries’ partnership was also solidified in politics, the economy, culture and arts.

By Yonhap

Published Sep 11, 2026 4:34 pm KST

President Lee Jae Myung speaks to senior aides at a meeting held at Cheong Wa Dae, Friday. Yonhap

President Lee Jae Myung on Friday stressed the importance of expanding the diplomatic landscape and the wisdom of resolving problems through international cooperation, highlighting what he called a tunnel of "extreme chaos" in the international order.

The president made the point in a meeting with his key aides, a day after he returned from a four-day trip to France, during which he held a summit with French President Emmanuel Macron and agreed to strengthen cooperation in nuclear energy, advanced industries and defense.

"The international order is going through a tunnel of extreme chaos," Lee said.

"Now is the time for us to build our power, expand the diplomatic landscape and have the wisdom to address various problems through close cooperation with the international community," the president added.

The president stressed that the world order is undergoing rapid polarization, adding that in times like these, the country should join hands with other countries and expand its outreach to more regions.

Referring to his trip to France, Lee said it helped solidify the countries' partnerships in politics, the economy, advanced industries, culture and arts, adding that such tighter cooperation with a key European nation would help expand South Korea's diplomatic outreach across Europe.

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